"In the world but not of the world", sort of like Hamlet's contemplation, "to be or not to be" and one area that most Christians find hard to deal with, agree on, or understand let alone implement.
Each of us are called, each of us are on mission to go, to make disciples, in our neighborhoods, cities, country, and around the world yet how are we to do this in a postmodern world where spirituality is at an all time high but a belief in TRUTH doesn't exist?
This weekend Joe, Wesley, and :0)} were all talking about the church and how to reach out and the comment was made,
"You know there was a time when the church influenced the culture and now the culture is influencing the church."
I sat and thought on this for a while and have a couple of thoughts to add to this.
1. I don't think that is entirely true as I honestly believe that for centuries the church was the culture. Everything, in general, flowed from the church, music, art, science, philosophy, all with a desire or purpose to glorify God and to point others to Him. Now don't get me wrong, I am not nostalgic for the good ole days, nor do I believe that the past was perfect. What I am saying is that there was a time when the church or better yet Christians, followers of Jesus, held the highest positions in culture as the leaders and the producers of the greatest accomplishments of man.
2. Somewhere along the line we inadvertently abdicated this role, withdrew ourselves from culture which did not leave a vacuum but instead ushered in a whole slew of Antichrists. Artists, philosophers, scientists who all put forth Antichrist thought that filled the void left by Christians which created a new culture. As the church retreated the world advanced. Our sincere desire to be "in the world but not of the world" was taken to an extreme, much like the pharisees who had a hard time with Jesus
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. Mt 9:10-13
The religious were uneasy that Jesus would actually engage the culture instead of hanging with the religious. Missions exist where worship doesn't and so Jesus went to the sinners, engaged them, loved them, and shared Himself with them that some might be saved.
3. Over 3000 churches close their doors each year never to reopen. Why? It is because the gospel isn't true? Isn't effective anymore? No, NO! The gospel is still powerful, still saves, still precious yet to those who don't know the gospel and are perishing it is appears foolish to them. As Christians we have to be on mission, we have to be about engaging the culture in which we live which means being in the world but not of the world.
What does this look like? As Christians in a non-Christian culture (really a foreign mission field) we have to learn the language, know the customs, go where the lost are, engage them where they are at, love them, and share Jesus with them.
This isn't the church being influenced by the culture. This is the Church being on mission, with purpose, with a plan, to seek out the lost, to break down barriers, and to share Jesus.
4. One of the greatest things I have recently learned, agree with, and embrace is the following statement - "everything that is old is not bad and everything that is new isn't good" I am not advocating any change for the sake of being trendy, hip, cool, or relevant that would be changing to be like the culture. What I am advocating is purpose driven, gospel centered planning within the hearts and minds of Christians to go out into this foreign culture, don't be fooled just because we live in America, and to engage in conversation, know something about the culture and don't be afraid to use some of what is in the culture to share the gospel.
How many people do you know that would never attend a Bible study at your house but might come if you had an "American Idol" party? Or all watched The Office together or if you hosted a movie night in your back yard? When was the last time you had lunch or dinner or hung out with someone who isn't saved?
We have it within us to be creative, to get past our fears and traditions, to move the gospel forward in truth and spirit and yet within the context of the culture we live in today.