Changing the culture for Christ

Patrick Novecosky writes that our culture has forgotten that it needs a Redeemer . . .

Patrick Novecosky

If you’ve been following the news at all lately, you probably noticed that in our sophisticated, highly evolved and cultured world, the entire human race is at peace. Harmony among races and between nations allows mankind to live a truly sublime and carefree existence.

Wrong. Muslim radicals are running roughshod over the Christian minority in Egypt, burning churches of Coptic Christians who have lived in that country for nearly 2,000 years. Racial tensions are high in our own country after George Zimmerman’s acquittal in July. At the same time, friction between liberals and conservatives — both in the media and in politics — is at a fever pitch.

So, what’s the problem? Why can’t we find a way to bridge the gaps and create that utopian world described in the opening paragraph? We have advanced technology: We can communicate with people on the other side of the planet at the click of a button. We have volumes of eloquent books filled with theology and philosophy. Surely we could all agree on one of them. And the human race even has the capability to feed every person on the planet if we’d all work together.

The simple answer to this complex problem is this: We need a redeemer … and we are not capable of redeeming ourselves. In fact, self-redemption is an oxymoron. A quick check of the dictionary tells me that “to redeem” means “to buy back” or “to pay a ransom.”

Why do we need to be redeemed? “Your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Is 59:2). And St. Peter explains that “you were not redeemed with corruptible things— like silver or gold — from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pt 1:18-19).

The challenge is to convince our immoral and decaying culture that it needs a redeemer — and then to introduce it to the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Thankfully, Legatus members are leaders in changing the culture for Christ. They’re producing films, writing books, giving talks, launching media campaigns, filing lawsuits, running for public office and so much more. Curtis Martin and his Fellowship of Catholic University Students are directly evangelizing thousands of young people every year — and training them to go out and do the same. (Click here for related story.)

The workers are few, but the harvest is great. Satan is working hard to destroy God’s ultimate creation — you and me. But if we are faithful and claim the victory in Christ, our destiny is heaven where mankind’s utopian dreams will pale in comparison to what the Lord has in store for us.

PATRICK NOVECOSKY is Legatus magazine’s editor.