Don't Blame the Culture
According to a survey of Christians, the number one threat to the family is the anti-Christian culture. This was the topic of the sermon last Sunday. After reading through the sermon outline, I was expecting a message that focused on how much better things used to be, and I felt confident this would be tied into the mid-term elections. I was pleasantly surprised as I heard an insightful and hopeful message. Interestingly the early Church found in Acts also lived in an anti-Christian culture. Likewise, the early Christians focused on God and benevolence, and their numbers increased (Acts 2:47). Because of the secular culture that surrounded the early church, their impact on the community was more noticeable (their light shined brighter). The same is true for us today. Instead of focusing on things that divide us and set us up for hypocrisy, we should focus on God and caring for the needs of others. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you as well." Many of us probably grew-up in a culture that seemed more Christian than our current surroundings. Likewise, our faith then may have been a cultural faith. In other words, it was easier to be a Christian, and we may not have been earnestly seeking Him (Hebrews 11:6). Today we are challenged to support our beliefs and this makes us stronger, more faithful, and hopefully more genuine. My main take away, is to challenge those that blame the current culture for all of our problems, and instead see the secular culture as an opportunity for our impact on the community to be magnified. Acts 2:47: Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Nov.04.2006.
Well said on Nov.05.2006.
I think that the Church, in the general sense, not a specific denomination or tendency, will always be "in trouble" with secural authorities if we do what the Son of Man calls us to do. In other words, since society places such a high value on cash, asking the rich to give to meet the needs of the poor will always put us in opposition to their apparently more basic desire to prosper and enjoy the benefits thereof. One need not have made their money illicetly or inappropriately to think too much of it.
Christians, and people of good will of all faiths, are called on to serve. I don't do that enough, and know it. Thanks for your note here.
David Kohlhoff on Nov.18.2006.
When you say "instead of focusing on things that divide us...", I hope you aren't stating that Christians should seek to get along with the world. (James 4:4).
The main threat of secular culture is that we will allow it to influence the Church. Otherwise I would agree that ministering to the poor is essential as demonstrated in the Gospel of Luke.
I suspect you are reacting to the element in the Church that ignores the sin of greed and only preaches against sin that is politically useful like abortion.
Adam Parish on Nov.20.2006.
David,
Thanks for the feedback. To be clear I think we should focus on the most essential elements of our Christian faith:
1) One God: There is only one true and living God.
2) Creation: God created the universe out of nothing.
3) The Fall: Human beings have fallen into sin.
4) Trinity: In some wonderful and mysterious way, the one true God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
5) Jesus: God loved the world and sent his Son into the world. Jesus died on the cross to save the world.
6) The Gospel: Jesus taught people, healed them, and died and rose again to save them/us.
7) Pentecost: God poured out the Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus.
8) Mission: The Spirit guides and empowers the entire church on its work in the world.
9) Word and Sacrament: The church preaches the gospel, baptizes, and observes the Lord's Supper.
10) Christian Hope: God will complete all this work in the future.
11) Scripture: The Bible tells us the wonderful story of God, and the Bible is the authority for the faith and life of Christians.
In Galatians 5:1 Paul writes, "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore and do not submit to a yoke of slavery." I believe that Paul was talking about a freedom from legalism in his time. I think we can assume that this can also be applied to a freedom from legalism in out time as well.
These thoughts are inspired from the books on our faith by Fisher Humphreys.
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