This is the first in three the Christian Civilizational Series (CCS).
Introduction
The foundation of any civilization is crucial because this will determine whether a civilization is strong or weak. More than that, this foundation will determine whether a civilization will last or not last. And, even it if lasts, the foundation will determine whether it will be powerful and world-transforming or not?
Many empires and civilizations have come and gone, For example we have Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires and civilizations all mentioned in the bible.These are no more today, Why? What went wrong? And what can we learn from it so that we don’t repeat the same mistake.
This series of Christian civilizational studies will explore the reasons why and what do we need to do today ensure that all we have learned rightly will be passed on to our future generations correctly. In the way, we are building a solid foundation for society that will last.
1Ki 18:16-40 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah. (17) When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" (18) And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. (19) Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." (20) So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. (21) And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. (22) Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. (23) Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. (24) And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." (25) Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it." (26) And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. (27) And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." (28) And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. (29) And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. (30) Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. (31) Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name," (32) and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. (33) And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." (34) And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time. (35) And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. (36) And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. (37) Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." (38) Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (39) And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God." (40) And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
The crucial thing in a civilization or nation:
Elijah, the man of God was sent to confront the people. The people were asked to make a choice and yet they remained silent.
- Having a right belief. (1 Kings 18:21; Ex 20:3, Jn 14:8)
About 400 years ago, the people were confronted by Joshua in a similar manner and they responded positively.
Jos 24:14-16 "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. (15) And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (16) Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods,
There is no guarantee our future generations will continue to follow God.
Exo 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
Joh 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
- Wrong belief or no belief corrupts. (1 Kings 16:30-33, Ps 14:1)
Ahab led the nation into the destruction.
Psa 14:1 To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.
The Bible says atheists are foolish. Where there is no god, the person himself / herself becomes god. We don’t have to teach a child to lie. If we don’t teach them otherwise, they will continue to lie. Where there is no god, we ourselves become the reference point.
Right belief will bring us to the right direction.
A video clip called Who is God by Ray Vander Laan is shown.
China in the 15th century was a strong nation. Admiral Cheng Ho has 317 in his fleet. His own vessel is 400 feet length, which is slightly bigger than block A of the Dream Centre. Within 100 years, it collapsed. In Confusianism, the business people are considered low class. More info here.
The consequences of right belief
1. It produces freedom and not bondage. (Jn 8:32)
Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
2. People are restored to the kind of people they are meant to be. (2 Cor 5:17)
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
3. There is no more class, status or gender inequities. (Gal 3:28; Col 3:11)
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Col 3:11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
When Jesus comes into a civilization, he removes the inequalities. He doesn’t remove the gender differences.
A man is still a man and a woman is still a woman.
4. People begin to use their gifts to honour God (Prov 3:9,10, 1 Cor 6:19,20)
Pro 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; (10) then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
1Co 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (20) for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
We should use our gifts and body to glorify God.
5. People begin to use their lives to serve others. (Jn 13:14; Gal 6:10)
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to give a model of how to serve one another. The washing of feet symbolizes reaching out and serving others – the main idea is however low a job it it, we still do it.
Gal 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
The following Christian foundations are restored through right belief
1. The foundation of truth. (Rev 15:3b; 16:7; Jn 14:6)
Rev 15:3 b Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
Truth is not just a set of beliefs / statement. Truth in Christianity is found in the person of Jesus, who is the full embodiment of truth. He is the plumb line and standard with which all is judged.
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
2. The foundation of justice (Deut 16:19, 20; Ex 23:6; Amos 5:24)
Deu 16:19-20 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. (20) Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Sometimes children do not find something fair. In build in us is a sense of justice.
Exo 23:6 "You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit.
Amo 5:24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
When people are treated differently because of their position, the society is headed for trouble. The poor must be treated fairly.
In the 17th century, there are a debate whether is rex (king) lex (law) or lex rex. Edward Cook opposed KIng James and advocated lex rex. He wrote a book that teaches the law it king and no one is above the law.1123. The foundation of righteousness. (Ps 89:14; 1 Kings 10:9)
Righteousness = living upright.
Psa 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
The Word of God applies to all of us.
1Ki 10:9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel!
Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness."
When there is injustice, there is no future.
The Roman Empire was so strong no one expected it would end. It was finished off by Christians. Christians were persecuted terribly for 300 years. Constantine became a Christian and the persecuted stopped for a while. However, the empire became corrupted again.
01/10/1973, a man watched a huge military parade in Moscow. He wondered who could take on the Soviet Union (1922 – 1991). However, Soviet Union is no more today.
Communism doesn’t believe in any gods. China was backward. When they started opening up the market, they grew. However, the primary motivation is money. If in life we look for money and only money, money will corrupt us.
Jiang Ze Ming, the former president of China who is not a Christian, felt that China needs Christianity.
We fear for the Western civilizations too because they threw out the Bible. Bibles and prayers are not allowed in the school. And the Westerners do not realized how serious trouble they are in? How can nations like Iceland, Greece go bankrupt with Portugal and Spain poised to follow suit? How can a 100 year old company like Lehman Brothers closed shop? When the foundation of truth is removed, nothing can be guaranteed.
4. The foundation of respect. (Ex 20:12; Rom 12:10)
Exo 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Any culture that honours the elders is a great culture because it is a polite and civilized society.
The whole area of justice is treating every one equal and to respect every one because of their values.
These foundations are premised on a belief system and it is the Christian faith that produces such foundations. Hence:
- Right belief > Right behaviour > Real blessings
- Right belief > Inner strength > Genuine power and true courage.
- What are some of the positive consequences you have experienced sin your embraced a right belief? What difference has it made to you and the people around you?
- In what ways in your practices are you contributing towards building a strong Christian foundation in society? What other things can we be doing, either individually or corporately, in strengthening the foundation of our society?
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