The culture: engagement or accommodation?
Amy's Humble Musings has some trenchant observations about Christian influence on society. The problem is not a lack of Christian engagement in the world, Amy says, but rather Christian accommodation to the world:
The reason that our country is marching happily down the Wide Way to hell is not because Christians have withdrawn their influence from popular culture, but precisely because Christians are engaged in popular culture and there is no difference.
Christians do not need to get off their comfy couches and “get out there and make a difference.” It would be nice if it were that easy. No, in order to begin making a difference, Christians must begin the process by being different. And that requires a lot more than just getting off the couch.
Amen.
The reason that our country is marching happily down the Wide Way to hell is not because Christians have withdrawn their influence from popular culture, but precisely because Christians are engaged in popular culture and there is no difference.
Christians do not need to get off their comfy couches and “get out there and make a difference.” It would be nice if it were that easy. No, in order to begin making a difference, Christians must begin the process by being different. And that requires a lot more than just getting off the couch.
Amen.
posted by Milton Stanley at 3:51 PM
11 Comments:
I agree whole-heartedly here. I heard someone once say that if we want people to follower the Redeemer, we need to be more redeemed!
Thanks for stopping by, Jason.
I have long been of the opinion that the church at large sells itself short when it offers only salvation. Christ's mission was one of transformation.
Amen, John!
Hey....why can't I get comments like that???.....
They are your comments! And I'm glad to stopped by to see them. Thanks for letting me post your words, Amy. Peace.
Glad you stopped by
Yes!
Schaeffer relevance!
That is very spot on, Amy and Milton.
Accomodation is what Schaeffer deems The Great Evangelical Disaster.
Amen but...
I fully agree, as far as it goes. But there is still need for the challenge to engagement with local culture. The worship of consecration should be accompanied by the mission of engagement, in order to be light in all the world. I think the incarnation shows us this separation and engagement.
I think too often we are like the world in ways we should be different, and separate in ways that just make us odd. We need to learn to incarnate the good news into all of society in ways that accentuate the positive, engage with the neutral, and challenge and transform the negative aspects of culture. And this takes serious reflection and discernment.
Thanks for stopping by, Joshua.
Keith, you're right about our need to be salt and light, and that we've accommodated in ways we shouldn't and have failed to be different in ways we should.
I was thinking today about how Christians need to support order in the world without supporting the world order--tough to do. In the US, at least, there is a blitz on against almost any kind of cultural order while at the same time culture continues to seep into the church. Very frustrating to see, but very encouraging to know that the outcome has already been decided by our Lord.
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