These Are the End Times We’ve Been Hearing About…

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

I’ve been off my main social network for a few months now but had to go back on it to shut down another of my pages. Since I’m no longer there to update anything, it seems pointless to have the page since it will simply go out of date more and more with each passing day. While there, I decided to do a search to see if I could locate any friends I used to have when I attended what used to be Philadelphia College of Bible (or PCB, but then became Philadelphia Biblical University, and finally (?) Cairn University and no, that’s not referring to the breed of dog). I was hoping to see what some of my old friends might be up to. In a few cases, I wished I hadn’t bothered to search for them.

I was absolutely astounded to learn how far left some of them have moved with respect to their political leanings. It was intriguing to remember that when we all attended PCB in the mid to late 1970’s, people were generally fairly conservative both politically and of course, doctrinally. In fact, in those days at PCB, Dispensationalism was more mainstream, since the school had as one of its founders, C. I. Scofield. You won’t even find Scofield’s name mentioned in any official history related to the college now. Then, each student was required to sign a document stating their full agreement not only with the doctrinal position of the college, but also agreed to abide by a specific code of conduct.

It was clear how far some of my past friends had retreated from their previously held position (politically and biblically), and all of this from simply perusing their social network pages. Though not everyone I came across exhibited the same signs of conformity with the world’s standards, the ones I did see who had exchanged truth for lies saddens me greatly.

Is that what the Bible teaches? Is this what Jesus Himself taught? Is this why He came, lived a sinless life, died a sinner’s death, yet without sin to become the atoning sacrifice for US – you and me, so that we could comfortably conform to the world?

Then again, the college has set a new tone. Cairn University is now far more concerned with “moving forward.” It certainly says something, though without digging, it’s really not that clear. Forward: The Campaign is about raising awareness of the school, its new mission, and of course, raising money. It’s wrapped in a three-fold plan:

1. Forward is a refusal to stand still in the face of a changing world with great need for biblical truth, service, and community.
2. Forward is the first step in a larger plan to advance the mission and vision of the University.
3. Forward is the direction of Cairn’s second century.

On one hand, the leadership claims they are refusing to stand still against a world that has a tremendous need for biblical truth, service, and community. On the other hand, they seem to have done this already by first removing the word “Bible/Biblical” from the name of the college? That deletion makes absolutely no sense to me at all unless it’s from a secular perspective only. In fact, it appears to be seriously contradictory in nature.

Are they now trying to sneak up on the world by hiding behind the new name for the college which could very easily be misunderstood to mean a type of dog (Cairn Terrier)? Seems that way. They say it means a pile of stones used as a marker; as a memorial or something that points the way. It can also be taken to remind of the pagan altars made of stones and set up as “high places” in the Old Testament. It’s just absurd. I’d really love to know who the person was who broached that name for the college, but I’m sure I’ll never learn of it. All that matters apparently, is that the board was “unanimous” in their decision as if that is the main way God’s will is determined.

Added to this is the official biography of president Dr. Todd Williams and his qualifications to be the president of Cairn University, which reads in part:

[Williams] is an experienced educator, CEO, fundraiser, and organizational development consultant. He also serves as a visiting lecturer and speaker on cultural and professional issues. He is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the John Jay Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Interestingly enough, there is nothing in his official bio (dated December 5, 2016; see image), that speaks of or refers to his own conversion, how long he has been a Christian, or his years of growth as a Christian. We learn he’s an educator, a CEO, a consultant and a fundraiser. Apparently, we need no other pertinent information about the man who was tapped to lead a Bible college into the next century. I’m not trying to slam Dr. Williams, but one would think and rightly even expect to read something about his background as a leader and a Christian, not merely learn of his mainly secular leadership skills.

All of this has obviously got me concerned about many things within Christendom today and for good reason, which coincided with an article a friend from church recently sent me. It highlighted America’s declining faith in pastors and churches. In it, a survey concluded that “More than half of respondents agreed their pastor’s words had no real authority over their lives, even from the pulpit.” That’s certainly sad, but not necessarily unexpected based on Scripture.

But what has caused this underlying problem? Is it the sheer size of so many Christian organizations? Is it due to the fact that too many leaders are hiding the gospel under a bushel and refusing to speak plainly? At the same time, Christian leaders and pastors aren’t perfect people. They have their faults and foibles. Like the rest of us, they are sinners saved by grace and daily, they – like all Christians – are to pick up and carry their crosses daily. When they preach and teach, they are supposed to be teaching from God’s Word with the authority that comes from His Book because of its inherent truth.

But people in society today do not like to hear God’s Word, especially when it is preached with authority. It makes them angry. It makes them feel unworthy as it points out issues in a person’s life that needs to be dealt with in order for any real growth to occur. People prefer today to dig their heels in. No one has the right to tell anyone else how to live their life, certainly, but Christians are supposed to want to learn, grow, and thrive in Christ. However, today, it’s all about some ethereal form of feeling good that we label “love.” That’s all that matters. 

But didn’t Jesus come to save us from ourselves and our sin? I believe so. Is that message still relevant or not? In the end, it should be about sharing the truth of the Gospel with people who desperately need to hear it (Romans 10:14-15). Jesus spoke in parables to keep the truth from being discovered by religious leaders who had closed themselves off to it. We are to boldly preach the gospel with words and deeds.

Today, it seems too often Christians have taken their eyes off God and placed them squarely onto individual leaders who may have a certain degree of charisma and secular abilities, but little else. When those leaders end up failing, the same eyes that were looking at them and saw their failures fail to look to God and Scripture. It’s not a huge leap to go from a failed outside focus to a failed internal one. I wonder if that’s why so many Christian leaders of today are getting off point by delving into areas like “ethics,” “religious liberty,” “cultural issues,” and more? Seems like Dominionism wrapped up in new clothing. It may sound religious, but it misses the point entirely. Christians should be the most ethical people around in the way we live our lives. Instead, we have a hodge-podge of leaders who cater to the largest and often most secular common denominator in the community around them.

The meaning of life, everyone seemed to agree, could be found not by looking to tradition or to community, either past or present, but rather, by looking within…Individual development, individuality, and self-fulfillment should be the preeminent goals.

It’s really nothing more than a giant, consistent push toward deification of the person as society slowly and consistently falls away from worshiping the only One who actually deserves our adoration and worship. It is what Satan began in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. From that point, he has continued to push his agenda with each successive generation until we are here right now. Sadly, society is following the simple and extremely destructive route outlined by the apostle Paul in Romans 1. Read the whole chapter and weep.

Religious authority is increasingly grounded in individual preference, not religious leaders or institutions.

What is most tragic is that religious authority is no longer seen in God’s Word. If God has no real authority, then Satan has truly deceived people, including too many Christians.

We are seeing the results of a society where people take little to no time to study the Scriptures personally, to learn and grow as God would have us learn and grow. People today read snippets of the Bible (if they read it at all), for personal gain and self-enlightenment and/or “self-actualization.” It’s not really about learning how to submit to God in order to gain more of Him. It’s instead about what we can find in the Bible that allows us to feel good about giving into our own wants, felt needs, and whims. That’s really what it’s all about for too many within Christendom today.

Over the decades, church has merely become a point of contact for people, something folks place on their social calendar that fulfills a need. Too often church today does not challenge. It instead provides camaraderie and friendship in an entertaining environment that tells us we’re “okay.” What worldly person does not want that? When people do not receive that from that environment, they go somewhere else to find it because there are plenty of churches (or colleges), in existence designed to do just that. If people cannot ultimately find it in a church setting, they’ll start looking outside the church and eventually, leave the church behind altogether and of course with it, God though they will kid themselves into thinking that God is “with” them.

And just one in ten agrees the local church has any authority to say whether a person is or is not a Christian at all, according to Ligonier and LifeWay.

I think the apostle Paul makes this very clear in his second letter to Timothy, when Paul warned him about the perilous days that Christians would find themselves in as this age moved toward its close.

But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. (2 Timothy 3:1-5a).

If the people of my generation are leaving God behind and embracing all forms of idolatry and sin, how much more difficult will it be for young people of today to become and remain anchored to God now? Every generation must ask the question: what will they do with God? Starting out strong is wonderful. Remaining strong to the end is preferred and too many are not ending on that note. Too many are like Susan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, who finds the things of this world too alluring to avoid. In the end, she shuts down her once thriving affection for Aslan, exchanging it for the love of the world.

It’s been a long time in coming but it’s here and here it will remain until Jesus returns. In fact, we know from other Scripture that things will simply progressively worsen. That is something we can count on and prepare for, but our job in the meantime as authentic Christians is to do several things:

1. always give a reason for the hope you have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15)
2. always be a witness in word or deed (Colossians 3:17)
3. always be and remain faithful to our Lord (Hebrews 10:23; Romans 12:12)

We cannot grow tired or weary of what the world is becoming.  We have been warned in many areas within Scripture about the last days. Are you reading His Word? Are you getting to know the Author of the Bible?

It is getting to a point where it is becoming easier and easier to turn your back on Jesus. In fact, Jesus notes this several times throughout the gospels that a day is coming when people will not want to persevere in the faith. Paul highlights this fact as well. I am not saying that your salvation can be lost if you actually have it and I don’t think that’s what either Jesus or Paul are saying either. However, I am saying that because of a growing disenchantment with the way things are going in the world, the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Do not let this happen to you. Stay in the Word. Get and remain close to God and do not give any room to the many lies foisted upon society by our enemy who works overtime.

Stay true to your faith in Christ.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective