A movement may have the best ideas, the best strategies, the best tactics, and even some of the best personnel available; however, if it has no courage it is going nowhere. The Church is replete with notable scholars and activists whose goals are to defend and advocate Christian (biblical) values and concerns. We have numerous para-church organizations resembling an alphabet soup (ADF, FRC, AFA, ARP, ACLJ, etc.) of experts who work under the broad banner of “faith, family and freedom” for various political and legal concerns. Yet with all this spiritual and intellectual firepower at our disposal, we are not only no closer to recapturing where we once were as a nation with regards to biblical worldview, but a case can be made we are moving backwards. We find ourselves on too many occasions defending our values rather than advancing our values.
I am not suggesting that the people involved in any of the above organizations are timid or tepid. Indeed, most of them feel alone and isolated when it comes to showing up for any challenge or battle Christians are facing in the culture. My point is that we have allowed the adversaries of our worldview to set the battle lines and fronts. We dutifully respond to where the challenges are occurring, but it predominantly means we are fending off attacks rather than advancing into new territory. To rebuild a Christian civilization means that we recognize we no longer have one and arise with fearless resolve to advance our concerns.
The Children of Israel faced similar moments. After the death of Moses there was a leadership transition to Joshua. It was Joshua’s mandate and call to lead the Israelites into their nation and rebuild what had been promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This generation of Israelites were not to concern themselves with “survival” like the last generation had done. This generation was to fearlessly believe God that He would be true to His Word and invade the land as an offensive force, recovering all that had been promised. In order to do that, the Lord reminded Joshua that he had to be courageous:
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:5-9 NKJV
Joshua’s courage would be downloaded into the fledgling nation of wilderness walkers and they would be able to conquer any giant they might run across. You know the rest of the story. When courage to obey was demonstrated and acted upon, they were unstoppable.
The reformation movement needs some Joshua’s. The sad reality is that many of our “Moses'” have passed off the scene as well. Jerry Falwell and D.James Kennedy are no longer with us. Pat Robertson, Don Wildmon, and James Dobson are aging and fading. No matter your personal opinion of any of these generals, the fact stands that they were the courageous voices for the previous generation of cultural reformers. The time is now for a new generation of courageous reformers to arise. The Moses Generation served the purposes of God by defending and standing for biblical values to a rebellious and wayward nation. The Joshua Generation must advocate and advance a biblical worldview into every arena of life. However, to do that we need an infusion of courage.
Famed World War 2, Admiral “Bull” Halsey said of courage:
“On the eve of the critical battle of Santa Cruz, in which the Japanese ships outnumbered ours more than two to one, I sent my task force commanders this dispatch: ATTACK REPEAT ATTACK. They did attack, heroically, and when the battle was done, the enemy turned away. All problems, personal, national, or combat, become smaller if you don’t dodge them, but confront them. Touch a thistle timidly, and it pricks you; grasp it boldly, and its spines crumble. Carry the battle to the enemy! Lay your ship alongside his!”
This is the season we are in with regards to rebuilding a Christian civilization. It is time to “attack” (in the metaphorical sense). It is time we fully embraced the success and credibility of a biblical worldview and press into our adversaries arguments and sophistry with the confidence that we will win if we confront them. Admiral Halsey’s picture of timidly grabbing the thistle is perfect. We timidly approach our philosophical adversaries and we get “pricked” so we back peddle. We need to boldly and fearlessly lay hold of their errors and watch them crumble.
What might this entail by practical example?
How about passing Personhood legislation or Constitutional Amendments and be prepared to fight for it in court cases clear to the Supreme Court? How about standing up to SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) legislation? How about dismantling the tyrannical IRS? How about closing the Department of Education which tries to indoctrinate our children? How about upholding the first amendment freedom of speech to pastors in their pulpits. How about upholding a Christian business person’s right to conscience in his business? Perhaps it’s time for the Church to develop a theology of litigation to press our views into the mainstream culture and refuse to be ghettoized in isolation.
All of these examples are simply the first “Giants” we face as we secure the land for our posterity and rebuild the purposes God has for our nation. This will take courage, but we are “well able”. Like Caleb, we need to look at a civic area and say, “Give me that mountain”.
The good news is, there is a growing network of “Joshua’s” who are courageous and willing to start that movement. In fact, I believe a revival of courage is on the horizon. When courage is demonstrated, anything is possible.
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