The Stages of the Decay of a Civilization
This is an excerpt from Dr. Fernandes’ book, “God, Government and the Road to Tyranny“.
In Romans 1:18-32, the Apostle Paul spells out what I call “the stages of the decay of a civilization.”
- The first stage is the rejection of the God of creation (vs 18-22). Even though the invisible God has clearly revealed His existence to man through His visible creation, many people (and civilizations) continue to reject Him.
- The second stage is idolatry, the worship of false gods. The worship of the creation replaces the worship of the Creator God (vs 23-25).
- The third stage is widespread sexual immorality and wickedness (vs 26-31). Paul emphasizes the sinful homosexual lifestyle as characteristic of this stage.
- But the fourth and final stage of decay of a civilization is the active acceptance and promotion of evil (vs 32). Today, this is called “political correctness,” “the new morality,” or “the new tolerance.” America, as well as all of Western Civilization, is at this final stage of decay. God’s judgment is near.
In short, the new tolerance is no tolerance at all. If it continues to become more widespread, it will lead to the persecution of traditional Christians and Jews, but it will also bring God’s judgment. Therefore, America must heed God’s warning, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).
I have witnessed this sort of thing first hand from those who have been deluded into the New Atheism viz. Naturalism, Scientism and even more diabolical is the influence of the New Age/Jesus Seminar/Adviata Vedanta/Pure NonDuality/Yoga/Mediation aka Transcendental Meditation which has taken root in Christian Churches as well. I am aware that the Lord shall deliver His own out of all these things, but I never thought that what I read in the 80′s has risen up like a Tower of Babel. A Unification of World Oneness, which will tople with the Cornerstone who comes to build His house and end the reign of ungodliness. Excellent review and if I had the pennies, I would get myself a copy. God bless you in this ministry.
Eric.
As webmaster here (this is Gabe), let me agree with your opinion of our age. Fortunately, the influence of the Jesus Seminar has waned. Unfortunately, the new age has replaced the spiritual vacuum their ilk of pseudo-scientific / activist organizations have created. In their attempt to “secularize” Jesus (i.e. demote him to merely a “great teacher”) many well-meaning scholars have ended up instead creating a Jesus in their own image. This twisted and historically inaccurate Jesus is ripped from his proper context in first century Israel and placed in the court of modern opinion(s). If this scholar teaches at a college, the new and improved, merely human Jesus is foisted upon unwary students, department faculty and is often propagated in both books and relevant scholarly journals.
However, few actually live out the “new age” principles (if there are any) and instead embrace a “practical atheism” while speaking of “spirituality” and “love”. So what we have is a religion predicted long ago through the power of the Holy Spirit: People will ” … posess a form of godliness but deny the power of it.” (my own clever paraphrase). The real cure is to counter these pontificating philosophers with the power of God in action and in word:
Show real kindness to your neighbors in a proactive way (do something nice on a regular basis), let the love of Christ be seen in your patience with those offending you and in the honestly in which you embrace the whole word of God (speak words of truth in love no matter how much it offends). Well, that’s my opinion anyways; Change starts from the inside.
Excellent points and accurate as always Phil. The wickedness and lostness of the current generations are clear indicators that we are not just in the end times, we are most likely in the “last days”. Recognizing each and every morning that I am a sinner saved by grace and that I am totally dependent on Almighty God for every breath I take, I begin that certain day by praying for the unsaved. To be saved and to pray for the unsaved is our high calling. There is a lot of work to do, there are far more in need of Christs love, mercy and grace than we can possibly imagine. Praise be to my Lord and Saviour that He finds me acceptable to work for Him to that end. Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and blessings to all of His. Robert