Skip to main content

Christians and Culture

My view on Christians and culture is fairly straightforward. Christians should not deliberately set out to change their society. Christians should deliberately set out to live out Christ in any place, discipline, vocation or society he has placed them.

I believe if this is done, it would please the Holy Spirit to transform society. He is already working restraining the ushering in of the man of lawlessness on our behalf. He is already giving gifts to men as the gospel spreads. He is willing and more than able to do more for His children that we can ask for, if we humble ourselves and come to him afresh.

It baffles me that there are few Christians thinking through the global economic crisis from a Christian perspective, but we have 20000 posts on Obama and his agendas. It baffles me that Christians are not writing about Syria, but many writing on youth programmes! Same with the arts, music, technology and other pressing issues.

There are forces reshaping our world and many evangelical Christians are sleeping walking! Too obsessed with single issues! Too many not thinking through the world in all it's works through biblical lenses!

When I read the letters in the new testament or Acts, or work of the early church fathers, I see a church dealing and addressing the pressing issues of the day, from idolatry, role of government, Greek thought, persecution, etc. They spoke to all of life.

Where is the church of our day? Where are the people speaking to the many aspects of our lives? We have come to believe Sunday worship is the Christian life! It is surely not!

Sometimes I think the reason we build churches is because we don't want to look outside to a dying world. Though it is also possible we are simply scared that world will laugh even more at our hypocrisy on many things - if the walls came down!

The time has come for the church of Jesus Christ to speak fully to life as we know it. The bride must stride out in confidence knowing her bridal price was paid for on the cross! No turning back!

Don't settle for mediocrity! Don't let the world set the agenda!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

I am what I am by Gloria Gaynor

Beverly Knight closed the opening ceremony of the Paralympics with what has been dubbed the signature tune of the Paralympics. I had no idea Ms Knight is still in the singing business. And clearly going by the raving reviews she will continue to be around. One media source says her performance was so electric that "there wasn’t a dry eye to be seen as she sang the lyrics to the song and people even watching at home felt the passion in her words" . The song was Gloria Gaynor's I am what I am . Clearly not written by Gloria Gaynor but certainly musically owned and popularized by her. It opens triumphantly: I am what I am / I am my own special creation / So come take a look / Give me the hook or the ovation / It's my world that I want to have a little pride in / My world and it's not a place I have to hide in / Life's not worth a damn till you can say I am what I am The words “I am what I am” echo over ten times in the song. A bold declaration that she ...

Mistakes in Ministry

This painful experience, along with my subsequent years in pastoral ministry, taught me never to assume every member of my church understands these foundational truths in the same way. A shared statement of faith, though extremely helpful, is not a guarantee that your entire congregation will always agree on doctrine, the ordinances, or church membership. Perhaps this assumption proved to be my biggest mistake. The words we use may not be received or understood as we intend them to be. Therefore, when our members ask questions, we must patiently answer them and slow down if necessary. When doctrine appears to lead to division, hold fast to the truth, but also resist the urge to see congregants as your “adversaries.” God loves them in Jesus and so must you.    JERI CHOI   (Source: 9 Marks )

A Parody of Faith

There's a fascinating scene in Man of Steel when the man who would be superman, Clark Kent, turns up at a local church seeking answers. He is sitting in alone when local pastor Father Leone asks what is troubling him. Here is where we pick up the conversation : Father Leone : What's on your mind? Clark Kent : I don't know where to start. Father Leone : Wherever you want. Clark Kent : That ship that appeared last night, I'm the one they're looking for. Father Leone : [swallows nervously] Do you know... why they want you? Clark Ken t: No, but this General Zod... even if I surrender, there's no guarantee he'll keep his word. But if there's a chance I can save Earth by turning myself in, shouldn't I take it? Father Leone : What does your gut tell you? Clark Ken t: Zod can't be trusted. The problem is, I'm not sure the people of Earth can be either. [walks away] Father Leone : Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith fi...