Just as relevant and prophetic as the day it was written, Chuck Colson’s Against the Night; Living in the New Dark Ages (1989, Vine Books) firmly identifies how the West arrived at its current destination; morally bankrupt. Colson prescribes actions that must be taken to recover a moral vision and the recovery of character. He further reinforces his position in The Movement (2009, Wilberforce Press) as he outlines the events leading to “this moment of greatest peril” for Western civilization; a crisis of character. Speaking on the Wilberforce Forum (September 14th) he described Western Liberal Democracy as a three legged stool (a description penned by Catholic priest and theologian Michael Novak). This analogy views each leg as a specific identity contributing to the support of the structure; political freedom, economic freedom, and moral restraint. Removing one leg (e.g. moral restraint) of the stool results in the collapse of the entire structure. He indicted, “Our stool has collapsed”.
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The institutions among us offer little solace in resolving the crisis of character. Education in general and higher education specifically, government and politics have done away with discernment and encouraged individualism (if it feels good, do it). Even the church has failed in its original mission of pursuing and preserving the Gospel of the Kingdom. Colson says “each has acquiesced to the culture surrounding them. All founded by Christian influence and absolutes that have shaped Western Civilization are now consciously rejected by the men and women who direct the flow of information and attitudes to popular culture: communicators, educators, entertainers, lawyers” and unfortunately many in the clergy.
Listen , 8:00 PM Eastern Monday, September 21
This will be a rebroadcast of T. M. Moore on Celtic Christianity.
The solution as discussed on the Forum, is the revitalization of the church through stronger teaching in biblical worldview and biblical orthodoxy. Moral imagination of the West as described by Colson in Against the Night, “values reason, recognizes truth and asserts that the world can be both understood and transformed through the careful constructed restraints of civilized behavior and institutions”. Further, “the moral imagination respects a moral law authored by God, calls people to duties beyond themselves and cherishes the past”. To this end the Wilberforce Project was envisioned and initiated as a unique resource for those seeking to learn a biblical world view and biblical orthodoxy and to think christianly. The Centurions as one ministry in partnership with other ministries (as described in The Movement) can reach into the culture by exhibiting a shining light for Christ through living out the Faith.
If you missed the September 14 broadcast, you can still listen to the program by visiting the Colson Center for Christian Worldview you may listen to it above. We encourage and welcome you to contact the Forum by writing to radio@colsoncenter.org for guests and topics for future programs.
