Looking around the Christian blogosphere and even in conversations with real life actual people there’s an ineffable (I love that word!) feeling among Christians that we’re losing. Perhaps even badly.
We live in a society that excels mainly in making corpses. Many of our astounding scientific and technological advancements are weapons. Our most common surgical procedure is ripping babies from wombs. And euthanasia has been liberalized to the point of common practice in our hospitals.
Marriage has been separated from reproduction. And reproduction itself is divorced from sex.
We bemoan the culture of death which surrounds us. We’ve seen the institution of marriage twisted into anything adults wish to make of it. We’ve seen children become sexual playthings in our advertising.
And sometimes we rightly throw up our hands and say we’re losing. But I wonder if this is actually something new. In many ways, haven’t we been losing for 2,000 years?
Jesus was born in a manger. Not the Inn. There was no room in the Inn. In fact, our society accomplishes an odd annual reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s rejection when manger scenes are shunned from the public square.
Let’s face it. It can sometimes feels like we’re Christians in a Barabbas world. And even on that day when the people selected between Barabbas and Jesus it must have seemed that Barabbas had won a victory and Jesus was handed a defeat. But Jesus, in fact, was the great victor and saved all of his persecutors (including us) that day. Isn’t one of the greatest miracles of Christ that Christianity seems to thrive most when it seems to be losing? When it is hunted it spreads.
We follow a crucified savior, what did we expect?
Sometimes we win in losing. It’s just up to us to fight. That’s all we can do. Fight in our little ways. Stay true to the faith. Love. And remember that sometimes getting eaten by lions is winning. It may not feel like it. But God has turned worse things to good before.
January 5, 2010 at 4:55 am
The Master [John 15] said:
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also."
The irony is that Christianity seems to thrive under adverse conditions and turn stale when all is Bing Crosby, Loretta Young and Barry Fitzgerald.
January 5, 2010 at 11:19 am
Excellent post. Well said. No matter what we must always keep up the fight and never surrender.
January 5, 2010 at 3:19 pm
As I was complaining one day to my husband about a situation (and how I was being treated), I recalled Jesus' crucifixion. After all, if they crucified them, how can I really expect better treatment? Really?
Well said.
January 5, 2010 at 3:29 pm
We had some "wins" e.g. the Holy Roman Empire & Medieval Europe. But history has shown the there are more saints during times of persecution. Right now, the Church in China is getting larger and more vibrant daily.
January 5, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Well put, and just what I needed to hear on this day! Thank you. I have learned much concerning this posture toward our faith from the writings (and actions) of the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Particularly insightful was his "Christ on Trial: How the Gospel Unsettles our Judgment." A novel that the Archbishop recommends in that work is "The Man on a Donkey," by H.F.M. Prescott, which is set during the English Reformation and deals with this theme throughout, but particularly at the end.
January 5, 2010 at 7:35 pm
All scripture will be fulfilled.
It was also allowed to wage war against the holy ones and conquer them, and it was granted authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation.
Revelation 13:7
Maranatha
January 5, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Well done. God have Mercy on us on His terms, in His way. It's all for His glory!
January 5, 2010 at 9:30 pm
"We're following a crucified Savior, what do we expect?"
Matt, i wish you'd put this post at the top of your blog & leave it there for the entire year! I am so tired of Catholics Whining. I have said the same thing many times during the last year: What exactly did you sign up for???
January 6, 2010 at 1:21 am
Honestly? The fact that we've carried the Bible and the truth of History for so long is a victory. More or less the very second the written word became possible to carry the Word, Jesus intered history.
…A victory of the Holy Spirit cause God knew we'd screw it up twelve ways from Sunday, but, you know. I mean, we were there.
January 6, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Wow, what a wonderful post. I often find myself all depressed that we are like the lone sheep in a wolf-life secular world. I needed to read this. Other times when I get down about being a Catholic, I remember that all throughout Church history there have been heretics, schisms, false teachings, liberal revolts…but the Church has still stood strong and continues to this day!
January 8, 2010 at 4:21 am
I wish you had a "like" button here like there is on Facebook… it would make life so much easier. Can you guys work on that for me please?
Thanks much.
January 8, 2010 at 4:55 am
Tragically Unhip Mom, We just figured you liked everything we wrote. Right?