HOW SHOULD WE LIVE TODAY?

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – January 2025, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

In 1976, Francis Schaeffer wrote a powerful book and created a documentary series called “How Should We Then Live?” In it, he explored the rise and fall of Western culture, tracing history from Ancient Rome to the 20th century. Schaeffer examined how science, philosophy, and religion have shaped our society.

One of the key lessons from his series is that modern people have put “personal peace” (a life without trouble) and “affluence” (wealth and comfort) above everything else. Schaeffer warned that this desire might cause us to accept more government control in exchange for temporary peace and prosperity. He also explained that future authoritarian governments wouldn’t look like the obvious dictatorships of the past. Instead, they would use lies, subtle tricks, and psychological manipulation to influence people.

Schaeffer gave a serious warning: "Unless we return to the Christian foundation of our society, we’ll face economic collapse, war, growing chaos, and shortages of food and natural resources."

Have we not witnessed the results of trusting a culture that has pushed God and the Bible aside for decades? Now is the time to open our Bibles once again and return to the truth that made our nation strong. We need to ask God to show us what is broken in us and open our hearts and minds to see Jesus – the humble Savior born of a virgin, sent to rescue a damaged world weighed down by sin.

Returning to God is the only way to find the peace our souls long for. His truth leads to treasures in heaven that far surpass anything this world can give us.