A New Dark Ages

A NEW DARK AGE

Western Culture/Humanities Discussion Board Post.....I think I will elaborate more on this topic.  

Is modern American culture entering into a new “Dark Ages?”  I would have to say, beyond a doubt, “YES!  We most certainly are!”  Just like the Roman “Dark Ages,” this is not about to fix itself over the next five years (or less) as the news keeps saying every evening.  Our defenses have been wounded and are low (911), our economy is failing and in debt, our people are struggling and illness and layoffs are hitting home to everyone. America’s beliefs and values are being shifted, questioned, and tested.  Instead of the church rising up and being an example we are finding them falling into the way of the world and greed from economic pressures.  Our need for God is growing, yet our leaders seem to be closing His door and trying to work this out with their flawed humanistic views, opinions, and small talk.  As the Roman Empire fell, in many ways we are quickly falling (I would almost say we have fallen), and we are on our own trying to find the “human made rope” to pull us back out.  If we look at history and the Bible this is not going to work.

In Mark chapter 15 Jesus is in the Roman Empire talking to its church and Christians.  Jesus tells them that this is not how things are suppose to be.  The way they are doing life and church is wrong.  It is directly related to them not God.  Jesus informs them that there is another way, and He commands them to repent.  They needed to change their direction and way of life.  This was before the “Dark Ages” of the Roman Empire.  They were warned and Jesus offered a way out.  This is true for us.  The prophecies have been told, and we are actively living them out on the negative and sinful side.   I was once told, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  Mahatme Gandhi It starts with you, right here, right now.

Modern Day "Fatalism"

“Fatalistic” God

I'm sure I could sit here all day with you guys and list and discuss ways in which modern cultural is "fatalistic" (as defined by the Greeks). Even Christians today can have a "fatalistic" view of their God at times as the Greek's did with their Gods.

I would like to take a look at some questions I have asked myself many times in my life as well as outside my own life that demonstrates this "fatalistic" view that was displayed by the Greeks.

"God, can You hear me? Where are You when I need You the most? And Why do bad things happen to good people?" I could go on, but I think you know exactly what I mean as these are all questions we have asked at some point in our lives.

Habakkuk 1:2,13 (paraphrased)

How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! "Violence is everywhere!" I cry, but You do not come to save......But You are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will You wink at their treachery? Should You be silent while the wicked swallows up people more righteous than they?"

Sound familiar? Perfect view of a "fatalistic" Christian feeling and thought that still applies today.

God created us with free will and the freedom to choose good or evil, right or wrong. God knew we needed to have the freedom to choose even though it would cause some injustice to the innocence. The Greeks knew and experienced this feeling in their own times as well have many people all the way throughout history. We live in a fallen and unfair world which at times makes it very easy to have a "fatalistic" view of our world and God. We feel abandoned, ignored, not good enough, not connected and as if we are being punished for our past mistakes. We feel that sometimes God is not personal, loving, compassionate, and forgiving. We feel the pain of injustice or what we feel is unfair. We even ask these questions and feel this way as the Greek did when it comes to our judicial system and political system even down to our everyday work environment. "Fatalism" in the modern world, as defined by the Greeks, is very much alive now as it was then. All we can do is put our faith in God's plan and our hope in His promise to redeem our fallen world if we wish to change this Greek "fatalistic" view that lingers on today. God loves you!

Telephone Game....How do I know the Bible is Real? Another Theology Thought

Did you ever play the game telephone in school? Maybe you did, but just forgot. It was simple, but a great way to back up my reasons as to why I believe the Bible is the Word of God for this discussion.

Let me explain the game first. Telephone was a game we played in school. There was about 20 kids in my class. The teacher would tell one student a secret in their ear only once. That student would then whisper the secret to another student and so on. Once the last student received the secret they would stand up and repeat the secret to the whole class. As usual it was nothing close to the original secret the teacher told. The point was to demonstrate how much and how fast even a small statement could change as it passed from ear to ear or from mouth to mouth. This is a great illustration and reason why I find the unity of the message from different human sources one of the best arguments that to Bible is the Word of God.

Looking closer at the readings from Dr. Towns this week we learned that " there was approximately 1600s years during which the various authors wrote the books of the Bible." (pg. 8 article Arguments that the Bible is the Word of God) The "Bible was written over 55 generations, yet remains a singular unity." (pg. 8 article Arguments that the Bible is the Word of God) Also, there were at lest 36 to 40 authors which held a "great diversity of occupations." (pg. 8 article Argument that the Bible is the Word of God) These authors were not located in one city, however they were spread out in time and locations, yet there still remains a singular unity/message throughout the Bible.

If you keep in mind the telephone game and how one statement, in one room, over just a few minutes changed and lost it's original idea completely then it would be impossible for the Bible to have been composed with such a unity (given the above mentioned facts of the telephone game) without the guidance of a greater source guiding them from the beginning to the end.