Worshipping the Zeitgeist by Sis. Julie Davis
The zeitgeist is the spirit of the age. It is the god of destruction, chaos, ignorance and confusion. The zeitgeist is in direct opposition to Jesus. John 10:10-11, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” 1 John 3:8, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Look at all the ways the zeitgeist hurts people and breaks down modern society.
The issue of LGBTQ identity is being pushed as normal and common in the media today, though only 4.5% of Americans identify as such.4 Growing up secular in the 80’s and 90’s, I remember the slow progression of TV shows feeding the public a little homosexuality here, a little cross-dressing there. As a small child, I asked my mom why the man in the show “M*A*S*H*” was wearing a dress: The same with the show “Bosom Buddies”. It progressed even further in the show “Will & Grace”. The agenda is to normalize homosexuality and desensitize the public to this sin. The networks have slowly rocked my nation to moral sleep using these tactics. In college, God showed me that the TV was not a positive thing in my life, so I sold it. I’m sure shows have become much, much worse since then.
Concerning LGBTQ people, I feel sad for them that modern society chooses to make their orientation their main identity. As humans, they have other characteristics, abilities, interests, and skills that are overlooked in order to venerate this one issue. From my perspective, these people and their issues are being exploited for social and political reasons. I don’t hate this hurting group of people. Please understand… Jesus and His true followers do NOT hate people, but they do hate sin. Leviticus 18:22 states, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” The Bible teaches that ALL sin is equal; no sin is worse than another in the eyes of God. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” I care and I want to see LGBTQ people get help5,6, fall in love with Christ and live victoriously.
On the topic of race, the Bible is very clear. God created us all to be different, but He views us all in the same light. We are to have the mind of Christ and think of all people as equals. No race or gender lines are to separate us as the people of God. Why, then, are groups promoting one race to be more important than another? God individually created YOU and those around you to be a beloved child unto Him, not part of a self-promoting group based on traits you have no control over. Unity in Christ was meant to be a beautiful thing that lifts up Jesus and His teachings, further encouraging others to join His spiritual Church. Romans 10:12, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Galatians 3:26-29, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“ Colossians 3:11-14, “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Acts 17:26-27, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:”
I am a former human resources Affirmative Action specialist and recruiter. Former, because I will never again participate in divisive programs that belittles people of color and women. I was told I didn’t have diversity hiring quotas to meet, and yet told that my workforce needed to reflect (in percentages) the diversity of my surrounding community. I hired a wonderful black employee named Dre, and the managers were thrilled with his performance and personality. Although it was my job to seek out applicants of color as well as women, Dre was a star applicant in every way, and his race was not a consideration in the hiring decision. One day, Dre came to me, looking uncomfortable, after hearing my company address on the state of our Affirmative Action efforts. “Julie, something is really bothering me… did you only hire me because I’m black?” In that moment, I had such a rush of emotions. I realized how Affirmative Action, and really, any program, culture, or movement that seeks to single out any race or gender as different and puts them in a separate box from regular society is wrong and hurts the people they aim to help.
Jesus Christ is an equal opportunity Savior. He doesn’t run special campaigns or social justice movements to save one race over another. In this era of time, He seeks anyone at all that chooses to follow Him. Mark 8:34, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Why are we, as a nation, so far outside of biblical principles on race? The zeitgeist demands division, all the while screaming for unity.
Part 3
The zeitgeist has infiltrated modern Christianity. I’ve experienced this in other denominations I’ve attended. Entertainment, carnality and wordliness have become governers in the zeitgeist’s kingdom, dethroning biblical doctrine, holiness and love. The Bible clearly states we are to have one book of doctrine (The Bible) and be in unity as Christians. 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Why, then, are some biblical judgements ignored in many churches, in favor of not saying anything potentially offensive about sin? If you’re attending a church that has been infiltrated by the zeitgeist’s feel-good, worldly philosophies, please pray, and ask God to help you flee. You’ve already seen things that you find unsettling, and you need the Lord to give you the courage to take the next step. Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
While working on this article, I’ve received many campaign text messages asking for my support of women’s rights (one being abortion), and a certain presidential candidate. When I asked them further questions about what they represent, they didn’t want to talk to me anymore. I honestly think that many people that hold unbiblical worldviews don’t truly understand the depth and consequences of flippantly (and possibly ignorantly) opposing God. Things are not usually what they seem to be on the surface. Our stances and decisions affect those around us, so we need to ensure they are the will of God, and not the will of the zeitgeist. Romans 14:7, “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
The conclusion of the matter is that we live in a sinful, fallen world that rejects Jesus and his tenets. Woke culture snubs the righteousness of God in favor of the wickedness of the year, and yet calls itself righteous in its own time. The cure for woke culture is salvation from sin. 1 John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” The good news is that John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
1. Dictionary.com
2. http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
3. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db330.htm
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_demographics_of_the_United_States