France Matters!

France matters! One of the world’s great cultural hubs, France is a center of influence in art, architecture, literature, music, cuisine and fashion. Cultural shifts in France have seismic impact that spreads throughout the French-speaking world.

French is by some estimates the world’s second most influential language, after English. Approximately 265 million people speak French as their first or second language. French is an official language in 33 countries, second only to English. French is one of six official languages of the United Nations, one of the two official languages of the Olympic Games, and a major language used in the European Union offices.

The French Revolution of 1789 brought great social and political unrest: feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges were swept away. The old hierarchy and traditions were replaced by a new order. The lands of the nobility and church leaders who had enjoyed lavish lifestyles at the expense of the masses were seized and redistributed.

In response to the excesses of the ruling class, France rejected the whole concept of nobility, and the moral authority of a corrupt church. France has become perhaps the most institutionally secular state in Europe.

The French Revolution of 1789 overthrew a monarchy and a corrupt church system that had oppressed them. The French Revolution left a great spiritual vacuum. Humanism came into vogue as an antidote to religious abuse, and Freemasonry gained more and more influence among the ruling class. Into this spiritual vacuum flowed immigrants from every ethnicity, including Arab Muslims from former French colonies.

With 6 million Arab Muslim citizens today, France’s changing demographic has created a tense political situation. It is widely believed France could become Europe’s first Muslim country by 2020. And yet, French Arabs feel politically, culturally and economically under-represented. millions of Arab youth find jobs scarce. Arab frustration bubbled over in the riots of 2005: 20 nights of looting, buildings set on fire, with nearly 3000 arrests, and nearly 9,000 cars torched throughout France. These events led to a national dialogue over accusations of quiet and pervasive racism.

And yet, there are encouraging signs. Evangelical Christianity is the fastest growing sector of the French Church, up from 100,000 to 400,000 members in the past 10 years. France has never had a national revival. They are long overdue, and this is not a hard thing for God. Please pray that this land, known for its fine wine, perfume, gourmet food and fashion will one day become a European center of worship, fine Bible teaching and an influence for Holiness. Pray that a purified French Church will reclaim her witness and influence in France, an influence that will spread throughout the French-speaking world.