THE CULTURE OF ARMAGEDDON
“Is there a cultural war?” A good question. What do we mean by culture? Culture is “the sum total of ways of living developed by a group of human beings and handed on from generation to generation” (qtd. in Gagging of God 538). This definition creates conflict between good and evil, right and wrong, God and the world, but cannot be avoided. Incidentally, this is the meaning of Armageddon in Revelation 16:16.
The biblical worldview. In the beginning (Genesis 1-3), God set forth the biblical worldview culminating in Christianity (Hebrews 1:1-2a; John 14:6). The biblical worldview insists man obey, serve, worship and glorify God (Revelation 4:11). God defines both the origin and purpose of man. God created man in His image (Genesis 1:26-27) and as the apex of His creation. He imbued man with all the traits of personality. God created man a creature of choice; i.e. man could choose to obey or disobey God. Consequently, man walks in the biblical worldview when his behavior is learned and modified by the divine standard, the Bible.
Society’s worldview. We can describe the society’s worldview as that group of individuals who have rejected the biblical standard of life and values, and in doing so, created their own standard and values. Society has adopted a philosophical approach, in which, instead of obedience to God, each man does whatever he wants. This is often described by the phrase, “I’ll do it my way.” However it is described, society is like the society in the days of the Old Testament Judges, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25; 17:6).
Is there a cultural war? The question borders on the ridiculous. Who will deny there is no conflict between the two worldviews? The objectives of society’s worldview is to overcome and eliminate the biblical worldview. It is a cultural war involving truth, doctrine, values, morals, etc. The differences and objectives are recognized from the lowest to the highest in society. In June of 1994, our then President Clinton, trapped in an immoral situation, stated, "We don’t need a cultural war in this country" over moral values. The biblical worldview opposes society’s worldview. Society’s worldview opposes the biblical worldview. Neither can nor must tolerate the behavior, values, morals, etc., of the other. This results in war between the two philosophies. By war we mean “a struggle between opposing forces or for a particular end” (Webster).
Fruits of the two worldviews. Jesus stated that we could know one another by our fruits (Matthew 7:20). Briefly, the biblical worldview can be set forth as follows: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16-17). Consider also, “the house of the righteous shall stand” (Proverbs 12:7) and “But in every nation he that fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted of Him” (Acts 10:35). This gives man and society stability.
Society’s worldview bears fruit that is not good for man, society, and his eternity. Man has made God over by making Him man-size by ignoring, being indifferent, or an outright denial of God’s existence. They have set aside the divine standard and opted for no absolutes. Sin is called good. Good is called sin. Toleration of all things except divine things. Of the divine and the sacred there is a strong intolerance. The consequence is that society is filled with indescribable crimes, constant crises, and on-going conflict in morals, religion, values, etc. This has happened ever since God banished man from the garden because of his disobedience. It will continue to Judgment. The culture of Armageddon goes on. The battle is never-ending.