CHRISTENDOM AND BEYOND

 

Christendom, which was generally understood in both spatial and political terms, became referred to as Beyond Christendom in the twenty-first century. Since there is now no country that considers itself a Christian nation, the dream of a truly universal church has become a reality due to the churches mission of spreading the gospel during the nineteenth century. Although the nineteenth century was marked by the Industrial Revolution which promised the world happiness and abundance, the ideology backfired and escalated into both the first and second world wars. Nevertheless, Protestantism made a great advance during this time through riding the wheels of colonialism and economic imperialism and left a lasting stamp on the life of the church. The church, more than any international organization, corporation, or political movement, was able to cut across national boundaries, class distinctions, and potential allegiances. Unfortunately, in the twenty-first century, the age of Christendom had passed largely due to the end of the Constantinian fusion between church and state, and between Christian faith and cultural and social practices. Much of Christianity was essentially absent or ignored by most forms of mass media and in much of social and family life because of modern thinking which changed the world view of most people in traditional Christendom. Suddenly, influences such as secularism, Darwin’s theory of evolution, astrology, spiritism and even Gnosticism replaced the worship of Jesus Christ.

It is a staggering reality to follow just how impactful the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution was in shifting the minds of those within Christendom. While it cannot be said that all believers within the church fully allowed themselves to be swayed by modern thinking, the rapid decline that occurred among Christians during that time points to the proclivity of man’s fallen nature towards pleasure and independence. I think the nineteenth century was a positive time in history since it allowed for missionaries to more effectively reach the nations with the gospel but negative in the sense that the state became increasingly more secularized and unconcerned with holding the biblical standard of right and wrong. Nevertheless, God is faithful to build His church and continues to hold her together regardless of Satan’s attempts through social, political or intellectual means to tear her apart. It is an absolute miracle that the church has kept on throughout the turmoil of its history and is an encouragement to us now to persevere despite the pressures of the world who seeks to conform us into its image. The believer can know that, although Christendom is a thing of the past, that Christendom beyond is just another sign before the return of Christ. We must persevere in an age of tolerance and immorality and remember the history of our good God who refuses to forget His bride but persists in using her to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Although we, in western civilization Canada do not presently face the oppressive regimes of communism in which our ancestor’s did in both World Wars, we must deny the god of this world who has blinded peoples minds to the truth of the Good News (2Cor 4:4). 

Only a determined effort to remain in Him (John 15:4) will be sufficient in waging the war we face against the world, the flesh and the devil. May this generation be one who stands on the authority of scripture and refuses to compromise God’s standard for right and wrong. May we remember that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:12) and be intentional, through earnest prayer to seek the heart of God in knowing how we might live in this cruel and wicked generation (Matt 12:39). 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. " Ephesians 6:12