Many Christians have been duped to believe that religion or "personal faith" is a private matter. By private I mean something that is okay to believe in and practice on an individual level, but by no means should be brought to bear in the "public square." There are two main problems with this situation and they really go hand in hand with each other.

On the one hand, there is a neglect, by Christians, of what the Christian faith actually is. Many modern Christians see the Christian faith as merely a belief system. Moreover, this "belief system" is not very far reaching or complex. For many Christians the extent of this "belief system" is, "I believe Jesus died for my sins." While this certainly is true, to stop there is to greatly misunderstanding of the Christian faith of the Creator-God.

On the other hand, there is an acceptance, by Christians, of the worldview of secularism that is so pervasive in the global west. Christians have allowed non-Christians to define everything, including Christianity for them. The secularist have told Christians what their own faith is and what it's role in the world is. And, because we seem to get excited that we even have a role in this secular world, we gladly accept our seat at the table.

N.T. Wright, unsurprisingly, has some wise words to help us out in this area:

Like all worldviews, the Christian worldview is not simply a matter of private language, a secret or arcane mystery which is of interest only to those who themselves profess the Christian faith. All worldviews, the Christian one included, are in principle public statements. They all tell stories which attempt to challenge and perhaps to subvert other worldview-stories. All of them provide a set of answers to the basic questions, which can be called up as required from the subconscious, and discussed. All commit their hearers to a way of being-in-the-world or being-for-the-world. ( The New Testament and the People of God, pg. 135)

Wright notes how all worldviews, including the Christian worldview, attempt to define the world and commit their hears to certain actions to and for the world. This means that the Christian faith can only be private when it has already accepted a secular worldview. Because many Christians have accepted a secular worldview they believe their faith is private and has nothing to say about the world. But this runs against everything the Christian faith teaches. Christianity teaches that this world is God's world, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." (Ps. 24:1) Moreover, God has told us, in His word, how the world works and how are to live in it. When Christians accept a secular worldview they are, at the same time, rejecting a Biblical one.

Food for thought.

Michael