16<\/div>SHARES<\/span><\/div>

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Recently at The Federalist, Nathan Stone wrote<\/a> of some \u200dof the unfortunate consequences of the fall of Roe v. Wade<\/em>, noting that the adage \u201cBe careful\u200c what you wish for\u201d seems to be in play, as the \u2063pushback from proponents of abortion has been dismayingly robust. <\/p>\n

Stone cites reports of rising abortion rates in many states and\u200c recent defeats of pro-life legislation<\/a>, concluding that the root \u2064problem is a lukewarm Christianity: \u201cThe core reason \u200cthe right cannot,\u200c in many cases, compete with the left\u2019s energy is because\u2063 many on\u2063 the\u2064 right \u200cdo not believe. \u2026 This situation is not helped \u200dby the fact \u2062that many American churches are spineless at best and conquered provinces \u2063at worst.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Stone goes on to call for a \u201creimagined Christianity\u201d\u200d in which \u201cthe symbol of Christ as good shepherd\u200c \u2026 [is] replaced with the Christ Knight, the Christ Warlord. \u2026 People \u2063\u2014 but\u2063 especially men \u2014 need a strong\u2063 figure to follow,\u2063 to \u2063rally around,\u200d especially if the venture is dangerous. A Son of \u2062God going \u200dforth to\u200d war can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stone is spot on \u2064in observing that\u200c many people who call themselves Christians don\u2019t actually understand or believe in the \u200breal Jesus. \u200dBut his call for a\u200c repackaged Jesus that people can \u2064more readily get behind is not the solution. <\/p>\n
A Blight on the Hill<\/h2>\n
Meanwhile, \u2063 writing \u200bfor Salvo<\/a>, Daniel Witt similarly mourns the current state of the American experiment, lamenting the lost ideal of John Winthrop\u2019s \u201ccity \u2063on a hill,\u201d<\/a> which\u200b Witt describes as a virtuous civilization providing an example for the rest of the world to emulate. <\/p>\n
Witt says America is indeed a city on a hill, but rather than\u2064 providing a positive example, \u200cit is \u200dhaving a\u2064 corrupting influence: \u201cThe United\u2063 States of America displays \u200da mockery of Christ. \u2026 The world, by and large, likes \u2063what it sees. \u2026 My conclusion from \u2062the experience\u2064 of living abroad is that \u200bChristian leaders in America need to take a hard look at our place in the nation, and the nation\u2019s place \u200din \u200cthe world.\u201d <\/p>\n
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Witt, \u200blike Stone, correctly observes \u200bthat America\u2019s Christian roots shriveled long ago. Politicians may still \u2063appeal to faith, family, and country, but the words ring hollow<\/a> these days. Americans don\u2019t\u200d go \u200dto\u2063 church<\/a>, don\u2019t uphold traditional family values<\/a><\/a><\/a>, and don\u2019t love their country<\/a>. <\/p>\n
But\u2062 the\u200c problem is not \u2063an \u200bAmerican illness in need \u2064of an American cure. It\u2019s clear that America long ago strayed from its\u2064 Christian founding. But at its core, America\u2019s decline into depravity is\u2062 not a\u2063 national problem, \u200dbut an individual one \u2014 not a political problem, but \u2063a spiritual one.<\/p>\n
Spiritual problems \u2063are not solved by marketing\u200c campaigns or national \u200dmovements but by encounters with the \u2062one\u200c true God, who defies any attempt\u2062 to categorize or use Him\u200b for human\u2062 purposes. And those encounters \u2063don\u2019t happen \u2062on a\u200b national level, with America repenting for \u200dits collective failure, but\u2063 on an individual level, with the sinner coming\u2062 face to face\u2064 with \u2063the reality of\u200b his sinfulness and\u2062 his need \u200bfor a Savior. <\/p>\n
Land, Heal Thyself<\/h2>\n
In 1993, Michael \u2064Card wrote the now-classic, contemporary Christian song \u201cHeal \u200cOur Land\u201d<\/a> for the National Day of Prayer. It\u2019s a beautiful song,\u2062 and I\u200b admit to\u2062 getting a\u2062 lump\u200b in my throat when I hear it. The lyrics draw on 2 Chronicles 7:14<\/a>: \u201cIf my people who are\u2062 called\u200c by\u2064 my \u2063name\u00a0humble themselves,\u2063 and pray and seek my \u200dface and turn from their wicked\u2063 ways, then\u200c I\u200d will hear from \u200bheaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.\u201d<\/p>\n
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There is certainly nothing wrong with praying for a\u2064 change in the \u2062direction of this country. I don\u2019t\u2064 know that I have ever, in my lifetime, felt so discouraged about America\u2019s future. \u200cPrayer is in order.<\/p>\n
But God\u2019s \u2062words in 2 Chronicles are not about America. \u200bThey are about\u2062 the ancient Israelites, God\u2019s people chosen for the purpose of sending His Son into the world to redeem\u200d it. The land to be\u200c healed\u2062 in 2 Chronicles is not \u200cthe American nation but the Hebrew one,\u200b and \u2062the goal is not ultimately to save the Israelites for\u2064 their own sake but so that \u2064God\u2019s eternal purposes might be carried out. <\/p>\n
Lutheran\u2064 scholar Rev.\u2063 Joel Biermann has written extensively \u2062on\u200c what Lutherans refer to as the two \u200brealms or kingdoms, the two spheres in \u200dwhich\u200d Christians \u200blive and operate. Biermann describes it this \u200cway<\/a>:<\/p>\n
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Simply put, the teaching of the two realms helps us see\u2063 that \u2062God is directly involved in caring for His\u200b creation in two different\u2062 but complementary \u2063ways. In the spiritual realm, He\u200c answers our need\u200d for \u2063a\u200c right relationship with Him \u2063and through His\u2062 church gives \u2064us forgiveness and\u2063 grace \u2062in Christ. In the temporal realm, He enables us to live in \u200dright relationships with one another as He\u2064 provides for all that we need\u2062 to live in this world and through His appointed government extends His justice in the world (Rom. 13:1\u20137). The realms are not in \u200dopposition or \u200dcompetition, but together\u2063 work to accomplish God\u2019s purpose of claiming, preserving, saving \u200cand finally restoring the whole\u200c creation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Christian\u2062 Americans would do \u2062well to \u2063understand and embrace the distinction. America is not going to\u200c save the world. America may, in fact, be lost. But those who trust not in\u2063 princes<\/a> need not fear. \u2062An \u200cold\u2064 Latin phrase is helpful\u2063 here: Ora et labora<\/em>, or \u201cPray and work.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ora et Labora<\/em><\/h2>\n
If you want to help America, pray and work.\u2064 First, go to church \u2014 \u2064not a church that makes sweeping promises about what \u200bAmerica can accomplish \u2064if \u200donly we put God back in our schools and institutions, but a church\u200c that\u200c says to you, individually, \u201cYou \u200dare a poor, \u200bmiserable sinner. You are\u200b helpless to address that problem on your own. The only answer is Jesus\u200d and His death on \u200da \u200bcross to pay the price for your sins. Look to Him, trust \u200cin His\u2063 promises, and be saved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Second, go to work. Work to\u2063 care for your \u200bfamily. Work to serve \u200cyour neighbor. Obey the law. Vote. <\/p>\n
Jesus made it abundantly clear: \u201cMy kingdom is\u200b not \u200dof \u200bthis world. If\u200d my\u200d kingdom \u200cwere\u2062 of this world, my \u2064servants would have been fighting, that I\u2063 might\u200d not be delivered over to\u200b the Jews. \u2026 For this purpose \u200dI have come into the\u2064 world\u200d \u2014 to\u2064 bear witness \u200dto the\u200b truth\u201d (John\u2063 18:36-37<\/a>).<\/p>\n
The truth to which Jesus came to\u200c bear witness is not primarily about our temporal problems (although He certainly cares about those things) but about who He \u2063is: the Son of God\u200d who came to earth to provide a solution\u2064 to the problem at the root of all other problems \u2014 namely, sin. <\/p>\n
That \u200dsin rests deep in the heart of each of us, and we\u200b can\u2019t fix it. Jesus came to \u200danswer\u2062 our need for \u200ca \u2062Savior, \u200dto fix what we \u2062cannot. He did so by taking the \u200csin of the entire world upon\u2064 Himself and carrying it to the\u2062 grave. He then\u2064 went down to hell itself, where He\u2063 proclaimed victory over sin, death, and Satan before rising from the dead and\u200b ascending to His Father in\u200d heaven. <\/p>\n
Now all who live in Jesus have the \u2063promise of following the path He walked. The path is not all glory. It is likely a\u2062 lot of pain and\u200c suffering. It may even include the failure of a once-great nation. But its ultimate destination is an eternity with Jesus and \u2064an \u200cend to the maladies of this world. <\/p>\n
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Is repackaging \u2063Jesus a sufficient solution to combat the decline of Christianity in America?<\/h2>\n
The Decline of Christianity in America: A Call for Renewal and Virtue<\/p>\n
In a recent article published<\/a> by \u2062The\u200b Federalist, Nathan Stone discusses the unfortunate consequences that have followed the fall of Roe v. Wade. Stone notes that the \u2064pushback from proponents of abortion has been robust, with rising abortion rates in many states and recent\u2064 defeats\u200c of\u2063 pro-life legislation. Stone identifies the lukewarm Christianity \u200camong many on the right as the \u2064root problem,\u200d stating that “many on the right do not believe,” and criticizing American churches for being spineless or\u200d conquered\u2062 provinces.<\/p>\n
Stone calls for\u2063 a “reimagined Christianity” that replaces the symbol of Christ as the good shepherd with the Christ Knight, the Christ\u200b Warlord.\u200b He argues that people, especially men, need a \u2062strong\u200c figure to follow, especially in dangerous ventures, and suggests that\u200d a Son of God going\u2062 forth \u200dto war can fulfill that need.<\/p>\n
While Stone \u2063accurately highlights the lack of\u2064 understanding and belief in the real Jesus among those \u2064who call themselves Christians, his solution of a repackaged Jesus is\u200b not the answer. Simply creating a more appealing version of Christ for people to rally\u200d behind does not address \u200cthe heart of the issue.<\/p>\n
In a separate article for Salvo, Daniel Witt laments the\u200d current\u2064 state of the American experiment. He mourns the\u2064 lost\u200b ideal of John Winthrop’s “city on a hill,” a virtuous civilization that sets \u2062an example for the rest of the world. Witt argues that instead\u2063 of being a \u2063positive example, America is \u2064having a corrupting influence and displays a mockery\u2064 of Christ. He calls for Christian leaders in America to\u200b critically examine their role in \u200dthe nation and the nation’s place in the world.<\/p>\n
Witt echoes Stone’s observation that America’s \u2063Christian roots have withered away. Politicians may still appeal to faith,\u2064 family, and country,\u200c but these words have lost their meaning in today’s society.\u2064 Church\u2062 attendance is declining, \u2063and traditional family values \u2062are no longer upheld by many Americans.<\/p>\n
These articles highlight a\u2064 pressing issue \u2064\u2013 the decline of Christianity \u2062in America.\u2064 Many Christians have become\u200c lukewarm in their \u2063faith, leading to a loss of moral and spiritual influence. The\u200b solution lies \u2062not in repackaging Jesus\u200d or compromising biblical values, but in \u200ca renewal of genuine faith and \u2064virtues.<\/p>\n
Christian \u200dleaders in America must lead by example, living out their faith authentically and truthfully.\u200c They should \u2062emphasize the importance\u200b of virtues such as love, \u200dcompassion, integrity, and \u200crighteousness. By embodying these values, they can inspire believers and non-believers alike\u2063 to seek \u2062a \u2063higher standard of living.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, churches need to reassess their role in\u200c society. Instead\u2064 of being spineless \u2063or conquered provinces, \u200bthey should be\u200d beacons of truth and hope. This means boldly proclaiming the gospel message, standing \u2062up \u2063for biblical principles, and actively engaging in acts of compassion and justice.<\/p>\n
Individual believers also have a responsibility \u2063to examine their own lives and strive for personal \u200dholiness. This involves deepening their understanding of the real\u200c Jesus by studying Scripture, seeking the guidance of the Holy \u200bSpirit, and cultivating a personal relationship with God.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the \u200bdecline of Christianity in America\u200c is a blight on our society. \u200bHowever, there is hope for\u200c renewal and \u200brestoration. By embracing the \u2064real\u2062 Jesus and embodying the virtues He \u2063teaches, Christians can once again become agents of positive change in our nation. It\u2064 is time \u2063to reclaim the values and principles that made America a city on a hill and set an example for the world to follow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Recently at The Federalist, Nathan Stone highlighted the unintended aftermath of overturning Roe v. Wade. He observed that the proponents of abortion have fiercely resisted, resulting in an alarming surge in abortion rates across various regions. Stone’s article serves as a reminder of the consequences that can arise when wishes are granted without considering the full implications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":736,"featured_media":2051973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2051972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2051972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/736"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2051972"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2051972\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2051973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2051972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2051972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2051972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Is repackaging \u2063Jesus a sufficient solution to combat the decline of Christianity in America?<\/h2>\n The Decline of Christianity in America: A Call for Renewal and Virtue<\/p>\n