Comments on: The Problem With the Culture Argument http://www.minthegap.com/2008/02/25/the-problem-with-the-culture-argument/ Standing in the Gap in a Society that's Warring with God. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:51:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: MInTheGap http://www.minthegap.com/2008/02/25/the-problem-with-the-culture-argument/#comment-79608 MInTheGap Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:46:16 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2008/02/25/the-problem-with-the-culture-argument/#comment-79608 I think the church is at its best when it's under persecution-- real persecution. It is then that they are most connected with their Lord (counting on Him for their very life and provision), that they are the most pure (no fair-weather believers) and are the most loving. Yes, part of that is being counter-cultural-- for the sake of being Christ like. There's this age old concept that those that are claiming that they want to be authentic are most like their peers (imagine here the rebellious teen). We claim that we are different, but we want to wear the same clothes, look the same way, enjoy the same shows, etc. Even our baptisms are different today than in yesteryear. It used to be that you were baptized to show the world that you were a Christian. It meant something, it was public. Now we baptize children in a church were only believers are, and they don't really have to testify to what they believe. Because Christianity is the majority religion in this country, and because of our freedoms, we have more chance of tares in with the wheat (to use a parable-type phrase). We have to get to the point where we cease to worry about ourselves and we start to truly live dead to the world. I think the church is at its best when it’s under persecution– real persecution. It is then that they are most connected with their Lord (counting on Him for their very life and provision), that they are the most pure (no fair-weather believers) and are the most loving. Yes, part of that is being counter-cultural– for the sake of being Christ like.

There’s this age old concept that those that are claiming that they want to be authentic are most like their peers (imagine here the rebellious teen). We claim that we are different, but we want to wear the same clothes, look the same way, enjoy the same shows, etc. Even our baptisms are different today than in yesteryear. It used to be that you were baptized to show the world that you were a Christian. It meant something, it was public. Now we baptize children in a church were only believers are, and they don’t really have to testify to what they believe.

Because Christianity is the majority religion in this country, and because of our freedoms, we have more chance of tares in with the wheat (to use a parable-type phrase). We have to get to the point where we cease to worry about ourselves and we start to truly live dead to the world.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.minthegap.com/2008/02/25/the-problem-with-the-culture-argument/#comment-79607 Amanda Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:51:59 +0000 http://www.minthegap.com/2008/02/25/the-problem-with-the-culture-argument/#comment-79607 I'm not saying I live this way, but I do think true Christianity is supposed to be countercultural. Jesus <EM>was</EM> countercultural. Rob Bell has a great quote in <EM>Velvet Elvis</EM> about this very idea: <BLOCKQUOTE> I am learning that the church is at its best when it is underground, subversive, and countercultural. It is the quiet, humble, stealth acts that change things.</BLOCKQUOTE> The whole idea (command, really) of being in the world but not of it is pretty much the definition of countercultural, isn't it? <em>Amanda's last blog post..<a href='http://www.mandikaye.com/2008/02/20/scarcity/'>Scarcity</a></em> I’m not saying I live this way, but I do think true Christianity is supposed to be countercultural. Jesus was countercultural. Rob Bell has a great quote in Velvet Elvis about this very idea:

I am learning that the church is at its best when it is underground, subversive, and countercultural. It is the quiet, humble, stealth acts that change things.

The whole idea (command, really) of being in the world but not of it is pretty much the definition of countercultural, isn’t it?

Amanda’s last blog post..Scarcity

]]>