(This post is Part 3 of a series on the rise of the Postmodern world and its impact on Biblical Protestantism. This post offers Biblical insight to the theological and spiritual changes we are witnessing in our day and how we ought to view them through the lens of Scripture. These essays are an exploration of the continual impact of Postmodern thought upon Biblical Christianity.)
Naturally, when discussing such shifts in theological and philosophical thinking, the question among true Bible-believing Christians arises: what can we do about this new shift in the history of religion in the world? The Bible provides a very simple answer to that question: NOTHING. We cannot stop such religious and philosophical shifts which are simply part of the global rebellion of mankind against God and His sovereign rule. Indeed, God does not expect us to start, stop or change the broad flow of human history. One of the sad commentaries regarding current Evangelical thought and theology is that far too many Evangelicals and Fundamentalists are still living under the old New England Puritan and later Edwardsian pang of conscience that it is the Church’s responsibility both to change history and to usher in Christ’s kingdom. The scripture is very clear: God is sovereign over the course and direction of human events, and God alone changes and directs the flow of time and historical development. The duty of the Christian is simple: be faithful to God’s commands in the Holy Scripture no matter what may happen. Hence, many a saint has spoken wisely, “Duty is mine, consequences are God’s.” And a true Protestant, indeed a true Calvinist, would assert that in all circumstances of providence, our first duty in all of life is to trust God and to submit to His all wise and all sovereign will.
Having stated these observations, let us now turn the real question regarding this new shift in theology and thought in the Western world. The right question we should ask is not what is happening (descriptive) or what can we do about the present crisis of thought and theology (proactive), but rather the question we ought to ask is this:
What does the Scripture say about such a crisis of theology? And how are we to view such a crisis in light of the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ?
These are the fundamental questions we must ask ourselves in the query concerning an understanding of the times in which we live. Indeed, every Christian in every age ought to ask this one question. What does the scripture say about my times and circumstances? Between the constant badgering of the secularist and the age old question of the devil himself, too many Christians have allowed themselves to think that the Bible does not address their time and circumstances. But in fact, the Bible does talk about different times and seasons, and through His word, Christ offers instruction for His church in all such times and occasions. With this perspective in the mind, the question we ought to ask in such times of crisis is this:
How am I to view the current shift of theology and thought that is occurring, especially considering the overall traumatic effects it is having upon our economic, political, social, cultural, national and international circumstances?
Without a doubt, in our life time we will witness the total collapse of Protestantism as we have known it for the last five centuries. But with the outward collapse of such a movement or an absence of a clear outward profession of faith, does that mean that the church of Jesus Christ shall cease to exist? On the contrary, the scripture patently declares otherwise! Christ will build His church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it! That is the sure promise from Christ himself. But that promise does not mean there will not be rises and falls in the history of the church until Christ returns. So then, that fact being acknowledged, the proper question for us to consider is what should our duty be when faced with the traumatic shift of thought that is occurring in our day, and what can we as followers of Jesus Christ do to prepare for new world which we and our descendants may face: a world in which the Protestant havens we have known no longer exist and we are left in a theologically and ecclesiastically desolate wilderness. It is this question that I hope to address in the essays to come.
smcope 
Stephen,
As I compare what you are saying with what men like Francis Schaeffer have said in the past, the Schaefferisms really fall flat. I was reminded recently that it was Schaeffer’s view that the present problems of America – and more particularly the American church – are all because our forebears mistreated blacks. And so, in his view, this generation must repent of the alleged sins of Washington and Jefferson in order for the church to be made right.
Paul Elliott
Thank you, for your comment, Paul. This is one of the many reasons I am NOT a fan of Francis Shaeffer. Like to many of his contemporaries, he was too readily influenced by the New School Presbyterian thinking, that had embraced elements of the German Matrix of Historical Progression. This is the great plague of American theological thinking, and its roots go all the way back to the New England Puritans and their unbiblical views of the church and of future things. Sadly, this thinking still dominates American Evangelicalism and most of American so-called “Presbyterian” and “Calvinist” churches. Thanks for the observation.
When I first became Reformed 15 years ago I battled with a number of folks including the pastor at a local Presbyterian church who believed, more or less, the world would someday see itself Christianized prior to Christ’s Second Coming as a result of the preaching of the gospel. Today I find myself having to wrestle with the same issue. You spoke of a Scripturally-informed worldview of ongoing political, social, economic, etc. trends. Nowhere in God’s Word nor in the present condition of this world do I see this to be the case but instead the complete opposite. Rome has largely hoodwinked the “Protestant” and “Reformed” church into thinking the good times will someday roll and is busy inviting everyone “home” to join the party. May true believers remain apart from this deception and keep their eyes upon the King who rules over everything and who will faithfully oversee their souls unto the end of this present, evil age regardless what lies between now and that day.