IS CHRISTIANITY OBSOLETE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY?

Introduction

It is the twenty-first century. Man landed on the moon way back in 1969. Homes with one phone in the house with party lines (and all you could do was talk on it) have given rise to homes with phones in every hand that are not just phones, they are smartphones that can hold numerous apps and can access the Internet, etc., etc.  There are even cars that can drive themselves. I could take up a lot of space in this article by mentioning modern technology, much of which becomes obsolete as quickly as it hits stores. AI is a big thing these days. I am not even sure what that is yet. Hundreds of colleges and universities provide top-notch education. The Internet gives us immediate access to any information we need.

So, who needs God? Who needs Christianity? After all, Christians are out of touch with the real world. They depend on God rather than on their own intellect. Scientists have proved there is no God anyway. Mm. Right? Well, let us see.

A Few More Questions

I have a few more questions.

Let us assume that Christianity is obsolete in the Twenty-first Century. In which century did it become obsolete? And what made it obsolete? Why are time and things, or knowledge, etc., relevant when it comes to the question of the obsolescence of God and Christianity?

How do you know Christianity is obsolete?

Does the fact that this is the “Technology Age” make Christianity obsolete?

Does the Fact That This Is the “Technology Age” Make Christianity Obsolete?

Technology has been around for a long time. A History of Information Technology can be found on Open Book Project.net[1]. According to the site, "There are 4 main ages that divide up the history of information technology.” They are:

1. Premechanical (3,000 B.C.-1450 A.D.)
2. Mechanical (1450-1840).
3. Electromechanical (1840-1940).
4. Electronic (1940-present).

Modern technology is simply a progression of technology from ancient times until now. It existed centuries before Christianity came into existence! There is nothing about it, or any material thing, which affects the nature of Christianity.  In fact, every Christian makes use of some form of technology, and many make use of what is considered "technology," computers, cell phones, etc., without it affecting their faith in God. Many use it to learn God's truths and share them with others.

So, technology, or the wide availability and use of it, cannot be used to gauge the obsolescence of Christianity. So, we need to look elsewhere for answers to our original question - Is Christianity obsolete in the Twenty-first Century?

Let us consider two more questions.

Why Does Christianity Exist?

A proper understanding of why Christianity began and exists is necessary for answering the question of whether it has become obsolete. Christianity has been in God's plan since the first couple sinned in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Then it became necessary for God to prepare for and work a plan to bring man, separated from God by sin (See Isaiah 59:1-2), back to Him. He needed a plan to redeem us from sin. After all, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

The Creator first hinted at such a plan when he spoke to the serpent in Genesis 3:15, as He pronounced sentence on him for his role in the Fall. He said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

The rest of the Old Testament account is dedicated to the working of that plan by preparing a nation, Israel, headed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to be the nation from whom that "seed" would spring. The writers speak of one who would come, referred to as "Shiloh" (Gen. 49:10), "Messiah"(Daniel. 9:25-26), Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and "Immanuel" (Is. 9:6-7).

These prophecies, as well as approximately 350 others, are all fulfilled in the New Testament in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, written in Greek, the appellation Messiah ("anointed, anointed one" is translated from the Greek as Christ, from the Greek, Christos ("Anointed"). In Luke 2:11, an angel told a group of shepherds in a field with their flock, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

So, Christ is the promised Messiah. He is the "seed" whose "head" would be "bruised" by the seed of the serpent, and the seed who would bruise the "head" of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). Read Galatians 4:4-5.

Jesus the Christ came to resolve a serious problem, a problem that caused the spiritual and physical death of mankind. He came to resolve the problem of sin.

The word, Christianity, is not found in the Bible. However, the word, Christian is found three times. Luke writes in Acts 11:26, “And for an entire year they ^[l]met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” The word, Christian, simply means "a follower of Christ" (Thayer, Strong[2]). Notice that the disciples were called "Christians." Disciple is from a Greek word meaning, "a learner, pupil, disciples (Thayer, Strong[3]). So those who learn from Jesus Christ are called "Christians." What do they learn? Jesus said in John 12:48, “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” A Christian, then, is one who learns the words of Jesus that He received from the Father (God). A faithful disciple/Christian is one who does the words of Jesus (Matthew 7:21-29).

Please read Acts 26:27-29. As Paul defended himself before King Agrippa, Agrippa asked him, "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” (Acts 11:27).  Agrippa responded, “Agrippa replied to Paul, In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.'" (Acts 11:28). Paul's response to that in Acts 11:29 is important: "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:16, “…but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” Peter said don't be ashamed, but glorify God as a Christian! What Peter says in the previous verse (1 Pet. 4:15) is important:  “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler…”

Why Does the Church Exist?

What is the church? The church is a body of believers established by Jesus Christ. .      He said in Matt. 16:18, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” So, the church belongs to Christ. He bought it with His blood (Acts 20:28), by which we are redeemed. He is its head (Ephesians. 1:19-23; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians. 1:18). He adds those who are saved to it (Acts 2:47). Christ established the church so that the Christians could come together and teach one another (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19); encourage one another (Heb. 10:25). Read Hebrews 3:13.  Notice the word "sin" there? The church exists to help people overcome sin and grow to be as Christ would have them be.

Jesus knew when He planned his church that a sinful people would need the support of like-minded Christians to get them through this life with its trials and temptations and go on to be with Jesus after this life. The church is designed to help sinners overcome their sin and grow to live a life acceptable to the Lord.

It Is all about Sin

Sin has been a problem since almost the very beginning. It has resulted in the death of people since the eldest son of the first couple became jealous of his brother and killed him (Gen. 4:3-12). It has caused broken homes since that time (Gen. 4:12-14). It has caused untold misery since the beginning. Everyone has sinned since the first sin in the Garden (Romans 3:23). We all die because of sin (Rom. 6:23). Everyone sins when they transgress the law of God (1 John 3:4, KJV and several other English translations), or commit lawlessness (1 John 3:4, NKJV and many other English translations).

Jesus Christ came into the world to take away sins (1 John 3:5) and save people from their sins. An angel of the Lord told Joseph, the future husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Matthew 1:21, “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” Jesus died to carry out that purpose (Rom. 5:7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Sin separated man from God when he sinned in the Garden (Gen. 3:1-24; See also Is. 59:1-2). Jesus died to reconcile man to God (Rom. 5:10-11).       Paul explains this and more about sin, its effects, in Romans 5:1-21.

Sin separates man from God, and Jesus came to reconcile man to God. Please read 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. Paul says that God reconciled us to Himself through Christ. Reconcile is from a Greek word meaning, according to Thayer[4]:

To change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value: to reconcile (those who are at variance); return to favour with, be reconciled to one; to receive one into favour.

A word with similar meaning is atonement (Rom. 5:11, KJV, translated as reconcile or reconciliation in some translations, including the NASB1995).

Conclusion

Do people still sin? Do they still become jealous and envious of one another? Do they still hate one another? Do they still steal, cheat, lie, or commit adultery? Do they still kill? Are there still fornicators, idolaters, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners? Do people still get addicted to drugs and alcohol, and sell these products to innocent children? Are homes still broken by the effects of drugs and alcohol? Do these things still happen in the Twenty-First Century?

Does sin still result in spiritual death and physical death? Does sin still cause misery, heartache, disease, pregnancy out of wedlock, broken homes, war, etc., etc.?

Will sin still cause one to lose his soul in hell?

Do Christians, those striving to keep sin out of their lives, to become more like Jesus Christ, and one day get to a reward in heaven, still need to be encouraged, strengthened, admonished, and rebuked?

Does the world still need to have the saving gospel of Christ (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21; Luke 24:46-47) taught to them?

Is Christianity obsolete in the Twenty-First Century? The answer is a resounding “No!”