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Recently, Tory Party leader Kimmy Badenock said that the party was a part of the party said that though she had lost her faith in God, she'd still call herself a Christian. The child of a Nigerian immigrant to the UK, Badenock grew up as a believer, even thought of herself as an apologist. although she was not very religious. She stopped believing in God because of a particularly heinous crime that happened in Austria. But, the longtime British politician clarified, I rejected God, not Christianity, so I'd still define myself as a cultural Christian, end quote.
She went on to say that she especially loves Easter, but described it as more of a spring festival of renewal than a holy holiday. And I quote: it comes with spring and the sunshine comes in.
So we have freedom of religion in this country. We should make sure that people are free to celebrate their religion, not impose it on other people. Whatever the religion, let's not impose it. But yeah, let's talk more about Easter. Why not?
End quote.
Well, that comment simply epitomizes just how many people do think about religion these days. Rather than considering what is true or not about God, It's seen as a useful tool for worldly goals, and Christianity is especially compelling to many these days when it's compared to the woke in Islamic alternatives that are out there. Beidenach is the latest to recognize Christianity's blessings to Western culture. joining notables like Elon Musk and Richard Dawkins.
Now of course it's better when unbelievers praise faith and when they call it a dangerous delusion or something like that, but we ought not be deluded ourselves about cultural Christianity. The Christian influence that shaped the modern world came from people who for hundreds of years Really believed in Jesus. Cultural Christianity, in other words, requires that there are actual Christians. We should pray that those who seem to be softening towards Christianity these days will ultimately surrender to Christ. As CS Lewis put it in Mere Christianity, and I quote, you must make your choice.
Either this man was and is the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
Indeed, the difference between cultural Christianity and Christianity is significant. After claiming the cultural Christian title, for example, Elon Musk posted in response to the 2024 opening ceremony of the Olympics. And I quote, unless there's more bravery to stand up for what is fair and right. Christianity will perish.
Now, Musk was certainly right about the need for courage, but what he missed was the good news that Christianity will certainly not perish, not in this world, and not in the age to come. This or that church, of course, may falter. Christianity might lose influence here or there. But Christ has risen. He's overcome the world.
Christianity's future is quite secure.
Now, much of the current vibe shift, as many are calling it, involves recognizing that secularism can neither satisfy the human soul, nor can it build the kind of utopia it has always promised. But we should be clear that rejecting what is not true is not the same thing as bowing the knee to the one who is truth. To get the fruits of Christianity require that it has roots, especially in the essential beliefs and God, the maker of heaven and earth, and Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, and all the rest. In the screw tape letter, C.S. Lewis wrote this, quote, men or nations who think they can revive the faith in order to make a good society might just as well think they can use the stairs of heaven as a shortcut to the nearest chemist shop, end quote.
Yes, Christianity is certainly good for the world, but it's also true. In fact, it's only good because it's true. for the Colson Center on John Stone Street with Breakpoint. Today's Breakpoint was co-authored by Dr. Timothy Padgett.
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