Image: Creative Commons under Unsplash

A popular radio program in the 1930s began with a haunting voice, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” We listeners would sit and wait, knowing that week after week we would hear a scary story of a tyrant preparing to oppress upright people but knowing that after tense moments the Shadow would undo the evil and the ending would be good. The program continued for over a decade, probably replaced in the lives of hearers by the evils of World War II. The identity of the Shadow was never revealed.

Today we are beset by a tyrant who is causing tense moments but with two significant differences from those of the Shadow. First, many today do not realize there is a clear and present danger. Inflation, violence, family break-up, excess government, woke schools, and open borders are all signs of evil, but admitting this would require a change from the comfortable lifestyles we enjoy. We are not yet willing to give up the power, pleasure, and prosperity we idolize.

A second difference, as a nation we no longer believe a savior is out there to help us. Our Founders believed the Creator was the source of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, but we have forgotten they relied on a Shadow-like savior to overthrow their tyrant king. Our nation then went on to use the spiritual values of the Founders as a guide for living for 200 years. As prosperity increased the reliance on spiritual values decreased, especially after the 1960s. As the proportion of church-related citizens dropped below 50%, we have gone from a spiritual to a secular culture, from living on God’s word to a heavy diet of materialism.

In summary, we have as a culture and nation drifted away from the Founder’s spiritual values and chosen to follow man’s wayward way. The problem is spiritual starvation. The ramifications are huge.

God’s plan has spiritual values that are priceless, values such as the fruit of the Spirit which includes love, peace, joy, and self-control. These values meet man’s needs and satisfy. In contrast, man’s secular ways are based on wants that can never be fully satisfied and lead to works of the flesh such as anger, hate, loneliness, and violence.

A culture without values is a culture in an elusive search for something that satisfies. We substitute bigger and better “things” including houses, cars, clothing, cottages, vacations, trips, and recreational activities. These “things” may not be bad but they not only do not satisfy but also cry out for more, more, more. This can become addictive with a far-reaching impact.

For example, there is a great deal of concern today regarding inflation caused by high demand and a shortage of goods. Putting two and two together, our secular culture wants more and more of the “things” the tyrant is using to distract us from spiritual values.

The Shadow dealt with evil forces that came back each week and were never totally defeated. Similarly our tyrant was inherited from Adam, is part and parcel of our genes, and can never be defeated. Our tyrant is self-centeredness that can only be controlled by an inner dwelling higher power. That is why spiritual values are so important. What can we do?

The first thing is to accept that we are what we feed on. If our priorities are spiritual values, our lives reflect the fruit of the Spirit. If we accept what the world feeds us through secular institutions including newspapers, schools, education, TV, movies, and government we are on a path leading to frustration, loneliness, and often violence.

Education is a key tool of the tyrant. For 6-7 hours a day, 180 days a year, and for 12 years, kids in public schools are in an environment where God’s word or even his name is seldom if ever mentioned. The majority of us living went through this indoctrination so it is hard to admit we were duped. This has not always been true. Our Founders knew better but for the last century, the tyrant has managed to hoodwink the majority of the population into believing that secular education based on man’s way is superior to God’s way. This will not be easy to change.

A great battle is now going on between parents and public education. The tyrant has succeeded in convincing many school administrators and school board members that teachers know better than parents what is best for the kids. In effect, they believe secular beliefs are superior to the spiritual beliefs parents share with their children. Secular beliefs are based on feelings. Spiritual beliefs are based on values. The family is still the premier organization for child raising. Parents who both birth and provide foundational teachings to their children have

an intuitive sense of what values are important for their child(ren) that a teacher can never have. (Some academics today even have trouble determining whether a child is a boy or a girl, not surprisingly when decisions are based on feeling instead of facts.)

Government at all levels has emerged as a major player for the tyrant. Just one of the countless examples: Government aid is frequently counter-productive because governments rely on giving secular help while spiritual help is what is needed. The headlines of our local paper recently said “(Governor) Evers giving area schools $90M in federal funds”. Where did he get the money? From the federal government. Where did they get the money? They borrowed it. Who will pay it back? Our children and grandchildren. Our governor and elected federal officials are happy; our schools are happy, and many local folks are happy this money is coming into our community. However, this government grant is addictive, gives power to the tyrant, and teaches self-indulgence. This is nonsense but worse than most nonsense because individual freedom, perhaps the most valuable value, is at stake. The grant is akin to giving a drink of alcohol to an addict when what is needed is nutrition.

Control the Tyrant

How do we defeat the tyrant? We can’t. As descendants of Adam, the tyrant is part of our old nature. However, we have a Holy Spirit who can control the tyrant in us. John 14:16 promises, “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter… he lives in you and will be in you.” Holy Spirit power in us can control the tyrant. A simplified form of the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous provides a model:

· Repent of addiction to the world’s ways

· Recognize the need for Holy Spirit power

· Be involved in a support group

· Emphasize spiritual growth including church attendance, prayer, quiet time, bible reading, study groups, outreach training, and service to others

· Commit to basing decisions on fact, not feeling

Holy Spirit power to control the enemy is a key decision but it must not stop there. Christ made disciples and then sent them out to change the world. In two

centuries the work of the twelve spread to change the culture of the Roman Empire. They were on fire for God.

On Fire for God (OFG)

John Wesley noted that “mild Christianity won’t do it.” He provided a model to make disciples on fire for God. His Class Meetings from 1740 to 1780 changed the culture of England when that country faced tyrant problems including slavery and ten-year-old boys working in factories and mines. Wesley’s group members met weekly to share what God was doing in their lives with an emphasis on absolute honesty, unselfishness, purity, and love. The goal was heart cleansing.

Mathew 5:8 tells us, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”. Wesley’s Class Meetings purify so members can both see God’s plan for their lives and God’s plan for changing their culture. His model is still valid.

Penetrating the Culture

Today folks who are on fire for God from churches of various denominations and community organizations must work together in a way unseen since 1776 to infiltrate and change institutions and the culture.

Establish On Fire for God groups in a number of local churches. Then have members come together to set goals to impact specific institutions that are affecting the culture with man’s way in a harmful manner. There are numerous examples nationally of schools, media, and governments being changed in this manner and numerous organizations to help with legal matters. This subject requires separate treatment.

Changing the culture will not be easy but it was not easy for the early Christians, for John Wesley, and for our Founders. The rewards, Christ’s own words, “well done my good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21)”.

Coda

This article began with reference to the radio program, The Shadow, who encountered trying times that were later successfully resolved. We all encounter trying times and need help. Could it be that the 1930s Shadow is still around? Could it be that the ever-reliable Shadow was intended to be a portrayal of God’s Holy Spirit, still available to help when needed?

(Amazon publishes 6 commentaries of the author: Living God’s Plan discusses addiction tendencies. On Fire for God Handbook discusses purifying hearts and On Fire for God groups. Published by Amazon. Circa $7.95 each. All profit goes to Ukraine relief)