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.Continue reading Comments (4) Nov.04.2006.
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