| About ten years ago (circa 2004), a speaker at a public policy conference forecast that in a decade one of the legal issues would be bathroom rights (note 1). The response was laughter; few seemed to believe this would be possible. But indeed it is a reality today. This past fall, the city council of Houston, Texas, passed an ordinance that allowed transgender people to select their bathrooms and to having legal standing to sue if anyone sought to deny them this right.
As with everything, the root idea behind bathroom rights is theology. Our culture has largely rejected the idea of a Creator and instead has substituted the assumption that reality, as we know it, came through a process of random (undirected, purposeless) evolutionary forces. Given this assumption, there is no Creator to provide direction and purpose; therefore, issues such as gender identity have become humanly defined ethical choices. Culture is simply returning to the old paradigm homo mensura (man the measure) promulgated by Greek philosopher Protagoras (note 2).
The issue of bathroom rights, however, is simply one example of the trends in a culture that is rapidly rejecting biblical norms. Just ten ago, the idea that bathroom rights would be a cultural issue was laughable. Consider some other issues that may seem laughable today but are likely to be points of cultural focus soon.
A recent New York Times op-ed piece argued that pedophiles deserve civil rights (note 3). Yes, the writer, a law school professor, argued that pedophiles are born with a sexual preference toward children. Consequently, they should have the right of choice as to how they express their sexual urges even if it means molesting children. Seems farfetched, but so did the issue of bathroom rights ten years ago.
Another cultural issue is the rapid trend toward financial collapse, which will, most likely, lead to political collapse. Chuck Colson wrote a commentary several years ago that outlined the trajectory of the United States that is rapidly leading to the collapse of our current form of government (note 4). Largess will drive the debt of the United States to the point where investors will no longer purchase its sovereign debt, which will lead to a financial crisis that will open the door for a dictator to come to power who will promise a solution to the financial crisis. Seems farfetched, but so did the issue of bathroom rights ten years ago.
The above scenarios are illustrations of the trends in a culture proactively rejecting the theology of God the Creator and embracing atheism. A godless culture resorts to humanism; therefore, homo mensura becomes the guiding principle. Whatever biblical norms were in the culture are being replaced by humanly contrived norms.
If a culture embraces God as the Creator as revealed in the Bible, however, then the Creator has the right to define the sexuality of each person. The norms of sexual relationships are defined explicitly in Scripture and do not include either self-defined gender identity or pedophilia. Furthermore, principles of wise financial stewardship are provided in Scripture, which warns against inappropriate debt (note 5).
To a person with a biblical view of reality, the cultural trends are very disturbing. As the trends continue and the remaining biblical norms are increasingly rejected by the culture, there will be many more implications.
One of these implications is expressed in the following Scripture:
When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. (Proverbs 28:28 NIV)
This text suggests that as a culture rejects biblical norms it will be increasingly difficult for righteous people to conduct business according to their convictions. The implication is that cultures rejecting biblical norms will be biased against Christianity and the bias will be expressed against anyone in the workplace who seeks to conduct business based on a biblical worldview.
We already see signs of this reality. When the biblically congruent definition of marriage was overturned by a federal court in North Carolina, a number of judges resigned (note 6). The court required all judges to perform homosexual marriage ceremonies, if so requested. Based on their conviction of biblical norms, many of the judges refused to comply with the ruling of the courts. Efforts to negotiate a compromise were fruitless and resignation was the only option for the judges to remain true to their convictions.
Another example is Urloved Photography in California, whose owners decided to stop providing all wedding photography services rather than agree to photograph a homosexual marriage ceremony (note 7).
Indeed, when the wicked rise in power the righteous go into hiding by withdrawing their services in markets where they can no longer work according to biblical standards.
As we look ahead, how will a culture that is increasingly rejecting biblical norms impact the business climate? There will be disturbing challenges but there will also be new opportunities.
Some of these challenges will include finding quality workers in a culture that is producing increasingly lower quality workers as measured by biblical norms. Crime at all levels will increase. Theft, vandalism, and scams will surge; personal security and asset security will be increasingly difficult. And news media reporting will be increasingly biased against biblical norms and perspectives. The truth about events will become progressively more obscure, making it difficult to acquire factual information.
With each of these challenges, however, there will be opportunities. Consider a few entrepreneurial possibilities.
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Finding and training quality workers will be at a premium. The average worker, governed by homo mensura, will lack the requisite character to work effectively. There will be an opportunity for a company to set up boot-camp-type training for workers who reject homo mensura and embrace biblical norms. Such workers will be in great demand because they alone will have the character requisite to work efficiently and effectively.
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When there are no biblical norms governing a culture, there is no clear ethical compass. Therefore crime will increase and eventually overload law enforcement. Fear will increase, which will open the door for trustworthy private security companies to provide personal and asset security. For a picture of what this will be like, consider modern-day South Africa.
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Given that there is no neutral knowledge, that is, all knowledge is based on a worldview, then all news is biased by the worldview of the person or organization presenting it. Today the worldview of most news media is based on norms increasingly defined by homo mensura not by biblical norms. If you believe truth is presented most accurately through a biblical worldview (note 8), then news reporting based on truth will be increasingly compromised. News agencies committed to presenting the news from a biblical worldview will be essential to providing truthful news at all levels. Currently World magazine and its affiliates provide a biblical view of national and international news. There is, however, a need for state and local news coverage based on a biblical worldview. This need will only increase as culture continues to reject biblical norms. Consequently, there will be an excellent business opportunity for those called to report the news based on truth.
The challenge is on. The culture, globally, but particularly in the Western world, is increasingly anti-Christian and pro– homo mensura. Consider therefore the following questions.
Who will rise to the challenge?
Who is called to deliver worker training based on biblical norms?
Who is called to provide personal and asset security in a world that is becoming overloaded with wicked rebellious people?
Who is called to build organizations that will report the news from a biblical perspective?
Will it be you? Don’t shrink from the challenge. If the Lord has called you to this or other work that will be needed in an increasingly pagan culture, don’t hold back. Seek Him, trust Him, and lean on Him. Make His priorities your priorities. When you do this, He may open the door to a new business venture that will enable you to bring glory to Him as you serve many people with truth and righteousness.
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1. Private conversation.
2. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homo%20mensura.
3. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/opinion/pedophilia-a-disorder-not-a-crime.html.
4. http://www.breakpoint.org/commentaries/12141-rejecting-apathy.
5.
Proverbs 22:7.
6. http://www.christianpost.com/news/four-more-north-carolina-judges-resign-over-refusal-to-conduct-same-sex-weddings-128890/.
7. http://www.charismanews.com/us/46224-christian-photogs-close-business-instead-of-filming-gay-weddings.
8.
John 14:6.
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