In an October 11 speech at the University of Notre Dame Law School, Attorney General William Barr sent out a wakeup call to a Church facing increasing persecution from Militant Secularism and a society drowning in moral chaos.
Mr. Barr drew an important distinction between the moral world view of Christians and that of Secularists. He described Christian morality as “Micro-Morality.” That is, individuals are responsible for their conduct and suffer the consequences for bad behavior. It is Christian faith which transforms us individually and can solve social problems by transforming the communities we live in.
Secularists, on the other hand, follow what Barr calls “Macro-Morality.” To them, individual conduct is not important. What is important is the “commitment to political causes and collective action to address social problems.” Thus, instead of helping set individuals free from the effects of sin in their lives, the Militant Secularists look for ways the state can make individuals comfortable in their sin.
Barr cited several examples of such policies: “So the reaction to growing illegitimacy is not sexual responsibility, but abortion. The reaction to drug addiction is safe injection sites. The solution to the an break down of the family is for the state to set itself up as an ersatz husband for the single mother and an ersatz father for the children. The call comes for more and more social programs to deal with this wreckage and while we think we’re solving problems, we are underwriting them”
And now the Militant Secularists are following their “Macro-Morality” semi-religion to turn the power of the state against the “Micro-Morality” people whose beliefs contradict theirs. Barr mentions instances of LGBT curriculums being forced on parents in public schools. We are also all aware of the attacks on the Christian bakers who opposed gay marriage. Barr compares these modern attempts to compel Christians to violate their conscience to the Roman emperors who tried to compel Christians to worship them.
Lest you think that these actions are restricted to a small lunatic fringe, there was a recent presidential debate where candidates could not conceal their hostility to Christianity as they promised to force the Church to bow to their Militant Secular Macro Morality. Persecution is at our door.
Sad to say, the Church is often complacent in its own undermining. Barr tells of a church service where a need for more soup kitchens was to be met not with volunteers and church outreach, but with appeals to the government. We are too often guilty of abandoning our call to save sinners and transform communities, standing by while the soulless government tries and fails to make people comfortable in their sin.
Attorney General Barr has issued a dire warning and a wakeup call to the Church.
We have the answer to the suffering of those in bondage to sin. His name is Jesus. But we must come together, reach out, take responsibility for our communities, meet people’s needs, and above all lead people to Him.
So remember God’s prescription for healing the land:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
It is up to us to repent and bring an end to the moral chaos and darkness which is spreading over the land. Let us turn on the light so darkness will flee.