CULTIVATING COURAGE FOR THIS CULTURAL MOMENT

(Today is Reformation Day)

John Stonestreet asked this compelling question at the Colson Center National Conference in Dallas yesterday, “Are we in a Bonhoeffer Moment or a Wilberforce Moment?” Stonestreet reminded us of these two courageous heroes of history. One saw a great cultural reformation and the other saw one disappointment after the next.

You might remember that Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer courageously resisted Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich yet much of his efforts didn’t work. Many in the Confessing church were crushed or killed, his Seminary was shut down, the efforts to get help outside of Germany didn’t amount to much and Dietrich was hung from a noose for his faith and courageous response.

William Wilberforce was galvanized by the grace of God in his early twenties. He was determined to enter public service in Parliament in England and devote himself to the abolition of slavery and reformation of manners (values). The opposition to his efforts was fierce. It took him his whole life, but little by little he won the hearts and minds of people and there was a great cultural transformation. On his death bed, Parliament voted to abolish slavery. Over the years much changed for woman and children. The nation went from having 25% of the women being prostitutes to a nation valuing marriage and giving greater opportunity for women. Many kids went from being slaves in sweatshops to kids getting an education in schools and being treasured by society.

Which leader was a success? They both were but the outcomes were very different in their country. One saw a great transformation over time and one saw only resistance and eventually experienced martyrdom. Only military bombs stopped Hitler.

Is this a “Bonhoeffer Moment or a Wilberforce Moment in our culture?” Will we see a great reformation or will there be a new dark age? Only time will tell. Outcomes belong to God.

We live in times that people call evil good and good evil. John Stonestreet said – Our responsibility is to be Courageous. Courageous Love. Courageous Faith. Courageous Perseverance. Virtue is a muscle. Muscles grow by working out. Courage Muscles grow by doing the right thing and doing the right thing and then doing more of the right thing as we depend on the Spirit of God.

May we have courage in this cultural moment.

Dr. Michael Sprague is the Louisiana State Chaplain with the Capitol Commission and President of Grace Adventures. Michael lives with his wonderful wife Donna and resides in Mandeville, LA. His motto is “Bet the Farm on God.” You can find more information about Michael here.

 Image by DEEPAI