Teddy James
AFA Journal staff writer
June 2014 – Has the good life resulted in American Christians who are shallow and apathetic?
Modern literature, television shows, movies and video games love telling stories of dystopian futures. From the oft quoted 1984 to recent blockbusters such as Hunger Games, America has a love/hate relationship with bleak futures where freedom is all but lost and only a handful of people are able or willing to fight for it.
Many of these stories tell of overgrown governments that are oppressing more than governing. Others tell of apathetic citizens who have traded freedoms for entertainment.
The real story
Whatever dystopian future is your favorite, it is fiction. Each story shows a world quite different than the one we see today.
Matt Friedeman, professor at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, author and former radio host for AFR, said a world without America is an inevitable future. He said, “No nation, culture or empire is permanent. No people group is immortal. Put another way, America will someday die. When we will die is not known. But how we die is a bit easier to prophesy. Thucydides said, ‘The secret to happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.’ We die when we lack the courage to fight for liberty. I suspect we will lack the courage (if it hasn’t already happened) when we are overtly enamored with ease and comfort and are too distracted by the technology that captures our attention through television, games and entertainment.”
One of the largest threats to America right now isn’t terrorism or invasion or even liberalism or conservatism, regardless of what pundits may say. Friedeman said one of the biggest threats to American freedom today is pleasure.
“Wealth and pleasure impact our ability to listen,” he said. “A similar situation occurred in ancient Israel in the time of David and Solomon. The nation and its kings grew wealthy enough that they forgot to heed the moral and spiritual demise which, basically, sent the nation into a civil war and a form of the dark ages that led to the Exile.”
With all the progress mankind has made, it is logical to assume man has matured beyond the simple nature of his ancestors. Søren Kierkegaard, known as the father of existentialism, said modern man is still easily distracted by comfort and amusement. He once told a parable of a clown in front of a theater warning the people of a fire. The people believed his message to be part of the entertainment and were too busy laughing to heed his warning.
Friedeman said, “It could easily be argued today that a destructive moral and spiritual fire is raging in America. Instead of grabbing the proverbial water buckets, we are too captivated with television, iPods, iPads, cell phones, sports or listening to our favorite talk show hosts to take the real threats seriously.”
The real threat
It is easy to dismiss those speaking about real and present dangers to American freedoms today. Sadly, those talking about the dangers often use hyperbole and thus dilute their arguments.
Friedeman said there are three major areas of freedom that Americans should be watching with great care: religion, economy and politics.
First, he said, “Christians have had it so good for so long in America, we haven’t paid much attention to religious freedom until a few recent threats. With those threats it feels as if a snowball is headed downhill and growing with every turn. But religious freedom isn’t the only concern.”
When polled, Americans say the number one issue they feel most uneducated about is the economy. Friedeman shows the natural consequence of that reality. He said, “The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal have been tracking economic freedom for 20 years. America has slipped in the standing every year. They measure economic freedom on 10 quantitative and qualitative factors, grouped into four broad categories: rule of law, limited government, regulatory efficiency and open market. America has dropped to the 12th freest economy in the world and fallen from the category ‘free’ to ‘mostly free’ due to deteriorations in property rights, fiscal freedom and business freedom. This is shameful and it is the outcome of us wanting government to do the hard work of freedom instead of individuals, churches and businesses shouldering that responsibility.”
The Founding Fathers had a great fear of powerful government. They recognized that because of human nature, even a small and limited government could grow exponentially if citizens didn’t keep it in check. That is why the American government was designed to run through the consent of the governed. But Friedeman noted that this foundational freedom is being threatened daily in the U.S.
He said, “Political freedom in the American context is the ability for the will of the people through a republican form of government to guide and direct the future of this country. Political freedom requires constant diligence. Without that consistent oversight, politicians and the burgeoning bureaucracy around them win, and politicians/bureaucracies are in the business of gathering power to themselves, not reserving it for the people.”
The real hope
Perhaps part of the reason people enjoy dystopian books and shows is that they believe such atrocious forms of government could never happen here. But the reality is that without an educated and engaged electorate, it is an unavoidable future.
Friedeman said this future does not have to sweep the American landscape. There is hope. “The first thing we as Christians need is to love God. If that priority is out of whack, then it is mind-boggling what horrendous things can follow.
“The next priority is the family. Disciple them. A nation is no stronger than its families. It is almost impossible to make a logical argument that a nation with the breakdown of the nuclear family that we are now experiencing is ready to meet future challenges. We need to fight for strong marriages that pour their health into their children.”
Moving beyond families, Friedeman said to focus on churches. “A culture with healthy local churches that affirm the orthodox distinctives of the Christian faith is hard to bully from without and, perhaps more importantly, from within. Local churches are strong, however, not because they just build themselves up, but as they exercise their gifts beyond the church walls.”
To make strong families and strong churches, individuals must be focused. He said, “Fight distraction. We all need to simplify our lives, and families need to examine what they allow into their minds. None of the things we consider essential for our lives today really are essential. Indeed, to separate from them for a season will provide a happiness that transcends our ‘plugged-in’ existence. Ditch the television and significantly restrict other forms of media. Parents lead, and expect the children to follow.”
Friedeman said believers must get focused so they can fight against tyranny on the local level. He said, “Get involved in at least one major issue in your community at the compassionate ministry level. It tones the whole life. Go minister in a prison, work at your crisis pregnancy center, fight illiteracy, become active serving the poor. Remember that God can’t steer a parked car.”
Friedeman said after getting focused and involved in the community, “Become involved in politics. Find something that piques your interest and lobby for it. Run for office. Hold local and statewide elected officials accountable. The power of one is formidable if you are educated on the issues, firm and persistent.” 
Matt Friedeman is the author of multiple books and Bible studies including:
▶ Discipleship in the Home (DVD and book combo)*
▶ The Accountability Connection*
▶ LifeChanging Bible Study*
▶ In the Fight*
▶ Mark: A Study of Discipleship*
*Available at mattfriedeman.com
