Les Feldick attributes Western civilization's advancement to the influence of Christianity, which freed people from pagan superstition and propelled European technology and thought.
When the gospel was sent west to Europe rather than east, it shaped the forefathers of Western nations and set everything moving—the Reformations, the Industrial Revolution, and technology. Christianity also raised women to equality with men and gave mankind the freedom to pursue ideas, while pagan religions kept people bound in fear and ignorance. Les consistently teaches that the engine behind Europe's explosion of intellectualism and technology was Christianity itself.
Romans 11:12 — Les uses this verse to show that Israel's fall brought spiritual riches to the Gentile world, which then reached Europe and the West.
Acts 16:9-10 — This passage records the gospel's westward turn into Macedonia, which Les sees as the point where the gospel moved to Europe.
Scripture records that the gospel was directed from Israel toward the Gentile nations. In Romans 11:12, Paul writes that Israel's fall has become "the riches of the world" and "the riches of the Gentiles." Acts 16 shows the gospel moving westward: Paul and his companions are guided to Macedonia, where a man appears in a vision asking, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us." The passage concludes that they were "assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." These verses show the biblical basis for the gospel reaching the European continent.
Les teaches that the gospel, by God's ordination, went west to Europe rather than east to the Orient. He points to Paul's Macedonian call as the turning point: once the gospel reached Greece and then overwhelmed Europe, it set everything moving—the Reformations, the Industrial Revolution, and the technology that came out of Europe. Les says the engine behind Europe's intellectual and technological explosion was Christianity itself, and that European peoples, moved by their convictions, carried this progress to America. Les also emphasizes what Christianity liberated people from. It freed people from the fear and superstition of pagan religion, which had kept them scared of their gods and demonic powers. Christianity is what gave mankind the freedom to pursue his own ideas and is what set the female gender free, putting women on the same level in God's eyes as man. While Les acknowledges that true believers were often persecuted and that Europe later degenerated, he still describes Christianity as the force that lifted the Western world out of pagan darkness and moral decay.
Paul had planned to go east, but the Holy Spirit stopped him and sent him west to Greece. Les says God had long before ordained that the gospel of grace should not go east to the Orient but west to Europe. From Greece it overwhelmed Europe, and European peoples carried their convictions to America.
Les says Christianity is what set the female gender free. It put women on the same level in God's eyes as man, and he calls that the beginning of true feminism. This was a practical, society-changing consequence of the gospel's influence on the West.
Pagan religion kept people steeped in superstition and fear of their gods and demonic powers. Les points to voodooism in Haiti as an example of real satanic power, and says demonism is rampant in other areas of the world. Christianity, by contrast, has been strong enough to hold demon powers at bay in the West.
Les acknowledges that the Dark Ages in Europe were dominated by religion, but true Christians were often persecuted. After the Reformation, Europe was aflame with the Word of God, yet Europe later degenerated. Still, for most of Western history, Christianity has been the brake on the falling away of moral principles.
Spiritual Riches from Israel's Fall
Les clarifies that the 'riches of the world' that came through Israel's fall are not money or gold but spiritual riches that Gentiles—including those in the West—have enjoyed.
Gospel Overwhelms Europe
Les shows the gospel going west to Greece and overwhelming Europe, with Christianity as the engine behind Europe's explosion of intellectualism and technology.
Christianity Frees Women
Les says Christianity gave mankind freedom to pursue ideas and set the female gender free, putting women on the same level as men in God's eyes.
Paul Called to Macedonia
Les explains that the gospel was set to go west to Europe, not east to the Orient, because the Lord called Paul to Macedonia—the gateway to Europe.
Religion in the Dark Ages
Les acknowledges that in the Dark Ages religion was the basis of everything and that true believers were often persecuted, showing Christianity had a complex history in Europe.
Christianity as a Brake
Les says Christianity has been the brake on the falling away of moral principles in the Western world, with believers standing in the gap against iniquity.
Europe's Later Degeneration
Les points out that despite Europe's high level of spirituality after the Reformation, it degenerated over time—showing that Christian influence was not permanent.
Pagan Fear and Demonism
Les contrasts pagan religion—steeped in superstition and fear of demons—with Christianity, which has held demon powers at bay in the West.
Romans 11:12: Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Les cites this verse to show that Israel's fall brought spiritual riches to the Gentile world, not primarily material wealth.
Acts 16:9-10: And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
This is the biblical moment when the gospel was directed westward into Europe, which Les connects to the shaping of Western civilization.
Yes. Les says that when the gospel went to Europe, it set everything moving—including the Reformations, the Industrial Revolution, and the technology that came out of Europe. He also says the engine behind Europe's explosion of intellectualism and technology was Christianity itself.
Not instantly and not without persecution. Les acknowledges that the Dark Ages were dominated by religion and that true Christians were often persecuted. After the Reformation, Europe was aflame with the Word of God, but Europe later degenerated.
Les says Christianity has been the brake on the falling away of moral principles in the Western world. He explains that if you remove every believer and the Holy Spirit's role, nothing is left to hold back iniquity.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel's Fall Opened Heaven's Door for the Gentiles