The attention of the world was turned to France on April 15th, 2019, as the Notre Dame Cathedral lit up in flames. This towering edifice that has stood for over 800 years was aflame as onlookers watched stunned at the sight of the beautiful cathedral on fire. I remember watching the event on the news and thinking, “could this be a prophetic picture of western civilization?”
Empires rise and fall, civilizations decline over time and there is every indication that western civilization is heading for a sudden fall.
Open borders, ‘wokeness’, massive reforms in the education system and identity politics have led to massive changes in the culture of many countries. Western civilization is on fire and just like the onlookers who stood helpless and watched the Notre Dame burn, many can only do the same, as the world they once knew is radically altered.
The case for western civilization
Anyone who has paid attention to events unfolding from 2020 would have noticed the phrase, “burn it down” used several times as droves of individuals called for the destruction of the systems that have held their countries together. Many of these individuals have claimed to be Social Justice Warriors.
It's very easy to destroy - but it takes patience and wisdom to build.
There is no perfect civilization, and there will not be until Jesus establishes his kingdom upon the earth - this is one of the reasons why the famous economist Thomas Sowell would always say, “there are no solutions, only trade-offs.” There are obvious evils that can be linked to western civilization such as slavery, racism, etc., but these issues are not exclusively western, they have nothing to do with the color of a man’s skin.
We are all flawed, and we need the redeeming power of Christ to liberate us. Those who say, “burn it down,” can only speak freely because men and women whom they claim to despise stood, fought, and built the country in which they stand. They are standing on the shoulders of giants and raining insults at them. Were the founding fathers of America or European countries perfect? Far from it!
They were full of faults like the rest of us, but many labored for their country, and for that reason, they deserve to be honored. Those who want to “burn it down” should take some lessons from history - Leninist Russia and Mao’s China took the same route and it ended in unimaginable consequences.
Honoring the fathers
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi Chapter 4, verses 5-6)
A generation that refuses to honor the fathers will not receive their inheritance. One of the basic strategies of the devil in destroying the heritage of nations is to cause hatred to rise for the fathers and mothers. If the Elijah anointing comes to restore the fathers to the children and vice-versa, then the Jezebel spirit comes to cause division between the fathers and the children.
Over the past couple of years, there has been so much dishonor for the fathers of many nations. This is a deliberate ploy of the enemy to destroy the heritage of nations. The commandment to honor fathers and mothers (Ephesians chapter 6, verse 2) comes with a promise: “that it may be well with thee…”
When you see the statues of fathers being destroyed, their names and legacy being smeared, understand that it’s a deliberate ploy of the enemy to make sure that a generation does not inherit the promise that comes with honoring the fathers.
Yahweh is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and a large part of the Bible is given to genealogies.
If the church is to counter the woke culture of hatred for the fathers, there must be a true restoration of honor in the church. We as the Ekklesia of Christ must emphasize honoring the fathers and the mothers that still labor among us and those who are now in heaven.
The culture of honor must be restored.
The need for courage
Centuries ago, Rome fell as the Barbarians invaded through her gates. In America and a large part of Europe today, the Barbarians are already within the gates of the city. They are on the college campuses, they are in high schools, they own mainstream media, they run social media, they are even in the churches. Though the situation looks dark, I believe this will be our finest hour.
One word spoken in truth can take down a thousand lies. A little monk named Martin Luther changed the course of history by standing against the most powerful body of his day, the Roman Catholic Church. Little did Luther know that his 95-thesis posted on that little door in Wittenberg would conquer a thousand lies.
Maybe we need a thousand men with the courage of Luther in this hour to stand against the invasion of the barbarians. Maybe we need just one or two who would not give up the standards of truth for the passing pleasures of this world. Even as the world gets darker, I firmly believe that this would be our finest hour. May the church of Jesus Christ arise and shine!
Rume Kpadamrophe is a graduate student at the University of South Carolina. Before leaving Nigeria, he mentored several youths in prophetic, intercession, and evangelism. He is a revivalist, a writer, a researcher, and an enthusiastic lover of revival history. He desires to see revival ignited and sustained in the nations of the earth. He currently serves as the president of The Carolina Church, a campus ministry at the University of South Carolina.Rume’s email is rumekpadamrophe@yahoo.com.