When we bring up the very topic of “Christian Civilization” one can almost immediately hear the howls of outrage from the secular humanists, socialists, materialists and atheists. The will scream “separation of church and state” even though this phrase is not in the Constitution and early American politicians had no problem with the Federal government paying congressional and military chaplains, endorsing religious schools, or individual States having an established religion.

The “stated” reasons for their concern are a fear of religious bigotry that “imperils” personal freedom, prosperity, and safety. How often have you read various pundits compare the Religious Right with Militant Islamic Fascism or the horrors of the “Crusades?” Modern western academics, politicians and writers supposedly HATE the very idea of “Christian Civilization” because they “fear” the “dire” consequences that religion’s “blood-stained history” proves.

Just for the sake of argument, let us take the atheist’s “fears” about Christian civilization seriously for a moment and examine them. Would a consistently Christian culture (not a perfect one mind you, just a consistent one) result in a top-down religious dictatorship, equipped with secret police who enforce “Christian” morality, oppressing dissent and engaging in religious warfare?

First, a widespread acceptance of and adherence to Christian morality means a strong family which means less crime, welfare, etc. (Please read this essay from WorldNet Daily). Studies and surveys have repeatedly shown that the people MOST at risk of becoming delinquents, criminals or institutionalized into multi-generational poverty are those from broken homes. Divorce, it seems, is hazardous to your children’s future. Children from stable, intact two-parent families are far more productive, responsible and stable members of society than those from fractured families. Crime rates for white and black families are about the same, when compared on the basis of whether the family is intact (black crime rates are higher, just because so often there is not a father in the home-but white families without a father are just as likely to create dysfunctional children as black families). Yet, though divorce is far too common in Christian homes these days, the divorce rate is still far lower than for “non-Christian” homes. Therefore, there is a direct relationship between committed Christians, and a committed marriage. The more stable the marriage, the more intact the family. And the more intact the family, the more lawful, responsible and sober citizens they raise. Wow, there does not seem to be a lot to fear from Christian civilization here, does there?

Secondly, Christian moral standards taught in the home means that values such as integrity, honesty, loyalty, etc., are reinforced in the broader community, which means you can trust your banker not to steal your money, your insurance salesman not to sell you useless and necessary “protection” just to make an extra buck at your expense, or your car dealer not to sell you a lemon.

The atheist or humanist of course will object as partisanship our claims here; are we REALLY saying that only Christians are virtuous people? What about all the Swaggerts and Bakers and Elmer Gantries in the world? Well, true enough; many Christians are inconsistent with their own religious beliefs, but where does one get the idea in the first place of over-arching moral values that transcend personal self-interest in the first place? For years, our universities have been indoctrinating young students into the “religious” belief that there are no absolute moral values. And if people believe that, then why SHOULD they tell the truth, keep their promises, pay their bills or act responsibly? We would argue that humanists are only “virtuous” by being inconsistent with their own philosophical presuppositions. After all, Hitler, Stalin and the Marquis de Sade were simply consistent humanists; with no source of morality about the individual, right by definition becomes whatever those with the power decide.

Thankfully, most humanist Americans are not consistent with their underlying moral philosophy; would you really want to live next door to someone who really believed and acted on his belief that there were no higher moral truths other than one’s own will? Atheists and materialists may ridicule, deride or act condescendingly towards those “benighted” “narrow-minded” Christians; but where else will he find neighbors who respect his right to life, property and reputation as a part of their religious view of life? Right now, humanists fear Christian influence because it might impede their “right” to kill their unborn children. But what about when your children want to terminate YOUR life because keeping you alive is just too expensive-or inconvenient? In a few years time, the average atheist just might appreciate those Christian “right to life” groups protecting HIS right not to be turned off life-support or used as a medical guinea pig…

Thirdly, Christian concepts of justice and jurisprudence means that criminals are inhibited, keeping you safer. In a “Christian” culture there really are things that are right and wrong and men are held responsible for their actions, AFTER a fair and equitable determination of the facts. Even liberals wring their hands in despair over the outrageous humanist penal system in this country; but they have nothing better to offer in its place. In a “Christian” culture, morality is both encouraged, and immorality (as in theft, murder, rape, etc.) is inhibited by severe sanctions. Nobody likes the present system where criminals are basically told to “stand in a corner and think about what you’ve done” when convicted of a crime. But they have nothing better to offer. All the psychotherapy, all the self-help groups, all the money spent in incarcerating felons at tax-payer’s expense is widely recognized as a waste. Furthermore, it is a standing joke that our penal system allows convicted felons to become brutalized by their fellow criminals. Prisons just make bad people worse!

In a “Christian” society, murderers, rapists and child-molesters are not released to repeat their crimes over and over again because Biblical law seeks to eliminate criminals as a class. Most Americans would rather not know that the vast majority of crimes are committed by recidivists who will be convicted, imprisoned and released over and over again. But in a Christian culture, these wicked people would pay the ultimate temporal penalty for their crimes, and therefore hundreds of thousands of victims would be spared. But humanists seem more concerned about the criminals than the victims.

Fourthly, the humanists, materialists and atheists fear a Christian state, because they fear what that state might do to THEM. They want to commit adultery, enjoy homosexuality or murder their unborn children without having to face criminal sanctions. They know that if Christians are successful in winning the culture, many of their favorite pastimes would be illegal, just as they have been criminalized since the conversion of Rome in 325 AD. Humanists are willing to see the entire culture slide into destruction or tyranny, just to maintain their right to sin without legal or moral sanctions.

However, in reality, a Biblically founded Republic restricts the power of civil magistrates severely. Christian political government begins with the assumption of self-government. Only a very limited amount of authority is granted to the state; therefore the power of the State to oppress ANYONE is severely retarded. A Christian State has limited power, and limited money; it cannot afford a “secret police” to peek into people’s bedrooms.

Atheists often want the freedom to sin without the government monitoring or interfering with their activities. They fear a Christian Republic because they assume the government, backed by the power of the “sword” will use that power against them. While it is true that a Christian culture will legislate against certain forms of immorality it does not have the power to do anything except act against the PUBLIC display of immorality. What happens in private stays in private. The average citizen therefore can live their life, even an immoral one without fear of a police state, because the government has neither the power, NOR the financial resources to investigate, let alone, oppress or persecute anyone.

Fifthly, Christian economic principles mean that hard work, thrift and frugal living bring about long-term wealth which in turn, benefits everyone in the society. The more that people are rewarded for self-government, and not penalized for their hard work and frugal living; the more money is available for investment, consumption and charity therefore increasing wealth for EVERY member of society. The Westminster Confession actually states that it is a religious duty for Christians to increase their own wealth, and the wealth of their neighbor! If the individual is allowed to keep more of his own income he has every incentive to use it as productively as possible, investing in more businesses, providing more jobs and economic opportunities for all.

Finally, Christian political principles means that limited government cannot use their authority to manipulate the market or give big businesses unfair advantages. Since under a Christian consensus, the civil magistrate has very limited power and few financial resources, the power of the state cannot be bought by the wealthy to increase their own wealth. Power flows up from the citizens, who have every incentive to keep the people in “power” accountable. Monopolies are therefore easily subverted by men finding creative alternatives, thus increasing product availability and decreasing costs for everyone.

And of course, there are other advantages. Christian societies have ALWAYS been the freest, most prosperous cultures. But, the humanist will answer back, what about religious persecution and wars, such as the Crusades!

Let us take a look at that oft repeated argument; one that has been around since the 17th century when Europe was being torn apart by “religious” wars; wars that had as much to do with economics, political power and the growth of nationalism as it did with religion. During the Crusades, small armies consisting of just a few thousand soldiers engaged other professional armies of a few thousand soldiers over several centuries of warfare for religious reasons. It was warfare and warfare is always ugly; even when fought for the highest motives and by the most virtuous means. Yet, how “terrible” and “shocking” that these “Christians” would fight and die over various definitions of “God?” Surely that is enough to disqualify Christians from ever being in power again, right?

However, the truth is a little more complicated. First, one has to remember that the Medieval Crusades came after five hundred years of Islamic invasions of Europe; invasions that did not end until the 17th century! Islam began in the seventh century and over-ran Christian nation after Christian nation. So, before we start laying all the blame on Christianity for the Crusades, let us be honest and admit that these were wars of self-defense.

However, more to the point is that in the 20th century alone, humanists, materialists and atheists have directly been responsible for hundreds of millions of deaths in the name of socialism, communism or fascism. Abortion in America has murdered somewhere near 50 million babies since 1973. What has been done in the “name of the people” in this century alone far outweighs whatever has been done “in the name of God” in the past. The honest humanist will admit this; the dishonest one will keep harping on the Crusades or the Inquisition in hopes that no one will pay attention to the concentration camps, gulags or “re-education” centers created and manned by humanists that have devastated whole nations. So which system of thought is really more dangerous to the average person; Christianity which conducted a series of defensive wars against hostile, aggressive invaders five hundred years ago which at best involved a few thousand professional soldiers, or consistently humanistic States that have murdered hundreds of millions in the past 100 years?

So with all things going for Christian civilization, a culture that would be freer, more prosperous and safer even for atheists and humanists, why would they really be against a Christian civilization?

Well, here is the dirty little secret the God-haters do not want to talk about. Materialism, humanism and atheism are rival worldviews to Christianity; just as religious as the most uneducated “Bible-thumper” handling snakes and drinking poison in some little church in Appalachia. Humanists believe in the power of Man, rather than God, and therefore have a religious conviction that the State, as the supreme expression of Man’s power on earth ought to govern every area of life. No matter that socialism destroys the wealth of a society or that humanism destroys the freedom of a society, or that atheism destroys the morality of a society; they refuse to see, because their own religious blinders are firmly set.

“Professing to be wise, they became fools” Paul said to the Romans. When men worship anything other than the one true god the inevitable result is depraved thinking and social chaos. But humanists and atheists have a religious conviction that the world must operate according to THEIR standards, not God’s. Therefore, while they want the fruits of Christian civilization, they also must deny its roots, because otherwise, they would have to repent and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. Like Alice’s Red Queen, they practice believing six impossible things before breakfast, because opening their eyes would mean realizing that their “solutions” to social problems only make things worse.

So I do not expect many atheists, humanists or materialists reading this to come on board the Christian civilization band-wagon even though Christianity is the BEST guarantee that they could live safely, freely and prosperously. But as they say on the “X-Files” the truth is out there, if they are only willing to receive it.

And eventually, as God gives grace, and the current generation grows old and gray, as they fail to reproduce themselves because they murdered their own children (or refused even to have any in the first place) a new generation will arise who will see the flaws of Humanism. That new generation, living sober, self-governed lives, staying married to their spouses, raising godly, self-controlled children who work hard, save and invest for the future, will one day inherit this nation, and eventually the entire planet. And a hundred, or a thousand, or even ten thousand years from now, there will be a new crop of God-haters of various sorts who will enjoy the blessings of a land blessed with freedom, safety and prosperity, and still curse God under their breath. Let us just pray that our descendants learn from our folly and refuse to listen to them, and lose again, what we lost and are now struggling to regain.