Do you have convictions about whether the church can be or should be equated with a so-called Christian civilization? What positive and negative outcomes do you see for the church as a result of the changes in Western Christianity described in this lesson?

[Austin]

Yes, I do have convictions that the church should be seen as a Christian civilization. I can see the people who are committed to God’s calling in the Church while at the same time, I can see many mature Christians creating their own religious foundations for themselves. It was Christianity that actually formed the European community to what it has become. Lately, Christianity in the west has become a minority in the non-Christian society. This has come about through partly by political and social rights of people groups.

[Austin]

I believe the beginning church was a genuine effort in creating a Christian civilization although overtime people and governments have maligned what was supposed to be authentic in the beginning. There will always be people that are obsessed with power and we can’t overcome that until Jesus returns and establishes the true Christian civilization. The problems that I just spoke of are still active today and will continue to be active until Jesus’ return.

[Austin]

Civilization cannot be forced, but affected. Throughout its history, Christianity has affected civilization in so many positive ways from establishing hospitals to supporting widows, orphans, and those who would be seen as outcasts. However, the main problem I currently see in the West right now is that we are trying to force society to live as Christians from the outside-in. This creates a superficial situation and is not authentic, and further confuses the world as to what true Christianity actually looks like. We are to be a light in the world, and should appear as aliens and strangers in this world. We should not expect the world to look the Church, and certainly cannot force it. By living as Christians ourselves, others will see a difference in us and come to seek what we have.

[Austin]

This question begs for definition of civilization: the Webster dictionary calls it a relatively high level of cultural and technological development, characteristic of a particular time or place. Scripture (and experience) tells that in the last days evil men go from bad to worse (2 Timothy 3:13). Christians, of course, must persevere to shine as lights in a crooked world (Philippians 2:15), but realistically speaking, the civilization of any part of this world at any time in history can never be equated with all that the church stands for – until perhaps after the seventh angel has blown his trumpet and the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.. forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

The result of having this unrealistic expectation is that:

1. We will be disappointed with what changes
   the Lord apparently has not brought to society.
2. People in non-European and non-American
   countries are not attracted to a Western Christianity.
3. We lose an argument in apologetics. Opponents
   of Christianity find reason to criticize how decadent Western morals have
   become, since we say that Western civilization exemplifies what the city
   of God is like.

[Austin]

I do think that we should bring the Kingdom of God to the earth as much as is possible. I don’t think that it is going to happen fully until Jesus Himself returns. I do find the changes to the west to be disturbing as that means we’ve lost ground.