WIn our world there has risen an artificial differentiation between what we consider secular vs sacred. We see the sacred as being only those things we recognize as being connected to the religious worship of God, determine to be important to God, or see as connected to the divine.
Everything else is seen as secular and of no interest, importance, or connection to religious concern or God himself. Since these things are “secular” we determine they are no business of God and that he and anything to do with him, particularly his followers need to stay out of these things.
Some of these things where we, the created, have determined that he, the Creator, needs to stay out of include government, entertainment, education, the public square, and above all the autonomous individual.
After all you cannot legislate morality. Right? Was it not the esteemed Senator Tim Kaine who stated that our rights come not from God but rather from manmade laws and government only.
Thus in a simple argument, which ignores the opinion of nearly every founder and framer of our country, Senator Kaine vocalized the view of our modern society which places God into an ever shrinking box. Here again the claim was made, the argument furthered, and more territory taken by the secularist in the battle between what is sacred and what is secular.
For most of my life I have been guilty myself of not only accepting this differentiation but arguing for it as well.
It was not until I considered a truth I recently heard spoken by one of the greatest Christian political prognosticator and pundits of our day Steve Deace, that I reevaluated my view of this debate.
Mr. Deace stated “There is no such thing as secular for in all areas of our world, something will always rule, and something will always be worshiped. Thus, the question becomes who rules the secular? Who owns the ground we abandon to the secular and to whom must we bow to operate in or enjoy the spaces we deem “not God’s” Well, let us look to holy scripture. Genesis 1 states “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
These are the words that not only begin the Bible, but they establish the very beginnings of all things.
John 1:1-3 takes this beginning and clarifies for us who it was that did the creating and what it was that he created.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”
Reading further into this Gospel we learn that the Word is Jesus. So Jesus made all things. But why? Why did he create all of this and all of us?
Colossians 1:16 states, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
OK, so a sovereign Creator created all things for himself, for his glory, and for his purpose.
Now with this understanding I ask you, Where, in all of creation or in any story of creation or explanation of the purpose of creation does God allude to or suggest that there is anything secular? What thing did he create that he does not value, care about, have a purpose for, or own?
Did he who created all, owns all, knows all, and values all to the point that he has counted the very hairs on your head, not go so far as to surrender his life upon a cross to purchase what he already owned.
Did he not leave his home in glory, take upon himself the very flesh he created, allow himself to suffer, die, and be buried so that he might defeat death, hell, and the grave in order to redeem all that he created?
If this is so, then what is there that is not sacred? What is there that does not belong to the divine? Who or what is it then that we should bow to, worship, glorify and obey? If authority does not belong to the Lord and emanate from the Lord, then from whom or what does it and who does it belong to? If it comes from man or government then what man or government has the authority and what is that authority based on? Is the authority that you surrender to consistent, eternal, and unchanging or is it fickle, temporary, partial, and wavering?
Is it sovereign and eternal or is it based upon the ever-changing mob and masses? Is it an authority of consistent truth and love or does it depend upon popularity, generosity, force, fear, or violence?
The truth is evident. Something will always rule and something will always be worshiped. The question is whether we surrender to the secular or the sacred. The secular is selfish while the sacred serves.
The secular is fleeting and ends in death while the sacred is eternal and provides life everlasting. The secular is ruled by the spirit of the age who fell from heaven cause of the sin of pride and a lie he continues to sell, that we can be God and God is unnecessary. T he sacred is ruled by the one who sits upon the throne, the holy triune God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who displayed for us truth, love, sacrifice, and service.
So, the next time you are presented with the argument that your faith is neither necessary or needed in relation to any situation, topic, discussion, policy, or area of life because this is a secular matter, you can respond with the truth.
All things are sacred, for all things are created by and belong to God alone.
Christopher Dion iss the chaplain for American Legion Post 157 in Bandera.
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