Slaying Dragons Bible Study
Slaying Dragons Part 3 - The Spirit of the Age
The Spirit of the Age
In this Bible study, Daniel Kolenda takes an in depth look at the Spirit of the Age. Read more to understand how culture is influenced, and how we can have greater discernment and stand firm in our faith!
Zeitgeist is a German word that literally means time spirit. It refers to the spirit of the times, or the spirit of the age. In other words, it is the attitude or mood of a culture during a particular time period that gives rise to its unique values and beliefs. When cultural eras shift in the world, it can feel as if an invisible hand is pushing things along. This is both figuratively and literally the spirit of the age.
The zeitgeist in one era and in one place might be better or worse than that of another time or location. Yet there is an interesting way in which the zeitgeist of each era most often seems to find itself in opposition to the Christian worldview. There is a consistent theme of antipathy for Christ and all that He stands for. This hatred is both implicit and explicit. This is what John meant when he talked about “the spirit of the antichrist, which . . . is already in the world” (1 John 4:3). This is also what Paul was talking about when he said, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12, NKJV). In other words, from the biblical perspective the zeitgeist is not an abstraction. Literal spirits—powerful, demonic spirits—are actively pushing an agenda from their high places.
Jesus directly and powerfully influenced the zeitgeist of the world not only in His own day but also ever since. Consider how remarkable this is. No other man has ever had such influence. But the fascinating thing is not just that Jesus was so influential. What is even more remarkable is the improbability that such ideas would prevail in the minds of so many people throughout history in a world saturated with a totally contrary zeitgeist. God’s thoughts are just not our thoughts. They go against everything in human nature.
Jesus waged spiritual warfare every day of His life. He did not do it by waving banners, blowing shofars, and boxing the air. He did it through His way of life, His teaching, and His demonstration of God’s kingdom on the earth through His works, death, and resurrection.
With this in mind, spiritual warfare in Jesus’ ministry is not always what you might expect. Consider, for example, the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7). Most Christians know and love its message. Yet we have become so familiar with it that we often miss its significance. This teaching of Jesus opens our eyes to an entirely new way of thinking. It’s hard to convey how utterly revolutionary and even scandalous this would have been to its first recipients. Remember, Jesus taught this to people who lived in the Roman Empire of the ancient world. At that time in Roman society, power was the ultimate virtue. Mercy was weakness, and weakness was despised. Immorality, debauchery, hedonism, and violence were celebrated.
Then Jesus came along and said the blessed ones are the poor in spirit,` the mournful, the meek, the merciful, the pure, the persecuted, the peacemaking, and the righteous. The meek will inherit the earth? How unthinkable. Don’t the powerful and violent ones conquer nations and rule the world? Lust is adultery? Hatred is murder? Persecution is cause for joy? We should forgive our enemies—and even love them? Care for the needy? Give, pray, and fast in private so no one on earth will know and give us credit? Invest our treasures in heaven instead of earth? Reject anxiety? Love God more than our own lives? Refuse to judge others? Walk the narrow and least popular road?
Again, it’s hard for us to understand how revolutionary these ideas would have been in Jesus’ time. We live during an era when two thousand years of Christian influence has deeply and positively influenced the zeitgeist of the world in ways of which we are not always conscious. For example, we have a tendency to show mercy to the poor, weak, sick, orphans, and widows. But this is not the way it used to be. The heathen cultures into which Christianity was introduced valued the strong and the proud. The idea of human rights is a Christian idea. The idea of individual freedom to choose is a Christian idea. The idea of natural law is a Christian idea. Freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and even the scientific method are products of Christianity.
Western culture has been so influenced by the teachings of Jesus and the Bible that its people are often familiar with biblical themes and stories even if they have never read the Bible. And if they aren’t aware of the stories themselves, they have still been influenced by their morals. Even the famous and outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins writes about the importance of the Bible as it pertains to the English language. He lists 129 biblical phrases that every educated English speaker uses and understands, even if they never read the Bible. These include “the salt of the earth,” “go the extra mile,” “I wash my hands of it,” “filthy lucre,” “through a glass darkly,” “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, “hide your light under a bushel”, “no peace for the wicked”, “how are the mighty fallen,” and many others. Dawkins says, “A native speaker of English who has never read a word of the King James Bible is verging on the barbarian.” Think about what it has done to a society when stories such as the parable of the good Samaritan and the parable of the prodigal son have had two thousand years to work their way into the public consciousness. Even the Old Testament has become part of Western thought because of the pervasive influence of Christianity (think David and Goliath or the Ten Commandments).
In many ways, much more than our secular detractors would like to admit, the peaceful, sophisticated, and tame society we Westerners enjoy today owes its existence to Christian influence. Yet it has been under assault for hundreds of years. The greatest society man has ever built has been under attack by the very people who benefit from it. And they attack with the most vehemence the very thing that made it great. Why? As Dostoevsky says, “Man is stupid, you know, phenomenally stupid; or rather he is not at all stupid, but he is so ungrateful that you could not find another like him in all creation.” Or maybe there is another explanation still. Perhaps this pervasive hostility toward Christ and all He stands for comes from the satanic, antichrist spirit already in the world.
We pray that you have a greater understanding of how to hear the Lord and walk in spiritual wisdom. May the Holy Spirit guide you in all you do.
This Bible Study has been taken from Evangelist Daniel Kolenda’s book, “Slaying Dragons”. This book will show readers what the enemy is trying to accomplish and how they can slay every dragon they encounter—in their lives and in the world.
