Interesting question. Shuffling a couple of words here, could it be said that contemporary Christianity is in severe decline but the work of the true church moves forward unabated and un-noticed?
It's possible that more and more people are leaving the form to merge with the substance. If so, then the quality of the mores of society at large would have to show a pronounced gain over the years, which actually may be the case if examined closely enough.
I think that is the case. The 'negative' gets the press and attracts our attraction, continually obscuring the real world.
But the real world does manage to shine through once in a while. For example, how many people in the country were aware of the good things that were happening during and after Katrina, as opposed to the bad things that were happening?
Quality and quantity were on the side of the good, I'm sure. And though I don't have the vision to make a comparison between how the world and society at large responded to such catastrophes throughout history, intuitively I think the activity of today's generation would prove that substance is winning over form.
So regardless of those folks who attempt to alter our political system -- and succeed, or the actions of those folks who bend the system to popularize and support their proclivities and perpetrations, it should have no effect on our personal journeys, for government is not the teacher of ethics, morals, or righteousness, but the protector of the concensus.
That does not mean that we should just lay back and allow the perps to mangle the system. On the contrary, it should spur us on to greater efforts in preserving and refining how we are governed and represented.
Those we fight against are those that want to RE-define how we are governed and represented, and that takes us back to the source of the problem -- pro-active judges who are re-defining and creating law.
There will always be the flag-burners and pledge-slayers amongst us.
Indeed, it could be said; and, like you, I do say it!!!
That is to say, I whole-heartedly agree with this insight. The true church is not a building with pews in it, and people sitting in the pews listening to the preacher once a week. The True Church is the Body of Christ. And so it is entirely possible that church institutions may crumble, but the Spirit that informs the Body of Christ gathers strength. Personally, I think we are living in a time of rising spirituality....
Thank you for your magnificent essay/post, Eastlander!