3 of 3

Christianity has its charlatans and those who have exploited religion to become wealthy. But Christian missionaries who have gone to other cultures have almost invariably done so at great personal sacrifice, not to garner immense profits and live in luxury, like the notorious Bhagwan or the Guru Maharaj Ji. There are slums and poverty-stricken people in Albania, but it was the Catholic Christian Mother Teresa who went to Calcutta, not an Indian who went to Tirana. When the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations threw off their Communist regimes, it has been the Christian West (plus Japan) that has been willing to undertake massive financial aid. It was not, to cite one example, the fabulously oil-rich Muslim Arab states. For at least 40 years, the Communist powers have sought to undermine and to overthrow the Western democracies, yet nevertheless, we now are seeking to help their successors. There is no nation in the West that claims—or will admit—to be inspired by Christian motives, but this conduct is consistent with Jesus' words in : "Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (NIV).

Writing of Britons who seemed so ashamed of their imperial past that they were virtually paralyzed when it came to making sensible decisions in their own day, historian Lawrence Van der Post spoke of the "poison of shame."

The apostle Paul speaks of a "godly sorrow" that leads to repentance without "regret" and to salvation, and warns of "the worldly sorrow" that brings death (). The sort of thing that causes us to act, as a culture or as a nation, as though we regret Columbus's voyage, Western Christian civilization and, indeed, our own existence on this planet, is a "worldly sorrow" caused by Van der Post's "poison of shame." It dishonors not only ourselves and our Christian teachers and forebears, but also the Lord whom they served and whom we are supposed to love and follow, and, indeed, in the long run, it produces death.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Christianity Today published an obituary on July 9.

Harold O.J. Brown's articles for Christianity Today include:

Superman on the Screen: Counterfeit Myth? | Heroes have disappeared. They have been replaced by superheroes-fantasy creatures. (April 20, 1979 issue)

The Passivity Of American Christians | The myths that are intimidating those who hold forth a biblical heritage, and what can be done about them. (January 16, 1976 issue)

A Decisive Turn to Paganism | Has the nation finally abandoned its Judeo-Christian heritage, or is there still hope? (August 1, 2004)

The Book Report: Things We Ought to Know | Charles Colson's apologetic—and call to action—is in the tradition of Francis Schaeffer. (January 10, 2000)

Abortion and the Failure of Democracy | A review of James Davison Hunter's Before The Shooting Begins: Searching For Democracy In America's Culture War. (August 15, 1994)

The Link Interview: An Evangelical Appraisal | The strength of Orthodoxy, it turns out, is also its greatest temptation. (Christian History & Biography, April 1, 1997)

The Dissatisfaction of Francis Schaeffer | Thirteen years after his death, Schaeffer's vision and frustrations continue to haunt evangelicalism. (March 3, 1997)

Reformed Theological Seminary has kept updates on Brown's health. A memorial service will be held in Charlotte on July 28.

Care Net and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School have obituaries.

first page |  3 of 3

share this page

July (Web-only) 2007, Vol. 51