The late historian David McCullough famously observed that at the time of the American Revolution, colonists were divided into one of three camps.
“If they’d taken a poll in the colonies in 1776, in Philadelphia in 1776, to see who was for it and who was against it, they would have scrapped the whole thing, because only about a third of the country was for it, a third of the country was adamantly against it, and the remaining third in the good old human way, was waiting to see who came out on top.”
The bestselling author went on to conclude, “But these imperfect people somehow understood that they were characters in one of the great dramas of all time. They were playing a part, and they had better play it to the best of their ability.”
It’s been almost 250 years since that pivotal turning point in history, but there are still revolutions roiling America. But it’s no longer a question of whether you will join – but rather which one.
Although hints of it began to emerge in the 1940s and 1950s, the sexual revolution began picking up steam in the 1960s. The unapologetic detachment of sex from marriage-based procreation ushered in a litany of disastrous social changes.
Ranging from the “free-love” era to the introduction of no-fault divorce into state legal codes, the proliferation of pornography, the country-wide legalization of abortion, the increasing acceptance of homosexuality and the spread of sex education in schools, all these developments fed the flames of a movement that continues to this day.
Homosexual “marriage” and attempts to normalize sexual confusion with the “trans” movement are all rooted in this revolution. The obliteration of sexual norms stems from a philosophy that nobody should be telling anybody what they can do with their body.
The beginning of the education revolution can be traced back to Horace Mann’s vision of public schools. Known as “The Father of American Education,” the 19th century figure believed every child should have access to solid instruction. But it was Thomas Dewey who took that concept and began to liberalize the process and the system itself.
Dewey didn’t just believe what Mann preached – he was also convinced that schools should be able to solve social ills and practically every other conceivable problem. He saw them capable of taking the place of parents and even contended that values and virtues could stifle students’ growth. Dewey once wrote,
“Morals that professedly neglect human nature end by emphasizing those qualities of human nature that are most commonplace and average; they exaggerate the herd instinct to conformity.”
This progressivism only grew over time to a point where prayer in school was deemed unconstitutional, and school nurses have been known to hand out condoms or conceal a student’s plan to supposedly “transition” from one gender to another.
Christianity has long faced the threat of revolutionaries who distort or attempt to outright destroy it. In America, many mainline denominations have challenged the veracity and authority of the Bible, introducing and trying to normalize heresy.
In response to these and many other threats, counter revolutions have sprung up in an effort to redeem and restore truth. These are efforts not only worth your time – but ones that believers should prayerfully consider and invest in. Every Christian should be a revolutionary.
God’s Word decries apathy. We are called to be part of the solution, to engage, participate and make a difference. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord,” wrote the apostle Paul (Romans 12:11). He also encourages us to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). James was even more blunt and challenging, stating, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (4:17).
Be a revolutionary by attending a Bible-believing church and putting into practice what God’s Word proclaims.
Be a revolutionary by getting married young and welcoming as many children as the Lord might bless you and your spouse with.
Be a revolutionary by adopting children or serving as a foster parent.
Be a revolutionary by homeschooling your children, investing in a Christian school – or working like crazy to help reform and redeem the public schools in your town.
Be a revolutionary by voting for candidates who are pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family and pro-religious freedom.
Be a revolutionary by speaking up and standing up to culture’s bullies.
You may not be in a position to join every revolution, but Christians must not sit out their days comfortably on the sidelines.