Many Christians in Europe and North America have abandoned at least most, if not all, of the Church’s values, teachings, and traditions in an attempt to “fit in” with the customs and values of a pagan, secular culture.
Like the Jews of the Maccabean period, who left their Jewish faith in the One True God and their Jewish culture for Greek gods and Greek culture, many European and North American Christians have left the Church to worship the gods of socialism, relativism, consumerism, and atheism (the god of self) and left behind a Chrisitian culture for a pagan culture.
Too many Christians are abandoning Christ in favor of “politically correctness.” Too many Christians believe that their faith and how they conduct their lives are separate and distinct. Faith and how a life is lived are not separate and distinct. Love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is reflected in not only in worship and prayer, but also in work, play, and recreation – that is, every aspect and moment of one’s life. Faith is a life lived in faith.
Judas Maccabeus and his family fought for the importance of a life centered on God and his commandments, statues and ordinances. We as members of Christ’s body must stand up and speak the Truth revealed by Christ and a life lived according to His mercy, justice, and love. We are to live our lives according to the beatitudes.
To Love and Truth 
Very well said. It is sad that most Christians do not understand the magnitude of the war being waged against them, and that they are falling for it, hook line and sinker. A few more decades like this and it could all be lost…but fortunately, many of us have read the book.
We win. 🙂
How many will be willing to stand up and defend Truth when to do so might have dire financial, social, or physical consequences? None of us will be able to do so on our own. Some will allow the grace of God to guide, strengthen and sustain them as they suffer persecution for His sake. A few might even be asked to die for Truth. I fear that far too many of us will treasure our earthly lives and comfort more than the God who made, died and loves us.
I agree, we need to pray for the strength to persevere.
If we haven’t battled the flesh for the love of God, we will compromise so as to keep our worldly gains and thus lose our souls. St. Teresa of Avila exhorted all of her sisters to pray for perseverance. We must do so today more than ever because the media would have us believe that we are the dumb ones and a stupid minority to boot. Soon we will find out the facts.
Great comparison. I’d never thought of it that way, but there are so many similarities. Thanks for posting this.
I’ve always struggled with this argument, though a large part of me agrees, too. It’s easy for us to see the flaws in our own time, not so easy to see the ones of ages past. People throughout the ages have been saying more or less the same thing. But I always worry that if it does come to true persecution, I won’t be strong enough. That I won’t choose God. So I guess this post is a good prod for me to share on FB a video I was debating whether or not to share…whether or not half my “friends” dismiss me out of hand for it…