Bible-believing Christians in America must come to terms with a difficult truth: our culture is no longer neutral or indifferent to biblical truth. We live in a nation that is not merely losing its Christian consensus—it is actively replacing it with a secular, neo-Marxist worldview that denies the authority of God, distorts human identity, and undermines the family. In this environment, passive Christianity is no longer sufficient. We must resist the leftward progression in society through peaceful but bold, truth-driven action.
Francis Schaeffer and the Decline of the West
Francis Schaeffer, the American Christian philosopher and theologian, offered deep insight into our present crisis decades ago. At his L’Abri retreat in Switzerland, he ministered to seekers grappling with the collapse of meaning in modern life. His book How Should We Then Live? traces the historical decline of Western civilization as it abandoned biblical authority.
Schaeffer’s core message is this: When a society rejects God as the source of absolute truth, it ultimately spirals into despair. In the absence of divine absolutes, man becomes the measure of all things. But man, left to his own devices, cannot bear the burden of defining truth, purpose, or morality. This leads not to liberation but to chaos.
In such a state, people inevitably long for order—any order. They become susceptible to authoritarian regimes that promise security and meaning. They trade liberty for comfort, unaware that the “solution” will be even more oppressive than the confusion they sought to escape. Marxist governments are prime examples of this tragic exchange.
The Loss of Christian Consensus in America
America was long sustained by a “Christian consensus”—not that everyone was born-again, but that biblical values shaped public morality, education, law, and civil discourse. That consensus began to unravel during the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s, and it is now nearly extinct.
As Schaeffer foresaw, the loss of shared Christian assumptions would eventually make peaceful coexistence between biblical morality and secular ideology impossible. And here we are.
Today, Americans no longer agree on the sanctity of life. Since Roe v. Wade in 1973, over 65 million unborn children have been aborted. What was once unthinkable is now celebrated in many circles. The value of human life is increasingly subjective and politicized.
The erosion of sexual ethics is just as stark. Scripture teaches that sexual activity is reserved for one man and one woman in a lifelong marital covenant, for the raising of godly offspring and the display of Christ’s relationship to His Church. But our culture now promotes an endless array of identities and practices—many of them in direct opposition to biblical teaching. Worse yet, traditional Christian views on sexuality are not merely seen as outdated, but as dangerous. They are labeled hateful, homophobic, and transphobic.
Indoctrination in Public Schools
This moral revolution is being institutionalized in public education. Across the nation, school systems are not merely teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic—they are reshaping children’s worldviews under the guise of “equity” and “inclusion.”
One prominent example is Loudoun County, Virginia, where school officials promoted radical gender ideology and suppressed parental objections. But it’s not an isolated case. The spread of ideologies rooted in Critical Race Theory (CRT) and queer theory is happening from coast to coast, even in traditionally conservative states.
Programs like Social Emotional Learning (SEL) often serve as a Trojan horse for these ideas. While SEL can sound innocuous—who could object to emotional intelligence?—in practice, many SEL curricula are based on neo-Marxist assumptions. These include racial essentialism, gender fluidity, and the framing of American history as an unbroken tale of oppression. Some versions of SEL go so far as to suggest that all white students are inherently privileged or complicit in systemic injustice.
As believers, we must not ignore what our children are being taught. The biblical responsibility for educating children lies with parents, not bureaucrats. God commands parents to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), not in the doctrines of Karl Marx or Michel Foucault.
Practical Ways to Push Back
This isn’t the time for despair or retreat—it’s time for strategic, faithful resistance.
Here are several practical ways for Christians to respond:
- Engage with Your Local School District: Attend school board meetings. Read curriculum documents. Ask your children what they are learning. If something raises red flags, don’t let it pass quietly.
- Run for Office: Christians should not shy away from running for school board seats or supporting candidates who uphold biblical values. Influence begins locally.
- Support or Join Activist Groups: Organizations like Moms for Liberty, Purple for Parents, and Parents Defending Education are equipping parents to push back against woke indoctrination. Don’t try to stand alone—join others who share your convictions.
- Beware of Acronyms: Terms like SEL, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), and CRT often mask radical ideologies. Research the materials your district uses and don’t be intimidated by educational jargon.
- Don’t Be Silenced by Accusations: Leftist activists often use labels like “racist,” “bigot,” or “Christian nationalist” to shut down debate. Stand firm in truth, and respond with grace and clarity.
- Be Willing to Homeschool: If your school district becomes too toxic, consider homeschooling or joining a Christian classical school. Your child’s eternal soul is more important than a diploma from a compromised institution.
- Join a Bible-Believing Church: The church is not just a refuge—it’s a training ground for spiritual warfare. Surround yourself with believers who will equip you with truth, pray with you, and hold you accountable.
The Deeper Problem: Man’s Identity and Purpose
While political engagement and educational reform are critical, they are not ultimate. At the heart of every cultural battle lies a theological question: Who is man, and what is his purpose?
The Bible gives a clear answer. Man is created in the image of God—not to define his own identity, but to glorify his Creator. Our purpose is to honor God in every sphere: personally, in our families, in the church, and in society.
This purpose cannot be achieved apart from spiritual rebirth. Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Only through the gospel can man be transformed in heart and mind to desire God’s truth. Laws may restrain evil, but only the gospel can change a heart.
Resources to Equip You
For those who want to go deeper, two resources are especially helpful:
- Francis Schaeffer’s Video Series: How Should We Then Live? (1977) remains one of the most insightful commentaries on Western civilization’s decline. Schaeffer’s prophetic voice is more relevant now than ever.
- Rod Dreher’s Book: Live Not by Lies: This powerful book examines how Christians can prepare for soft totalitarianism by learning from those who endured communism. Dreher’s interview with Dr. Albert Mohler is also worth your time.
These resources can help you frame today’s chaos within a biblical worldview and respond with clarity and courage.
Conclusion: Hold the Line
We are living in a time of rapid cultural decay—but not without hope. God is still sovereign. The church still stands. And the truth still sets people free.
Christians must not retreat from the public square, the classroom, or the cultural conversation. We must speak the truth in love, live it out with integrity, and train our children to stand when others fall.
Now is the time to resist the leftward drift. Now is the time to stand firm in the faith. Now is the time to glorify God in our generation.
I would like to encourage bible-believing Christians in our community to actively resist the leftist progression in our society through peaceful but aggressive means.
Robert Sparkman
rob@basedchristianity.org
RELATED CONTENT
Francis Schaeffer, a well-known Christian apologist, authored many books related to the Christian and non-Christian worldview. One such book was titled “How Should We Then Live”. The book was used as inspiration for the movie below. It is a little dated, but the contents are still worthwhile. I think the modern viewer will be enlightened by its content.
Rod Dreher is the author of the book “Live Not By Lies”. He discusses the need to refuse to accept demands by the godless to affirm their lies. There is increasing pressure in our society to affirm the lies of the left. An example is the demand for teachers to affirm children identified as transgender by using their preferred pronouns. He discusses how emigrants from socialist countries expressed fear of an impending leftist totalitarian government developing in the United States as they compare current events with their experience in socialist countries.
Note: This is a modified version of a letter to the editor that I submitted to the local newspaper. Some or all of the content is applicable to a general audience. Here’s the original article. The article was written under the constraints of 600 words, which is generous for a letter to the editor, but insufficient to address every nuance or facet of complex topics.
Concerning the Related Content section, I encourage everyone to evaluate the content carefully.
I will continue to add videos and other items to the Related Content section as opportunities present themselves.If I have listed the content, I think it is worthwhile viewing to educate yourself on the topic, but it may contain some opinions I don’t agree with.
Feel free to offer your comments below. Respectful comments without expletives and personal attacks will be posted and I will respond to them.
Comments are closed after sixty days due to spamming issues from internet bots.
You can always send me an email at rob@basedchristianity.org if you want to comment on something afterwards, though.
If you have evidence that I am wrong about a material statement of fact, provide the evidence and I will gladly review it and make revisions if merited.
Obviously, there are some assertions that are matters of opinion that I will not change, but I always strive to be truthful. We are all capable of mistakes and misunderstandings on occasion, though.
Regarding depictions of Jesus, images accompanying the article may contain depictions of Jesus. I realize that some fellow Christians, particularly some conservative Presbyterians, consider these images to be a form of idolatry. I do not agree with their opinion on this matter. These images are for illustrative purposes and do not represent a form of worship.
I recommend these Youtube channels for good content on Christian matters: Founders Ministries, Ligonier Ministries, Grace to You, G3 Ministries, and Truth for Life. RC Sproul, Voddie Baucham, Alistair Begg, Kevin DeYoung, Albert Mohler, Tom Ascol and John MacArthur are well-known, trustworthy pastors and teachers with content across multiple forums.
Francis Schaeffer, Tom Ascol, Allie Beth Stuckey and Nancy Pearcey have some valuable materials related to cultural matters, as well.