One need not possess the Wisdom of Solomon to preceive the moral and religious crisis our nation is facing. The prevailing world-view in America is becoming increasingly pagan. The appalling appeal of secularism and the emergence of a culture that is increasingly anti-Christian causes us to realise that we are living in a world that is hostile to the foundation principles that made our nation great. The potent forces of evil are waging an unceasing war against our heritage, threatening the very existence of Western Civilization, as we have known it.

Yes, the Prince of the power of the air, the god of this world, has incarcerated the minds of our youth, holding them hostage. Demanding we pay the ransom with an abandonment of all that is high and holy, daring us to send our Davids out against his Goliaths, believing we are too insipid to resopond to his challenge.

Vilent forces alien to our Christian heritage are recruiting millions who join them in an agnada whose objectives is an invasion of the world to erase the evidences of Christianity in North Africa. History is repeating itself in that Twenty-first Century jihadists are waging war against our culture with similar zeal.

In addition to forces outside our western culture that hate our way of life are enemies within our coasts. Forces of secularization within our ranks seek to remove God from the consciousness of our people, and they are enjoying relative success. Evangelist Jay Young has well noted: “This unceasing war assumes various forms; violent socio-political and judicial, as well as the world’s mass media, most of which are characterized by a hostle, anti-Christian aganda” (FHU Lectures-2007).

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Christian community does not receive the sympathetic ear from many American Political leaders in either the legislative or executive brance, as in past years was taken for granted. American culture is changing rapidly. So, whereas in past years Christian values were afforded a sympathetic ear; today, at best, things “Christian” are viewed by many of our leaders as an annoyance.

With the aid of electronic devices, the anti-God atmosphere perpetuated by Hollywood, the anti-family, anti-Christ, anti-religion agenda promoted by the lyrics, as well as the”noise” of the music bombarding the ears of our people, especially our youth. Satan is having a field day corrupting the values held by our forefathers. It is later than we think.

This Subculture, immoral, ungodly attitude toward things holy has adversely affected some in the religious community itself. With far too great a frequency we learn of the men of the “cloth” who are caught up in some sexual tryst. Adding to this sad revelation is an apparent reluctance in some quarters to discipline, quarantine, and isolate these perpetual evildoers (See 2 Tim. 3:1-7).

A number of journals, books, and periodicals—both secular and theological—have given considerable attention to Richard Dawkins’ new book, The God Delution. He has written a number of books on evolutionary biology and anti-religious propaganda. The God-hating professor represents a new class of atheists who deny the existence of God and advocate the complete eradication of religion. In The God Delution Dawkins characterizes belief in God as a mental virus—a sickness of the mind. Drawing on a previous essay, Dawkins writes: “The general theory of religion as an accidental byproduct—a misfiring of something useful—is the one I wish to advocate” (218). Thus a belief in God, according to Dawkins, signifies a mental “misfiring” or a dysfunctional brain. His theory of religion does not permit him to acknowledge any virtue in religious systems despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Hawkins, however, is not the only radical in this new class of atheists. Sam Harris recently published a book entitled Letters To A Christian Nation wherein he attacts the Christian faith and its alleged influence on American politics. In a previous book, Harris describes Christianity as a “story of mankind’s misery and ignorance rather than of its requited love of God” (107). Referring to belief in God as “ignorant” is a tired and unoriginal argument that atheists continue to use despite the strong evidence-based thinking that underlies belief in the Biblical God.

Harris’ attact, though, seems rather weak given Christopher Hitchens assessment of religion. A recently published book, God Is Not Great argues the ‘”religion poisons everything” because it is a “menace to civilization” and a “threat to human survival” (25). It is difficult to view religion as a “poison” and “menace” given Paul’s admonition that Christians be “obedient” and “submissive” citizens in their respective nations (Titus 3: 1-2). Hitchens further contends that “religion teaches people to be extremely self-centered and conceited"”(74). This accusation, as it applies to Christian faith, is not only implausible but blatantly false. Adherets to the Christian relition are supposedly taught self-centeredness despite the Biblical obligation to “count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 1:3). What type of characterstic does Hitchens seem to be displaying in his self-assured critique of the alleged “threat” of religion?

The new breed of atheism stands in vivid contrast to the open-minded skeptics of the past. Dawkins clearly articulates his motive for writing The Great Delution; “If this book as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down” (5). Wallace I. Matson, a fellow atheist, was not interested in converting his audience when he debated Thomas B. Warren. At the beginning of the debate, Matson acknowledged: “I am not out to make converts. In fact, I would be a little embarrassed about it. Because I must remember, after all, I might just possibly be wrong” (2). Dawkins, and those of his persuasion, are so eager to “convert” people to their brand of radicalism that conceding the possibility of error is not an option. They are unwilling to have an honest discussion on the existence of God even though their predecessors were willing to extend that courtesy to believers.

Matson, in fact, conmends the open-mindedness of his Christian audience: “It certainly is admirable of the Church of Christ that they not only tolerate challenges but even go out of their way to import a challenger from far away and at enormous expense”(1). Christians are willing to tolerate challenges from atheists because Jesus taught us to love our enemies (Mt. 5:44). Christians are willing to treat people like Dawkins and Harris kindly because (despite their claims) we do not attack our opponents with unloving words and carnal weapons of warfare (II Cor. 10:4). People of God are eager to hear the challenges posed against them because that they are ready to give a defence of their belief in the living God (1 Pt. 3:15). Believers are willing to have their faith tested becauce they are not easily persuaded by myths (1 Tim. 4:7). Unfortunately Dawkins and his fellow atheists are not as eager to have their ideas examined and challenged. Although he disagreed with Warren’s possition, Matson nontheless concluded that the practice of the Church of Christ was “beautiful,” and that its members were “impressive,” courteous, and friendly (347). It is a pity that ’tolerant’ atheists are so intolerant of those who disagree with their ideology.

The Bible is clear that those who repudiate God are foolish (Ps. 14:1); they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Rom. 1:25).   Radical atheists try to normalize their destructive message by calling “evil good and good evil” (Isa. 5:20). In a spirit of humility, Christians must firmly demand that atheists prove the retionality of their belief. The evidence in nature, logic, and scripture overwhelmingly demonstrates the existence of an eternal God. Thus the burden of proof should reside with those who have foolishly rejected the reationality that undergirds faith in God.

As Thomas Warren asserts, “every person should study the evidence and draw only the conclusion that is warranted by that evidence. That is in harmony with what it means to be a Christian” (Warren-Flew viii). Unfortunately, Dawkins and other extremists have rejected this intellectual obligation required by the Christian belief system.

A new movie by Beb Stein (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed) questions the elitist idea that people cannot challenge the validity of Darwinian evolution. The film demontrates the unwillingness of atheists to provide a balanced treatment of the debate of the creation vs. evolution. A documentary like this will further reinerate the ideas proposed in this article.

In the New Testament Book of Romans the apostle Paul said this regarding the Gentile nations that had rejected a knowledge of God, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”.

A recent example of those who claim such wisdom involves this statement, “Monkeys can perform mental eddition in a manner remarkably similar to college students, a new study shows. The reseachers stressed that monkeys will not pass college math tests anytime soon. Neverless, the findings promises to shed light on the ancient origins of math in humanity and our distant relatives”. Maybe its just me—but when people start likening themselves to monkeys its hard to take them seriously.

The arcicles above only relate to the Church of Christ. What I think their meaning of this is that the Church of Christ here represents Christianity as a whole. The church that descended from the forerunner, John the Baptist (John Baptist in one place in the scriptures) was the Baptist Church of Christ (not any other Baptist). The Baptist Church of Christ does now correspond with any other Christian church. This does not mean that its members think it is the only one that will end on the shores of Heaven, but means that it is the closest Christian church to the one that Christ established. (The Author)