In the UK recently, 1500 children under 10 were asked "What's the very best thing in the world?" Here are the top ten answers, starting with the most common answer:
1. Being a celebrity
2. Good looks
3. Being rich
4. Being healthy
5. Pop music
6. Families
7. Friends
8. Nice food
9. Watching films
10. Heaven/God
As I look at those results, I wonder about several things.
First, I wonder what our future holds in store for us. Although these are children from the UK, I can't imagine American children's answers would be much different. When being famous, looking good, and having money are the best things in the world, what does that do to our culture? Should celebrities have special treatment simply for being famous? What other values will be compromised to achieve fame? Are those who are less attractive, less wealthy, and unknown to be pushed aside for our personal gain?
I also wonder where the church is in the midst of this craziness. Have we become so self-absorbed in building our church buildings (which are often monuments to us as much or more than they are to God), creating flashy programs (which seem an awful lot like pop culture activities), and showing how "good" we are (by hiding our sins or being so "tolerant" that we ignore God's word), that we have missed out on being salt and light?
One last thing I wonder is if we realize the battle we are in. Now, I am not naive or myopic enough to say that this is the only "culture war" in the history of the church. Frankly, I am getting weary of the "End Times" folks who think this is all a sign that the end is near. Have you ever studied the history of the Roman Empire? I am not a expert in history, but I know enough to know that the church was in a culture war while Peter, Paul, and the other apostles still walked the earth.
While the end of time as we know it may be around the corner, that isn't the point. The point is that God has called us to be faithful regardless of the calendar. We are in a battle. It is a fight; and it's not just a fight to get people into heaven. It is a battle to take back the ground that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
Sin has brought self-centered and prideful darkness to this creation that was pure. And contrary to many Evangelicals, we are not called to board a ship to be taken away from this evil world. We are called to disembark in this world for a battle to bring God's grace and mercy. The call of Christ is a rescue mission, but our self-centered, individualistic society has trained us that the rescue is for the sole purpose of getting us out of this sin-filled, evil world. The real rescue mission is one that followers of the Christ are called to join in. We must go into the world and rescue those who are suffering.
We must rescue those who seek relief by intoxicating their bodies to dull the pain and hurt.
We must rescue those who seek relief by surrendering their bodies sexually to receive love and acceptance.
We must rescue those who seek relief in a few minutes of fame to mask their insecurities.
We must rescue those who seek relief in social status to hide their fears of inadequacy.
We must rescue those who seek relief in getting attention because they feel unloved
We must rescue those who seek relief in material wealth because they are poor in spirit.
We are surrounded by people in need of rescue. And if the truth be told, we are all still in a state of needing rescued. Not the kind of rescue that comes from shallow religion, strict doctrine, and pew-sitting Christianity. This is only the kind of rescue that comes from engaging in the work of the Kingdom of God and living out the mission of Jesus in each one of our lives. Now that's the best thing in the world to me.
shine!
Jason
Monday, December 18, 2006
The best thing in the world
In the UK recently, 1500 children under 10 were asked "What's the very best thing in the world?" Here are the top ten answers, starting with the most common answer:
1. Being a celebrity
2. Good looks
3. Being rich
4. Being healthy
5. Pop music
6. Families
7. Friends
8. Nice food
9. Watching films
10. Heaven/God
As I look at those results, I wonder about several things.
First, I wonder what our future holds in store for us. Although these are children from the UK, I can't imagine American children's answers would be much different. When being famous, looking good, and having money are the best things in the world, what does that do to our culture? Should celebrities have special treatment simply for being famous? What other values will be compromised to achieve fame? Are those who are less attractive, less wealthy, and unknown to be pushed aside for our personal gain?
I also wonder where the church is in the midst of this craziness. Have we become so self-absorbed in building our church buildings (which are often monuments to us as much or more than they are to God), creating flashy programs (which seem an awful lot like pop culture activities), and showing how "good" we are (by hiding our sins or being so "tolerant" that we ignore God's word), that we have missed out on being salt and light?
One last thing I wonder is if we realize the battle we are in. Now, I am not naive or myopic enough to say that this is the only "culture war" in the history of the church. Frankly, I am getting weary of the "End Times" folks who think this is all a sign that the end is near. Have you ever studied the history of the Roman Empire? I am not a expert in history, but I know enough to know that the church was in a culture war while Peter, Paul, and the other apostles still walked the earth.
While the end of time as we know it may be around the corner, that isn't the point. The point is that God has called us to be faithful regardless of the calendar. We are in a battle. It is a fight; and it's not just a fight to get people into heaven. It is a battle to take back the ground that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
Sin has brought self-centered and prideful darkness to this creation that was pure. And contrary to many Evangelicals, we are not called to board a ship to be taken away from this evil world. We are called to disembark in this world for a battle to bring God's grace and mercy. The call of Christ is a rescue mission, but our self-centered, individualistic society has trained us that the rescue is for the sole purpose of getting us out of this sin-filled, evil world. The real rescue mission is one that followers of the Christ are called to join in. We must go into the world and rescue those who are suffering.
We must rescue those who seek relief by intoxicating their bodies to dull the pain and hurt.
We must rescue those who seek relief by surrendering their bodies sexually to receive love and acceptance.
We must rescue those who seek relief in a few minutes of fame to mask their insecurities.
We must rescue those who seek relief in social status to hide their fears of inadequacy.
We must rescue those who seek relief in getting attention because they feel unloved
We must rescue those who seek relief in material wealth because they are poor in spirit.
We are surrounded by people in need of rescue. And if the truth be told, we are all still in a state of needing rescued. Not the kind of rescue that comes from shallow religion, strict doctrine, and pew-sitting Christianity. This is only the kind of rescue that comes from engaging in the work of the Kingdom of God and living out the mission of Jesus in each one of our lives. Now that's the best thing in the world to me.
shine!
Jason
1. Being a celebrity
2. Good looks
3. Being rich
4. Being healthy
5. Pop music
6. Families
7. Friends
8. Nice food
9. Watching films
10. Heaven/God
As I look at those results, I wonder about several things.
First, I wonder what our future holds in store for us. Although these are children from the UK, I can't imagine American children's answers would be much different. When being famous, looking good, and having money are the best things in the world, what does that do to our culture? Should celebrities have special treatment simply for being famous? What other values will be compromised to achieve fame? Are those who are less attractive, less wealthy, and unknown to be pushed aside for our personal gain?
I also wonder where the church is in the midst of this craziness. Have we become so self-absorbed in building our church buildings (which are often monuments to us as much or more than they are to God), creating flashy programs (which seem an awful lot like pop culture activities), and showing how "good" we are (by hiding our sins or being so "tolerant" that we ignore God's word), that we have missed out on being salt and light?
One last thing I wonder is if we realize the battle we are in. Now, I am not naive or myopic enough to say that this is the only "culture war" in the history of the church. Frankly, I am getting weary of the "End Times" folks who think this is all a sign that the end is near. Have you ever studied the history of the Roman Empire? I am not a expert in history, but I know enough to know that the church was in a culture war while Peter, Paul, and the other apostles still walked the earth.
While the end of time as we know it may be around the corner, that isn't the point. The point is that God has called us to be faithful regardless of the calendar. We are in a battle. It is a fight; and it's not just a fight to get people into heaven. It is a battle to take back the ground that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
Sin has brought self-centered and prideful darkness to this creation that was pure. And contrary to many Evangelicals, we are not called to board a ship to be taken away from this evil world. We are called to disembark in this world for a battle to bring God's grace and mercy. The call of Christ is a rescue mission, but our self-centered, individualistic society has trained us that the rescue is for the sole purpose of getting us out of this sin-filled, evil world. The real rescue mission is one that followers of the Christ are called to join in. We must go into the world and rescue those who are suffering.
We must rescue those who seek relief by intoxicating their bodies to dull the pain and hurt.
We must rescue those who seek relief by surrendering their bodies sexually to receive love and acceptance.
We must rescue those who seek relief in a few minutes of fame to mask their insecurities.
We must rescue those who seek relief in social status to hide their fears of inadequacy.
We must rescue those who seek relief in getting attention because they feel unloved
We must rescue those who seek relief in material wealth because they are poor in spirit.
We are surrounded by people in need of rescue. And if the truth be told, we are all still in a state of needing rescued. Not the kind of rescue that comes from shallow religion, strict doctrine, and pew-sitting Christianity. This is only the kind of rescue that comes from engaging in the work of the Kingdom of God and living out the mission of Jesus in each one of our lives. Now that's the best thing in the world to me.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Relevant AND Resolute
How do we stay relevant to the culture around us while remaining resolute in our faith? This is a question that most honest Christians wrestle with. There are so many approaches.
On one extreme, we can say that culture is worthless so we withdraw and become monks who never interact with the culture around us.
On the other extreme are those who submerse themselves in culture and look for God in everything, regardless of the content that surrounds it.
How do we find a balance?
I don't have the answer, but I am on the journey.
While I acknowledge that we must be able to connect with those who don't know God, we must be careful to not be influenced. I know Christians who listen to all kinds of popular music to be relevant and connect with the culture. But I see many of these same people begin to exhibit the values of the culture in their life. What message does that send? When we allow the culture to shape our thinking, how does that match up with Paul's words in Romans 12?
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We must always be searching for ways to touch the lives of those around us while living out the Kingdom of God.
There are always extremes people seem to be drawn towards...
What was the social gospel of the 70's all about? I believe it was an overreaction to the disconnected, "self-righteous" religion of the early 20th century. When Christians think they are better than everyone else and look down on others, the natural overreaction is to serve the lower classes while forgetting about purity.
This is what today's relevant movement seems to be about. I think there are some noble causes and concerns, and I share the concern. But what about purity?
I would also agree that many Christians, even today, worry so much about their own holiness that they miss Jesus' call to bring the Kingdom to earth. They would rather sit in a Christian bookstore, reading Christian novels, and listening to Christian music. And then they get in their car, drive home, and relax in their home while people around the world (and in their own community) suffer.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy Christian music and literature. But if we settle into our Christian ghettos and never spread the Kingdom of God, we are missing an important part of Jesus' call.
At the same time, there are other Christians who seem to worry so much about fitting in that they miss another part of the call. They sit in Starbucks, listening to top 40 music, and reading whatever is trendy at the moment. They get in their car, dial up some hip-hop in their iPod, and rush home to see the newest episode of their favorite show.
There is nothing inherently evil about enjoying today's culture. But can we get so comfortable in this world that we invest more energy in fitting in than reaching out?
Neither approach is completely wrong, but both seem to miss the point.
At my point on the journey it seems we need to seek a balance. We must protect our hearts and minds from the influence of culture while still engaging and connecting with those around us. But this hard work. It requires thought and diligence. It may require more effort than many want to give. (This might include me, if I am to be honest.)
I think that for most of my Christian walk I have tended to live in the Christian ghetto. I still listen to Christian music. But I acknowledge there is plenty of "good" stuff in the "secular" world. As if there are really two worlds.
Which leads me to a temporary side bar. I don't really think there is such a thing as "Christian" and "secular." Those might be two ends of a spectrum, but they are not separate worlds. Need an example? How do you explain a preacher who teaches that if we follow God, we will be blessed with money and possessions? Sounds like a secular Christianity to me. Or how about the musician who praises God when they win their Grammy, but his next album talks about exploiting women. Sounds like secular with a dose of Jesus.
Is God at work in the lives of those who live in the "secular" world? I absolutely believe He is. Can God send a message through those who are not really all that faithful and dedicated? Isn't that the basic message of much of the Old Testament?
But was God's message to the Israelites to continue fitting in with the culture around them to be relevant? I don't think so. I acknowledge that this is a new Covenant, but has God's nature or character changed?
No, we are no longer called to destroy our enemies. (Although American Christianity seems to endorse a continuation of the Crusades.) But we are still called to change our "enemies," not to fit in.
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
So after a few bunny trails, I return to the question at hand. How can we be both relevant and resolute?
There is no simple answer. There is no formula. But the most concise answer might be Micah 6:8. No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. The questions we must all wrestle with are right in this passage.
What does it mean to do right?
What does it mean to love mercy?
What does it mean to walk humbly with your God?
I believe that in the answer to these three questions we answer the question of relevance versus resoluteness. Here we can find the way to be in the world but not of the world. Here we can pursue the path that God has called each of us to travel.
But it's not always easy to see. People for thousands of years have been seeking the path. And all of us have missed the point in someway. And in the future, if not today, people will consider the path we chose and see the error of our ways.
But isn't that part of the hope of the cross. Jesus didn't die so we could live a perfect life. His sacrifice enables us to pursue that path without fear of failure. We don't have to get it all right. That's the joy of the cross! Because when we are set free to learn from our failures and improve on the journey, then God's glory will truly be revealed and the Kingdom of God will be set loose here on earth.
shine!
Jason
On one extreme, we can say that culture is worthless so we withdraw and become monks who never interact with the culture around us.
On the other extreme are those who submerse themselves in culture and look for God in everything, regardless of the content that surrounds it.
How do we find a balance?
I don't have the answer, but I am on the journey.
While I acknowledge that we must be able to connect with those who don't know God, we must be careful to not be influenced. I know Christians who listen to all kinds of popular music to be relevant and connect with the culture. But I see many of these same people begin to exhibit the values of the culture in their life. What message does that send? When we allow the culture to shape our thinking, how does that match up with Paul's words in Romans 12?
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We must always be searching for ways to touch the lives of those around us while living out the Kingdom of God.
There are always extremes people seem to be drawn towards...
What was the social gospel of the 70's all about? I believe it was an overreaction to the disconnected, "self-righteous" religion of the early 20th century. When Christians think they are better than everyone else and look down on others, the natural overreaction is to serve the lower classes while forgetting about purity.
This is what today's relevant movement seems to be about. I think there are some noble causes and concerns, and I share the concern. But what about purity?
I would also agree that many Christians, even today, worry so much about their own holiness that they miss Jesus' call to bring the Kingdom to earth. They would rather sit in a Christian bookstore, reading Christian novels, and listening to Christian music. And then they get in their car, drive home, and relax in their home while people around the world (and in their own community) suffer.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy Christian music and literature. But if we settle into our Christian ghettos and never spread the Kingdom of God, we are missing an important part of Jesus' call.
At the same time, there are other Christians who seem to worry so much about fitting in that they miss another part of the call. They sit in Starbucks, listening to top 40 music, and reading whatever is trendy at the moment. They get in their car, dial up some hip-hop in their iPod, and rush home to see the newest episode of their favorite show.
There is nothing inherently evil about enjoying today's culture. But can we get so comfortable in this world that we invest more energy in fitting in than reaching out?
Neither approach is completely wrong, but both seem to miss the point.
At my point on the journey it seems we need to seek a balance. We must protect our hearts and minds from the influence of culture while still engaging and connecting with those around us. But this hard work. It requires thought and diligence. It may require more effort than many want to give. (This might include me, if I am to be honest.)
I think that for most of my Christian walk I have tended to live in the Christian ghetto. I still listen to Christian music. But I acknowledge there is plenty of "good" stuff in the "secular" world. As if there are really two worlds.
Which leads me to a temporary side bar. I don't really think there is such a thing as "Christian" and "secular." Those might be two ends of a spectrum, but they are not separate worlds. Need an example? How do you explain a preacher who teaches that if we follow God, we will be blessed with money and possessions? Sounds like a secular Christianity to me. Or how about the musician who praises God when they win their Grammy, but his next album talks about exploiting women. Sounds like secular with a dose of Jesus.
Is God at work in the lives of those who live in the "secular" world? I absolutely believe He is. Can God send a message through those who are not really all that faithful and dedicated? Isn't that the basic message of much of the Old Testament?
But was God's message to the Israelites to continue fitting in with the culture around them to be relevant? I don't think so. I acknowledge that this is a new Covenant, but has God's nature or character changed?
No, we are no longer called to destroy our enemies. (Although American Christianity seems to endorse a continuation of the Crusades.) But we are still called to change our "enemies," not to fit in.
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
So after a few bunny trails, I return to the question at hand. How can we be both relevant and resolute?
There is no simple answer. There is no formula. But the most concise answer might be Micah 6:8. No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. The questions we must all wrestle with are right in this passage.
What does it mean to do right?
What does it mean to love mercy?
What does it mean to walk humbly with your God?
I believe that in the answer to these three questions we answer the question of relevance versus resoluteness. Here we can find the way to be in the world but not of the world. Here we can pursue the path that God has called each of us to travel.
But it's not always easy to see. People for thousands of years have been seeking the path. And all of us have missed the point in someway. And in the future, if not today, people will consider the path we chose and see the error of our ways.
But isn't that part of the hope of the cross. Jesus didn't die so we could live a perfect life. His sacrifice enables us to pursue that path without fear of failure. We don't have to get it all right. That's the joy of the cross! Because when we are set free to learn from our failures and improve on the journey, then God's glory will truly be revealed and the Kingdom of God will be set loose here on earth.
shine!
Jason
Relevant AND Resolute
How do we stay relevant to the culture around us while remaining resolute in our faith? This is a question that most honest Christians wrestle with. There are so many approaches.
On one extreme, we can say that culture is worthless so we withdraw and become monks who never interact with the culture around us.
On the other extreme are those who submerse themselves in culture and look for God in everything, regardless of the content that surrounds it.
How do we find a balance?
I don't have the answer, but I am on the journey.
While I acknowledge that we must be able to connect with those who don't know God, we must be careful to not be influenced. I know Christians who listen to all kinds of popular music to be relevant and connect with the culture. But I see many of these same people begin to exhibit the values of the culture in their life. What message does that send? When we allow the culture to shape our thinking, how does that match up with Paul's words in Romans 12?
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We must always be searching for ways to touch the lives of those around us while living out the Kingdom of God.
There are always extremes people seem to be drawn towards...
What was the social gospel of the 70's all about? I believe it was an overreaction to the disconnected, "self-righteous" religion of the early 20th century. When Christians think they are better than everyone else and look down on others, the natural overreaction is to serve the lower classes while forgetting about purity.
This is what today's relevant movement seems to be about. I think there are some noble causes and concerns, and I share the concern. But what about purity?
I would also agree that many Christians, even today, worry so much about their own holiness that they miss Jesus' call to bring the Kingdom to earth. They would rather sit in a Christian bookstore, reading Christian novels, and listening to Christian music. And then they get in their car, drive home, and relax in their home while people around the world (and in their own community) suffer.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy Christian music and literature. But if we settle into our Christian ghettos and never spread the Kingdom of God, we are missing an important part of Jesus' call.
At the same time, there are other Christians who seem to worry so much about fitting in that they miss another part of the call. They sit in Starbucks, listening to top 40 music, and reading whatever is trendy at the moment. They get in their car, dial up some hip-hop in their iPod, and rush home to see the newest episode of their favorite show.
There is nothing inherently evil about enjoying today's culture. But can we get so comfortable in this world that we invest more energy in fitting in than reaching out?
Neither approach is completely wrong, but both seem to miss the point.
At my point on the journey it seems we need to seek a balance. We must protect our hearts and minds from the influence of culture while still engaging and connecting with those around us. But this hard work. It requires thought and diligence. It may require more effort than many want to give. (This might include me, if I am to be honest.)
I think that for most of my Christian walk I have tended to live in the Christian ghetto. I still listen to Christian music. But I acknowledge there is plenty of "good" stuff in the "secular" world. As if there are really two worlds.
Which leads me to a temporary side bar. I don't really think there is such a thing as "Christian" and "secular." Those might be two ends of a spectrum, but they are not separate worlds. Need an example? How do you explain a preacher who teaches that if we follow God, we will be blessed with money and possessions? Sounds like a secular Christianity to me. Or how about the musician who praises God when they win their Grammy, but his next album talks about exploiting women. Sounds like secular with a dose of Jesus.
Is God at work in the lives of those who live in the "secular" world? I absolutely believe He is. Can God send a message through those who are not really all that faithful and dedicated? Isn't that the basic message of much of the Old Testament?
But was God's message to the Israelites to continue fitting in with the culture around them to be relevant? I don't think so. I acknowledge that this is a new Covenant, but has God's nature or character changed?
No, we are no longer called to destroy our enemies. (Although American Christianity seems to endorse a continuation of the Crusades.) But we are still called to change our "enemies," not to fit in.
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.†(2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
So after a few bunny trails, I return to the question at hand. How can we be both relevant and resolute?
There is no simple answer. There is no formula. But the most concise answer might be Micah 6:8. No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. The questions we must all wrestle with are right in this passage.
What does it mean to do right?
What does it mean to love mercy?
What does it mean to walk humbly with your God?
I believe that in the answer to these three questions we answer the question of relevance versus resoluteness. Here we can find the way to be in the world but not of the world. Here we can pursue the path that God has called each of us to travel.
But it's not always easy to see. People for thousands of years have been seeking the path. And all of us have missed the point in someway. And in the future, if not today, people will consider the path we chose and see the error of our ways.
But isn't that part of the hope of the cross. Jesus didn't die so we could live a perfect life. His sacrifice enables us to pursue that path without fear of failure. We don't have to get it all right. That's the joy of the cross! Because when we are set free to learn from our failures and improve on the journey, then God's glory will truly be revealed and the Kingdom of God will be set loose here on earth.
shine!
Jason
On one extreme, we can say that culture is worthless so we withdraw and become monks who never interact with the culture around us.
On the other extreme are those who submerse themselves in culture and look for God in everything, regardless of the content that surrounds it.
How do we find a balance?
I don't have the answer, but I am on the journey.
While I acknowledge that we must be able to connect with those who don't know God, we must be careful to not be influenced. I know Christians who listen to all kinds of popular music to be relevant and connect with the culture. But I see many of these same people begin to exhibit the values of the culture in their life. What message does that send? When we allow the culture to shape our thinking, how does that match up with Paul's words in Romans 12?
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We must always be searching for ways to touch the lives of those around us while living out the Kingdom of God.
There are always extremes people seem to be drawn towards...
What was the social gospel of the 70's all about? I believe it was an overreaction to the disconnected, "self-righteous" religion of the early 20th century. When Christians think they are better than everyone else and look down on others, the natural overreaction is to serve the lower classes while forgetting about purity.
This is what today's relevant movement seems to be about. I think there are some noble causes and concerns, and I share the concern. But what about purity?
I would also agree that many Christians, even today, worry so much about their own holiness that they miss Jesus' call to bring the Kingdom to earth. They would rather sit in a Christian bookstore, reading Christian novels, and listening to Christian music. And then they get in their car, drive home, and relax in their home while people around the world (and in their own community) suffer.
Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy Christian music and literature. But if we settle into our Christian ghettos and never spread the Kingdom of God, we are missing an important part of Jesus' call.
At the same time, there are other Christians who seem to worry so much about fitting in that they miss another part of the call. They sit in Starbucks, listening to top 40 music, and reading whatever is trendy at the moment. They get in their car, dial up some hip-hop in their iPod, and rush home to see the newest episode of their favorite show.
There is nothing inherently evil about enjoying today's culture. But can we get so comfortable in this world that we invest more energy in fitting in than reaching out?
Neither approach is completely wrong, but both seem to miss the point.
At my point on the journey it seems we need to seek a balance. We must protect our hearts and minds from the influence of culture while still engaging and connecting with those around us. But this hard work. It requires thought and diligence. It may require more effort than many want to give. (This might include me, if I am to be honest.)
I think that for most of my Christian walk I have tended to live in the Christian ghetto. I still listen to Christian music. But I acknowledge there is plenty of "good" stuff in the "secular" world. As if there are really two worlds.
Which leads me to a temporary side bar. I don't really think there is such a thing as "Christian" and "secular." Those might be two ends of a spectrum, but they are not separate worlds. Need an example? How do you explain a preacher who teaches that if we follow God, we will be blessed with money and possessions? Sounds like a secular Christianity to me. Or how about the musician who praises God when they win their Grammy, but his next album talks about exploiting women. Sounds like secular with a dose of Jesus.
Is God at work in the lives of those who live in the "secular" world? I absolutely believe He is. Can God send a message through those who are not really all that faithful and dedicated? Isn't that the basic message of much of the Old Testament?
But was God's message to the Israelites to continue fitting in with the culture around them to be relevant? I don't think so. I acknowledge that this is a new Covenant, but has God's nature or character changed?
No, we are no longer called to destroy our enemies. (Although American Christianity seems to endorse a continuation of the Crusades.) But we are still called to change our "enemies," not to fit in.
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.†(2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
So after a few bunny trails, I return to the question at hand. How can we be both relevant and resolute?
There is no simple answer. There is no formula. But the most concise answer might be Micah 6:8. No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. The questions we must all wrestle with are right in this passage.
What does it mean to do right?
What does it mean to love mercy?
What does it mean to walk humbly with your God?
I believe that in the answer to these three questions we answer the question of relevance versus resoluteness. Here we can find the way to be in the world but not of the world. Here we can pursue the path that God has called each of us to travel.
But it's not always easy to see. People for thousands of years have been seeking the path. And all of us have missed the point in someway. And in the future, if not today, people will consider the path we chose and see the error of our ways.
But isn't that part of the hope of the cross. Jesus didn't die so we could live a perfect life. His sacrifice enables us to pursue that path without fear of failure. We don't have to get it all right. That's the joy of the cross! Because when we are set free to learn from our failures and improve on the journey, then God's glory will truly be revealed and the Kingdom of God will be set loose here on earth.
shine!
Jason
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