Last week I read an intriguing article from "Christianity Today," entitled "Furrowed Brows Inc." (You can access the article at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/004/25.100.html )
The author of the article discusses the consequences of our "Culture War in America." The battle over morality and the defense of traditional moral values, according to the author, is so often fought without the love of Christ shining through. He writes, "It is hard to believe someone who speaks of love through clenched teeth." This is the difficulty of engaging in such a culture war - how does one reach out to a lost world and at the same time "wage war" against them?
Those engaged in culture war are often surprised when lost people act lost. I don't get it. Why do we spend our time protesting television shows, boycotting certain entertainment indistries (but not all of them), and demanding that a school allow a Christian group to meet on its campus? We expend a great deal of energy, time, and resources fighting our culture to "win." And at what cost? How many people came to Christ after boycotting Disney or Will and Grace? How many more turn a deaf ear to the message of Christ because of such war-like tones coming from the mouths of "Christians"? Isn't there a better way?
Back to the article. The author writes that Jesus also confronted sin: "Jesus was hardly shy about confronting the patterns of sin in his culture - though he was consistently harder on the pious than he was on the pagans... But everywhere Jesus went, life blossomed." So how do we impact the world for Christ and allow life - abundant, resurrection type life - to abound?
Christians must engage their culture, but not in a way that brings clinched teeth and seething disdain for others. I heard this morning a radio talk show host asking pastors how they could support immigrants who have contributed to immorality by coming to the US illegally. My answer? The same way pastors support, or should support, to all of us - and the same way Jesus accepts all of us. "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was in prison and you came to visit me... whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:35ff)
Our culture is in need of correction. But the correction it is in need of will not come in the form of a war against culture, pitting "conservative values" against "Hollywood." It will come in the form of a servant, reaching out in love to those around us, examining our own lives for areas we need to get right, and confronting sin in such a way that offers a blossoming life. We have this ability as Christians, through the love, grace, and mercy of God, to truly impact our culture. Maybe it won't win votes, but it will win hearts - and create a climate where life can bloom.
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4 comments:
I enjoyed this blog. I think sometimes we Christian conservatives seek power in politics so that we can make sweeping changes through law. I think this the easy way out and like you said, adds tension and hate to the world instead easing them.
However, there's also a fine line between protesting sinful entertainment and accepting it. I think Christians have every right to make public the fact that they do not condone a certain type of tv show, music or law.
Thanks for the comment. You are right, Christians do have every right to make public their disdain for certain things, I just question whether it is always the best approach. Unfortunately, Christians are known more for what they oppose than what they are for. We are known more in the world by our judgments rather than by God's grace.
Also, I think we as Christians should not participate or support shows that mock our beliefs, but we can learn from them - why do they think this, and why is God's message of life not permeating the culture?
I agree one hundred percent with what you say. I think in general conservative Christians today are too judgmental--and I know that I wrestle with that issue in my own walk. It is important that we don't compromise what is fundamental (Jesus is the Son of God.Christ is the only way to eternal life and eternal relationship with God, etc.). But, we need to pick our battles carefully and intelligently.
Also,I think we need to constantly focus on the relational aspect of Christianity. Too often, we get caught up in "issues", and are quick to band together and "fight" issues with the lost (DaVinci code is the "hot button" right now). When, in fact, we ignore the need to relate to, and have a relationship with the lost in order to reach them. For example, many Christians are quick to jump in and sign the petitions for allowing prayer in schools or bringing back "Touched by and Angel", but how many of those give a dime towards missions, or actively engage in missions/evangelism work? We need to focus on spreading the joy and love of Christ rather than picking apart the culture we live in. We have a much better chance of change occuring in the culture we live in by winning people to Christ. Then, He can work on them and the individual sin issues in their lives and effect change in our culture far beyond what our email petitions can influence.
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