Cultural Engagement and Loving Our Neighbor

“I can’t go to church,” he said to me.

“Why not,” I ask.

“Because I wouldn’t be accepted.”

“What do you mean?”

“If people found out that I’m……..”

Have you ever had this conversation?  If so, then feel free to fill in the blank.  If it helps, cast the last sentence thusly, “If people found out that I’ve….”

I think many people are interested in Jesus but are turned off by Christians.  There is significant data from Barna and others suggesting that Christians are seen as judgmental and hostile to those things that aren’t Christian.  For instance, there may be a person in our sphere of influence that is interested in our faith but is afraid to approach such a conversation because they know their lifestyle or their view on the sanctity of life is different than mine, seeing as I’m a Christian and all.  So they shy away from all things Christ so as not to either spark my ire or endure another berating of how wrong I think they are. 

While the stigma against Christians is often over-reported, there is still ample data we should take heed to.  Is our hostility toward those who hold a different worldview winning many lives to Christ?  Are we winning the eternal battle for people’s souls by being belligerent?

Throughout the history of the church, popular culture has waged war against Christianity; so recent onslaughts by various special-interest groups ought not to surprise us too much.  Yes, there are certain groups pressuring Apple to remove certain applications from their iStore, and yes there are court battles to remove crosses from public places, and yes, the sanctity of life is being fought out in many state houses nationwide.  These are stark reminders that we live in a fallen world, a world that increasingly calls what is bad, good; and what is good, bad.  But what’s important for Christians is how we respond to this.

I’m not saying we don’t state our points and properly fight for what is right, but perhaps it isn’t the fight that is as important as how we fight.  And perhaps “fight” is the wrong word; perhaps the better word is “engage.”  How do we lovingly, yet firmly, engage a culture that we know is continuing to slip into moral oblivion? 

Jesus clearly taught that we should first love God, and then we should love our neighbor as ourselves.  In light of this, I suggest that being overly concerned about engaging our culture has overshadowed our need to love God with all our heart.  If we genuinely seek God with all our heart, then we will be more receptive to what the Holy Spirit is directing us to do and to say.  As we love our neighbor as ourselves, then more people will turn to the Lord regardless if crosses stay up on hills or get torn down. 

Peace, Prayer and Community

“Don’t worry over anything whatever; whenever you pray tell God every detail of your needs in thankful prayer, and the peace of God, which surpasses human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, Phillips).

Could peace and identity be key ingredients for genuine community?  Could prayer be a prime catalyst for ushering in peace and identity?  Comments from my last post got me thinking about these things (thanks to you who commented). 

Christ-followers will have the best impact on culture if the Christian community itself offers something different.  But do we offer something different?  The more personal question is do I offer something different?  Too often the answer is, no, I don’t.

This realization hit home early this morning as I grimaced in pain due to the tension I’m carrying in my neck and shoulders.  Tension coming from child behavioral issues, job ambiguity, and taxes (oh my, taxes are a grind!).  All these thoughts began coalescing into a cacophony of concern causing me to reach for the Ibuprofen (and a cup of coffee).  But another result of the tension was being snappy with my wife and five year old son (whose birthday is today, by the way).  So is being snappy with my wife and family offering the culture anything different?  Is being snappy, also called “grumpy,” drawing people to what’s inside me?  Of course not, I’m being just like everyone else—worried and joyless.  If all my other Christian friends are the same way, then we have a community of nothing different than anyone else; we have a community that no one really wants to be a part of, even me.

So what is the antidote to this worried joylessness?  The simple answer is prayer, but there’s more to it.  Another rendering of Philippians 4:6-7 is: 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (NLT).

The word “peace” is hard to define, but it includes the sense of quietness and rest.  God is inviting us to allow Him to quiet our minds so that we can truly be at rest.  We can’t truly rest when we’re worried about stuff we have little to no control of. 

The phrase “live in Christ Jesus” implies we are to deeply identify with Christ Jesus Himself.  This is not a mere acknowledgement of Christ, but a deepened understanding of what He has done for us and what being indwelt by the Holy Spirit means to our lives. 

All of this is catalyzed, or initiated, by prayer.  God is inviting us to enter into this rest and deepened identity, but notice that He doesn’t barge in or force it on us; instead, He lovingly invites us in if we choose to accept His invitation.  Granted, along with prayer we also need to read and understand His Word, but perhaps establishing genuine community begins with each individual bowing in prayer.  In doing this, we then experience that quietness and rest in our own souls which will emanate to others we have contact with; and this will be attractive to the larger community.

So pray on, dear friend, pray on!