How can we rebuild the foundations of our nation and culture?
We live in a time when things done today would have never been considered not long ago. Families, interactions, and roles of government have changed. These changes have resulted in destruction to many nations and cultures. How can we each rebuild the foundations of our nation and culture?
Cultural foundations have an effect on nations and cultures
In the Biblical story of Babylon found in Genesis 10:8-10, Nimrod, Noah’s great grandson, founded the kingdom of Babel in the land of Shinar. Shinar is located in modern day Iraq between the Tigress and Euphrates Rivers. It is there that the history of the Tower of Babel takes place in Genesis 11 and ruins of such towers can be found in that region today (1). The Biblical history of this kingdom can be seen as follows:
Genesis 11:1-9. And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
The interesting thing about this time in history is that Nimrod, was a great grandson of Noah and he and his family were quite familiar with the events of the flood. Nimrod became a very successful man, but one must wonder how did the culture of his time change so quickly that they decided to worship other gods? What convinced them to build a tower to heaven to make a name for themselves? It did not just happen in a vacuum.
It is apparent that according to Genesis 11:6, the people were well advanced in thinking and able to pretty well accomplish anything they set their minds to:
Genesis 11:6. “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”
Although the text does not mention it, many things can be learned from the archaeological discoveries of Babylon. These people were far above everyone else when it came to feats of engineering and diverse in the creation their own religions.
Education affects the foundation of nations and cultures
It is hard to imagine that there would not have been a collective schoolhouse in the land of Shinar. There the best and brightest young minds would have been trained all in the same ways. Unfortunately, those young minds were not trained in righteousness as their forefather Noah had been, Instead, they were trained to be “progressive thinkers” set on taking on the world with new ideas, creating their own gods, and building a tower to become famous. Despite their progressive thinking, there came a point when God put an end to it. He did it by confusing their language and spreading them out so that they could not understand and conspire with each other.
Today, each town in America has its own version of a “schoolhouse in Shinar.” A schoolhouse that is training America’s youth to be “progressive thinkers” set on taking on the world with their own ideas and creating their own gods. They are obsessed with building their own 21st Century version of towers of Babel to make a name for themselves. Today’s towers are the social media sites; radio, television, and movie industries; colleges; real estate; and famous entertainers and influencers where people make names for themselves.
Influencers affect the foundation of nations and cultures
We saw the worldwide results of this trend when the World Trade Center in New York City, was destroyed by terrorists on September 11th, 2001. That day, terrorists, wanted to be glorified in their own culture by becoming influencers of America’s culture. There was even a long-term effort to rebuild on the site. However, much time was spent getting started because of a debate over who it will honor and how it will look. Even later, people that claimed to be there that day were discovered to not even having been in the city. Yet, they wanted to be associated with historic event so they could receive notoriety that enables them to have influence over many others.
Looking beyond America’s borders, the ultimate in progressive thinking is seen in what were established to be international organizations of peace. There, many popular efforts eventually result in systemic failure and corruption (2). However, it is seldom acknowledged because in their minds there is a god of “greater good” to be served. This god of greater good tends to promote enabling those throughout the world that have politically correct values and blame others for their failures.
When it comes down to it, many of these same attitudes and actions are used by organizations and public figures today. Likewise, their approaches are not too different than what Nimrod undertook in centuries past. The question, is how do we sort out the good influencers from the bad influencers?
What are solutions to dealing with destructive influences?
God’s solution to the problem in Babylon is applicable today. The confusion created by the teachings of the world must be exposed and rationally shown how destructive they are. The question is, what do we use as the standard for determining right and wrong influences and behaviors? Like those of the past, they all had the same ideas and spoke the same culturally and politically correct language.
A different language is needed to expose our motivations
There needs to be a return to a language that exposes motivations that influencers use to destructively influence our culture. This requires many people to learn or relearn that language: the language of God’s Word. Just as a child is taught to communicate from birth, children need to be taught God’s Word from birth. However, the intent is not to use a different language to confuse them as they grow up. Instead, it needs to be one that logically enlightens and educates them to esteem others above themselves and serve one another as follows:
Philippians 2:3-8. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
It is being immersed in this language, that influences people to love and serve each other, not focusing on themselves. However, just as cultures change with each generation, there must be a concerted effort to influence the newest generations to be unselfish influencers.
How do we change the language to rebuild the foundations?
Language experts tell us the best way to learn a new language is to be immersed in it until it becomes “second nature.” They go on to say when someone is able to think and reason in another language that they have made great progress. Children need to be immersed in the language of God so they receive the “second nature” through the Holy Spirit so that they can think in the language of God.
Children need to be protected from the culture of the world by parents who create a culture of Christ for their children. Parents need to make the culture of Christ so attractive that their children will not choose the alternative. Some people may call it brain washing our children. However, considering the filth of the world being taught without our asking, our children need to have their minds constantly washed by the water of the Word (Titus 3:5).
Church families are needed to rebuild the foundations
The people have to separate from their old ways, habits, and relationships by being brought into the family of God. This means churches are going to have to get out of the mode of focusing on church growth and begin focusing on growing the church. In other words, focusing on growth should not be to increase attendance, but instead increase the Christlikeness of each person.
This means making solid disciples of those who already believe so that they can go out into the world and make a difference with others. This will require a lot of work, but the stakes could never be higher. The goal should be teaching God’s Word to all so that when they know the normal, the abnormal stands out. In other words, they need to know what God says about everything so that they have a clear set of directions on how to deal with anything.
Churches need to take back the role of serving the public
Churches also need to repent of the sin of forsaking the serving of the world and letting government do the job of the church. Churches need to start working to meet the needs of the community. This also means they need to provide Christ-centered counseling and training people from God’s Word about how to handle the issues of life. They also need to stop tossing Christ-centered counseling issues to the wolves of anti-Christ centered counseling.
There are many other things that churches can do, but first, they need to follow the example of Nehemiah when he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. He first learned what was going on with his people, then he prayed to God for guidance on how to meet them. From there he sought out influencers that would support what needed to be done (Nehemiah 1). Nehemiah made a plan for how he was going to do it and engaged with those that can be part of the effort (Nehemiah 1-2).
Churches need a mission and vision to rebuild our nation and cultures
When considering how the church should serve as a base to change our culture, a plan has to be made. This is not to mean that we go off in our own direction. We look at planning with the idea that we do not know what tomorrow holds. We also must rely on God’s will to carry out a plan so that we are faithful stewards of the time and talents God has given us (James 4:14-15). Churches can do this by developing a strategic plan, sometimes called “vision casting.” Developing a church strategic plan helps to Biblically organize the time and effort being expended in the church to accomplish the mission of the church.
The specific mission of the church must be identified, keeping in mind what is the divine mission God has given to the church body and each person in it. A sample church mission statement might be:
“To bring honor and glory to God by providing ministries that lead people to Biblical salvation so that they love God with all their heart, with all their soul, with all their mind, and love their neighbor as themselves.”
From there, specific operational activities are put in place using the calling and talents God has provided to each person. For more about the divine mission from God that Jesus has in mind for each person read more about it:
Has Jesus given you a divine mission from God?
Next, a more detailed determination can be made to identify what is the vision of what the church will look like to the community and the goals necessary to make it happen. A sample vision for the church could be:
“Our church will be a prominent visible God honoring representation of the body of Christ to the area. We will achieve this while maintaining our submission to the will of God both corporately and personally.”
A sample goal would be:
“Strategically position our church to engage in ministry opportunities that lead to souls saved and lives changed by being a provider of ministry-based services through Spirit led, effective, efficient management and use of church resources.”
Everything else on the plan should support the vision and goal of the church.
Churches need to create ministries to carry out the plan
Once the mission and vision of the local church are identified, then the specific goals and strategies supporting it can be identified. A good description of areas of church strategy can be found in Acts 2:22-47. The context is the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and indwelled, or filled, in the believers. Peter responds to comments about the events by explaining what had happened and how it was a result of the ministry of Jesus. There are five strategies or goals that come out of his message for the local church to address as follows:
What are the 5-fold goals of the local church? Part 1 Salvation
What are the 5-fold goals of the local church? Part 2 Separation
What are the 5-fold goals of the local church? Part 3 Sanctification
What are the 5-fold goals of the local church? Part 4 Service
What are the 5-fold goals of the local church? Part 5 Sharing
There must be a concerted effort to grow Spiritual maturity
Finally, when examining these five strategies Biblically for the local church, it must be considered that each and every strategy involves the Spiritual maturing of each individual.
- First, the person accepts salvation
- Second, they make a statement of separation in believer’s baptism
- Third, they learn through Bible study, classes, fellowship, and prayer to live a sanctified or holy lifestyle under the control of the Holy Spirit
- Fourth, as they become more mature Christians, they step into positions of service as pastors, elders, teachers, counselors, deacons or other positions
- Fifth, those who have proven themselves are ordained by the local church to serve as full time Pastor’s, missionaries, and evangelists
The question that remains is: should the focus of the believer be to restore the foundations to save the nation? The answer is found in Revelation 11:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:20:
Revelation 11:15. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
2 Corinthians 5:20. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
These two verses teach us that a day will come when the kingdoms of this world will be consumed by the kingdom of Jesus Christ at His second coming. In the mean time, the focus of the church, the family, and the individual should be on developing a Biblical worldview so that we may prove to be faithful ambassadors for Christ until He calls us home.
Our focus should be on individual relationships with God
Despite the overall premise of restoring our nation and culture, the solution is not to focus on the restoration of America or whatever country one belongs to. Instead, the focus should be on the restoration of the individuals in America and the world through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Christ-centered education to a right relationship with God.
Only by addressing the problem in the hearts of each country’s citizens, will the change be made that is necessary to change the culture.
- Changing the hearts of the individual with God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit is what changes the worldview of the individual
- Change the worldview of the individual, and the behaviors of the individual will change
- Change the behaviors of the individual, and you change the culture
- Change the culture and you change government
- Change government and it will change the government’s role in the culture and the individual
When things are right between God and His people, the foundations of the nation will be strengthened, the nation’s people will glorify God, and He will exalt the nation (Proverbs 14:34). Focusing on passing laws and Constitutional Amendments is not the answer. Electing Christians to office is not the answer. Making Christian speech politically correct is not the answer. While all these are fine and good, the answer is changing the hearts of the people. This way, one by one, it builds into a groundswell of righteousness that overwhelms and floods the culture with the glory of God. It shows in God’s shining in the lives of each believer, washing away the filth by the washing of water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26).
The world needs to be enlightened by the Lord
Instead of blinding the world with more darkness and despair, it needs to be blinded by the light of the cross. Instead of forcing people to comply with righteous laws, they need to have the law written on their hearts so that it is a joy to live for Christ. Instead of having to live like Lot, (2 Peter 2:4-9) having our righteous souls tormented by perverse deeds all around us, we should strive to create a culture where such deeds are no longer acceptable and seen for being abnormal.
Final thoughts
Rebuilding our nations and our culture will take lots of hard work, but we are not alone. Christ tells us this as follows:
Matthew 11:29-30. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
His yoke is easy because He is the one doing the leading and providing the power. By allowing Christ to lead the charge, we can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). As He leads us, we learn to trust Him and all fear is cast out (1 John 4:18).
When it comes to rebuilding the foundations of our nations and culture, are you willing to work as faithful builder for Him? After what He did for you, is it not the only reasonable thing to do? (Romans 12:1) May God help us all in this endeavor.
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21)
(1) Wikipedia, Eridu,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eridu
(2) Cucullu, Gordon,http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14000
Dr. Michael L. Williams, Head of Ministry Operations and Technology at Christianity Every Day, is a Christ-centered Author, Educator, Biblical Counselor and Advisor. He is ordained in Pastoral Ministry and formerly the founding Pastor of Selah Mountain Ministries, a church started along with his wife, Pamela Rose, after several years of pastoral experience and training in Biblical Counseling. Selah Mountain provided Biblical counseling and education to the public on how to overcome life issues Biblically on topics such as anger management, marriage, addictions, and other subjects – often referred to as mental illnesses. To learn more about Dr. Mike visit the About page.
