Office Space in Christ's Kingdom

The secularization thesis helps us let go of our nearly idolatrous obsession with America in particular and with the west in general, as something that belongs to us that we must win back by another revival, great awakening, or political crusade. It can cause anxiety, but it can also help relieve it, by letting us focus finally on our Lord’s commission to his apostles to preach the gospel, baptize, and teach everything he commanded.(39)

The latest issue of Modern Reformation pours some sociological dressing on our theological salad. The above quote takes up an entire page in all capital letters. So, I’m guessing this is a key point for the reader to grasp. Of course, the obvious first question for any non-sociology student is, “What is the secularization thesis?” Much of this issue explains and interacts with this thesis, and the role the church has played in the modern world and secularization. It is so easy to gather together and lament over the condition of our culture. It seems only natural to blame enemies of the faith for pushing the church and its values to the edges, leaving it an institution with little to no influence on the watching world. Like the mumbling character Milton from the 90’s movie, Office Space, Christians and the church in general feel slighted by a world that is all too eager to pass us by. In one sense, it feels like we’ve been laid off and didn’t get the memo. Hardly even tolerated anymore, we’ve been squeezed to the dingy basement of society. And there we work, clinging to our red, Swingline stapler and the last shreds of our dignity. But the secularization thesis (ST) suggests that, like Milton, we are no passive victims, rather, we are a part of the cast that we find so easy to demonize. Focusing on the process of secularization rather than the ideology, ST claims:

As societies modernize, they become less religious. This secularization is both external (a gradual fading of a particular religion from the public square) and internal (a gradual transformation and accommodation of traditional religions themselves). (29)

There is a direct correlation between modernization and secularization. After investing some space on explaining modernization in terms of the growth of literacy and universal education, the growing rationalization of thought and behavior, economic commodification, social differentiation, and socialization (30), further articles reflect on how the church has reacted by commodifying faith. Michael Horton quotes Steve Bruce from his book, Secularization: In Defense of an Unfashionable Theory, “Evil and sin have been turned into alienation and unhappiness…The purpose of religion is no longer to glorify God: it is to help find peace of mind and personal satisfaction” (33). Even our so-called revivals serve to facilitate this process. While they react to liberal trends, they simultaneously chip away at orthodoxy, leaving “unintended consequences” (33). In actuality, these bursts of church attendance in the moment decline in the aftermath. "This suggests a radical transformation and displacement of religion, not its disappearance” (35). And the mega churches that seem to suggest differently often reveal an internal secularization in its consumeristic, business-like methods. Bruce claims that it isn’t the anti-Christian court cases that are robbing Christianity of its influence on the world. It's more subtle than that. Rather, there is a much slower process of persuasions that we pass down to our children, where our own faith becomes compartmentalized and privatized. This all sounds pretty gloomy. But my opening quote points to just how liberating this recognition can be. Horton suggest that it is time to be self-evaluating as a church. Have we been caught up in trying to cling to our red, Swingline stapler (my interpretation, here) of cultural significance, pointing a finger and mumbling at the secular culture, all the while secularizing our own church so that we still feel significant? Modernization and secularization is what it is. We can’t stop it. Demonizing it doesn’t help either. “The deepest instincts of the New Testament draw us to defend religious liberty, but also to resist a naturalistic worldview that enshrines human autonomy” (38). While this is difficult, we know that Christ is expanding his kingdom even in the midst of modernization and secularization. Meanwhile, we are a peculiar people. Unlike the secular culture around us, we recognize that truth is not relative, and is not determined by its cash value. Truth is dogmatic and authoritative, all the while revealing and revealed by a God who is holy and just; gracious and loving. Rather than autonomous individuals who internalize spirituality for our own personal benefit, we are summoned by the good news, regenerated, renewed, and participating as the body of Christ. It’s so easy to get anxious about defending the faith in a culture that seems to be disregarding the church. And it is a challenge to live as Christians in this world without assimilating to all its influences. But we can confidently obey the command that Christ gave to the church before he ascended to the right hand of the Father. Civilization was quite a threat to the church even in its infancy. And yet, our King has been faithful to grow his kingdom. The world may underestimate us and push us to the basement. We may even endure persecution in standing firm for truth. But remember what Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18b). He is in control. So what are we told to do, try our hardest to transform all the “isms”? Work to reverse the process of secularization? Commit to live separately from the world to avoid modernization and all its effects? No, Jesus told us what to do and how he is expanding his kingdom: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). This we can do, because it is under Christ’s authority, and the means in which he has promised to bless and expand his church.