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Countering the Culture
Article by StaffThere is no doubt that America's culture is plunging to depths many of us never imagined. Here are five steps to mitigate its influence on our lives.
Music and Cultural Freefall
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe most popular songs glorify rebellion, mockery of established norms, social criticism, illicit behaviors, and avoidance of responsibility, a stark contrast to earlier music that celebrated beauty, lamented rejection, or reveled in pursuit. Music serves as a mirror to the spirit of the era, revealing that the minds of young Americans are preoccupied with sex, rebellion, violence, and feelings of marginalization. This cultural trend suggests troubling implications for the future. Even within Christian communities, the influence of modern music is evident, with contemporary services often featuring Christian rock instead of traditional hymns, a practice that has spread to missionary efforts abroad, causing dismay among some older generations who find the combination of sacred messages with loud, modern styles inappropriate.
Check Your Culture
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughLot's deep entanglement in the culture of Sodom shaped much of his behavior and decisions. He was so enmeshed in the sinful culture of the city that he rose to a position of importance, becoming one of its elders and intertwining himself in its business and customs. Lot prioritized the cultural standard of hospitality, a sacrosanct custom of that era, over the protection of his daughters, offering them to a mob to uphold this practice. Even when urged to flee Sodom's destruction, Lot lingered, seemingly unable to detach from the comfortable lifestyle and cultural ties he had formed. His daughters, too, carried the perverted cultural practices of Sodom with them, ultimately engaging in incest with their father. This immersion in a corrupt culture clouded Lot's ability to fully embrace a righteous path, highlighting the powerful influence of cultural values over personal conduct.
Cultural Manipulation
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe media and entertainment industries play a significant role in shaping youth culture, often manipulating teens and pre-teens to absorb and reflect a deviant culture for profit. Five enormous companies are responsible for selling nearly all of youth culture, acting as the true merchants of cool. These conglomerates own major music companies, film studios, TV networks, stations in the largest markets, and commercial cable channels, viewing the teen market as a territory to colonize with their weaponry of films, music, books, CDs, Internet access, clothing, amusement parks, and sports teams. Because teens' interests are so fickle, advertisers and media outlets are forced not only to figure out what is popular but also to create new and often more outrageous expressions of youth culture to sell their products.
Where Is Cancel Culture Headed?
'WorldWatch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe political and cultural Left has allied with giant tech corporations to sideline people and institutions who do not espouse the 'right' ideas and beliefs.
Our Enervating Culture
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughIf a person cannot honestly ascertain whether a thing is true or false, it will not be long before he loses his grip on reality—which truth defines.
Evaluating Culture
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughUnder humanistic liberalism, cultural standards exist on a sliding scale, depending on the tastes of the individual. In the end, there are no standards.
The Shallowness of Pop Culture
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughPopular culture can easily become an escape from the pressing issues of life and of this world, and in this sense, it becomes a trap as problems continue.
Handwriting on the Wall: Cultural Christianity
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh'Cultural Christianity' is a Christ-free, worldly adaptation of faith used for cultural identity, often embraced for its social influence, lacking true devotion.
Facing Cultural Headwinds
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod's saints encounter great difficulties keeping their balance and moving toward the Kingdom while being buffeted by the anti-God, progressive culture.
Cultural Paradigms in Scripture
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPaul had the capability of seeing the truth from several different cultural paradigms, namely from honor-shame, power-fear, and innocence-guilt continuums.
Cancel Culture
Commentary by Ryan McClureOffense will be common in the end times, and many will attempt to cancel those who disagree, as the Pharisees cancelled Jesus Christ by execution.
Abortion Legislation
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughRecently, nine states have passed legislation to restrict abortion. An equal number of states have removed all rights of the fetus, even up to birth.
Reality Narcolepsy
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeIt is an exercise in futility to play king-of-the-hill in a world so universally sinful.
American Conservatism (Part Two)
Commentary by John W. RitenbaughAmerican conservatism is judged more harshly because its tenets took root in biblical principles advanced by the Puritans.
Shifting American Values
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughAmerican cultural and political standards, no longer fixed in Scripture, also have only a tenuous hold on the principles in the founding documents.
America's Imminent Perfect Storm
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughIs there a leader in the wings who will have the fortitude to face the coming crisis? Perhaps there is, though it appears that he has not shown his face in public.
Has America Gone Crazy? (Part Three)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Those being molded by today's education system lack the historical context to permit them to grasp how it is twisting their impressionable minds.
What Does It Say?
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWhat does it say about a nation that lacks both the heart and the leadership to stop itself from committing suicide? God says we are headed for a fall.
Something Is Wrong
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWith the hubris that comes from money, power, and boredom, Americans are trying to outdo the ancient Romans for spectacle and perversion.
Humanism's Flooding Influence (Part One)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Humanism stems from the Renaissance, a time men felt free to exalt human reason and self-realization over religion and divine authority.
We Are the Enemy
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughRidicule of Christians and the biblical teachings they believe is on the rise. Christianity is under attack, putting those who believe the Bible in the crosshairs.
Its All the Rage
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The mercurial fads in fashion and music have a lot to do with what the Germans refer to as Zeitgeist - or the spirit of the times or spirit of the age.
Immigration and the Kingdom of God
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeUnlike Europe and the United States, God ensures that all His potential citizens will conform to His culture.
The Vulgar State of America
'WorldWatch' by Joseph B. BaityA coarse and vulgar spirit has overtaken modern culture and its entertainments, one we must counter with personal purity.
Deceiving the American Public
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Although previously cohabiting and homosexuality were viewed with repulsion, political correctness has coerced society to look upon these as normal.
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Six)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughAmerican culture is in obvious decline, and it is undoubtedly linked to the fact that mainstream Christianity is bereft of moral leadership.
Overcoming Hypocrisy
Sermonette by Bill OnisickWe are continually in danger of being deceived by our carnal nature, a nature which distracts us from following God, even though we go through the motions.
The Not-A-Problem Folk
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles WhitakerWe have no bold Phineases today who are unafraid of political correctness. The die has been cast for morally bankrupt America.
It's All Relative
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughWe frequently hear our culture labeled as postmodern. What is postmodernism? How is it related to relativism? Most importantly, what does God think?
What's Happening to Deference?
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Deference has largely disappeared as the emerging generation has been taught by the mores of progressivism to diss their elders, showing contempt for them.
Self-Government
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughSubmitting to a human government is a work that requires self-government. Paul thoroughly disciplined his body as he followed the example of Jesus Christ.
Contemporary Primitivism
CGG WeeklyTechnology merely indicates material development, whitewashing over a culture's moral, ethical, or spiritual state with shiny displays and distractions.
Whatever Became of Sin?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. MaasJesus Christ did not preach collective salvation and did not remove the responsibility from any of us for overcoming or qualifying for His kingdom.
Come Out of Her
Sermonette by Craig SablichComing out of the world constitutes replacing the traditions with which we grew up with God's lifestyle, preparing us to conform to the culture of His Kingdom.
Living Among the Ruins
Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)To tear down cherished institutions is to leave a nation culturally ruined. God's people, in choosing the old pathways, tread the roadway to eternal life.
Conspiracy Theory (Part Thirteen)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)American culture is decidedly non-Christian in its current outlook, as Satan has twisted and distorted the information taught by secular universities.
The Christian and the World (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe entire world is antagonistic to God because of the spirit generated by an unseen ruler. Our Christian duty is to stay awake and keep our guard up.