What Now America? What Now Church? |
I imagine you like me had to read two provocative books in high school: “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley written in 1932 and “1984” by George Orwell written in 1948. Both were prescient prognostications of the sociological and spiritual future of America. In 1985 Neil Postman, a liberal Christian communication professor, wrote “Amusing Ourselves to Death.” His insight on these two classics is a classic. “Contrary to common belief even among the educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley’s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think. What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture. … In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.” It seems that there is ample reason to be concerned of both dangers. The devil does have a scheme and we must not be ignorant of it. (Eph. 6:11; 2 Cor. 2:11) We need not fear him, but he is a hideous strength who seeks to frighten and silence the Church in the midst of the culture and cancel the name of Christ. No matter what type of culture we live in, no matter what type of society we find ourselves inhabiting, we are to walk by, live by and if need be, die by faith. As the author of Hebrews reminds us; “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” Make no mistake about it and mark it well; Satan will seek to attack us by force or fraud. We are to stay focused by faith on our Savior. Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred |