In Defense of Christian Orthodoxy in Contemporary Society

IN DEFENSE OF CHRISTIAN ORTHODOXY IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

By Ezekiel Kimosop

Christian orthodoxy is perhaps understood more in the context of outlining our beliefs and practices that concern the fundamental truths of Scripture than about our defense of those truths that inform our Christian worldview. Both contexts are significant. 

Conservative Evangelicals are traditionally known for their hesitancy in accepting "new stuff" in Christian worship and practices unless they are satisfied that they are consistent with the teaching of Scripture. This prudence was first witnessed in the Berea Christian community. The Bereans demonstrated unparalleled diligence in verifying the faithfulness of Paul's preaching with the teaching of the Old Testament Scripture. Luke reports in Acts 17:11 that "...they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

The Bible commends this prudence in other sections of Scripture, notably 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-15. Nothing perhaps underscores the validity of this prudence than the concoction that consolidates Christianity and contemporary lifestyle. 

Picture this....My encounter with the popular Jerusalema rendition accorded me an opportunity to inquire into its faithfulness to the teachings of Scripture. I must admit that this was not an easy exercise. I had to juggle between playing and pausing the video song to catch the English translation before writing my commentary. Thankfully a brother sent me the full English translation. I agree with those who say that the African gospel scene is quickly getting swallowed up by secularism and may finally be lost in its muddle. 

When I finally posted my commentary on Jerusalema song on a certain social media page that hosts both believers and secular people, one guy who at one point had confessed in the same page that he was a born again Christian was apparently irked by my critical commentary. He quickly scolded me on the page, saying [verbatim quote]:

"Mtumishi....I respect your analysis above....but the cardinal duty of a clergy is to fight sins and sinners in society.....less interference with a song that causes happiness especially at these moments of sorrowness and pandemics. Pse walk up and enjoy the song with your family and congregation."

His reaction did not surprise me though. I have come across dozens others of this sort on social media. It aptly conveyed the growing influence of the secularist worldview that has invaded our church pews! 

Yes, I agree with those who rightly observe that we have lost the prudence in evaluating Christian music and have thrown our diligence to the wind! The Jerusalema song is just one among many popular lyrics that contemporary Christianity easily passes for Bible centered gospel renditions. This is not to suggest that the song is ungodly per se. I simply needed to understand its theological message. 

You will perhaps recall the Kenyan hit song that appears to suggest that God loves us more today than he did yesterday! The song sounds "gospel" in every conceivable manner until one narrows down on its lyrics with a critical eye. Why else would it be classified as a top gospel hit? It was soon adopted as a popular Sunday school rhyme in churches where little kids got to learn that Jesus' love for them grows over time...or does it....hmmm. By declaring that God's love is variable, the composers appear to openly misrepresent the nature of God's love for His covenant people that the Bible says endures forever (Psalm 136).  

But who cares?

Someone argued that we should refrain from reading too much into nothing.... really? How far are we prepared to go in watering down Biblical truths to appease the world? Gospel music is just one of the many platforms that reveal our rapidly shifting cultural worldview in contemporary Christianity. Another concept is the celebration of secular calendar events in the Christian community including 14th February, the day dedicated to St Valentino of Rome. I have addressed this issue elsewhere in this website blog. 

WORRYING TRENDS IN GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY

Away from gospel music, there are more glaring indicators that reveal that global Christianity has been shifting from its centre-pole over the centuries. One of my theological courses in seminary was dedicated to the study of World Christianity in historical and contemporary contexts. It examines the history and movement of Christianity across the globe through the ages since the Early Church period. The statistics are startling. Global Christianity has been exponentially shifting to the global South even as its original cradle in Europe is increasingly being reduced to a pale shadow of its former self!

One might perhaps be surprised to learn that Europe now accounts for less than a quarter of world Christians and this number is sharply declining as secularism and atheism takes its toll on this traditional bastion of global Christianity. European Christianity is increasingly turning into a private religion. Cathedrals have been converted to supermarkets and entertainment joints, thanks to the advance of a churchless society.   

According to the Pew Report (2010), out of the estimated 2 billion global Christians today, European Christians account for only 26%. This is a sharp decline from 70% since 1910! It is further reported that 37% of Christians are now found in the Americas [comprising North America and Latin America] while 24% live in Sub-Saharan Africa. One in eight Christians (13%) lives in Asia and the Pacific including the Oceania.

What went wrong with European Christianity? Only two words aptly describe its demise: modernism and secularism. It is estimated that African Christianity will account for a sizable proportion of global Christianity in the next few decades given its rapid growth which is one of the highest in the world.

Sadly, global Christianity is now moving into a dispensation that theologians have classified as "post-truth"  or "post-Christian" era in which the sanctity and authority of Scripture is questioned, defied and openly rejected and Christian orthodoxy or traditionalism is attacked. Individualism and relativism is now the ruling norm for large sections of contemporary Christianity. 

CONCLUSION

This secularism that was previously identified Christian societies in America and Europe is rapidly catching up in the global south. Church Cathedrals in major European towns are now being converted into bars and shopping malls, thanks to the lost Christian heritage. It may perhaps be only a matter of time before this culture overruns the global south (Third World) unless radical efforts are made to shore up Christian orthodoxy in this region.

Once a Christian society neglects the fundamentals of its faith and is less concerned about its doctrinal boundaries, it slips into secularism and its pristine religious identity is irretrievably lost. If we cannot tell the difference between a gospel song and a secular rendition, we cannot possibly distinguish between Biblical truth and error or between genuine Christian practices and secular lifestyles. 

It is the duty of every standing Christian to defend the faith that was once for all delivered to us (Jude 1:3). This comes at a cost. One will be scolded, chided, isolated and assigned pharisaical labels for championing or defending Christian orthodoxy where it matters.

Are you willing to stand out and be counted? 

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020