If you have ever gone swimming in a moving stream, then you will know how much easier it is to swim with the current than against the current. Likewise, if you have ever attempted to carry a 4×8 sheet of plywood on a windy day, you will know that it is much easier to walk with the wind than against the wind. Yet, sometimes, to reach your destination, you must fight the current or oppose the wind. At other times, the destination may be in the direction of the pull, but to arrive there safely, you must not allow the pull to overpower you. Every trucker who descends a mountain pass knows that the only safe way to descend is very slowly, with lower gears engaged.
In many ways, these examples mirror the nature of true Christianity. In 1 Corinthians 6:17, Paul repeated a command to the Church that was originally given to the nation of Israel, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” True Christianity almost always opposes the strong pulls and influences of culture.
In the early days of the Church, this was visible in many ways. Whereas fornication was an acceptable and expected part of Roman and Greek cultures, Christ said, “fornicators and adulterers I will judge,” and called Christians out of that lifestyle. Whereas women, slaves, and lower classes of people were often oppressed by society, Christ put all men on equal standing. And so, in the Church, masters and slaves, men and women, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, were united in one body in Christ Jesus. Whereas culture led men to seek wealth and prosperity as quickly as possible, the Gospel tempered that desire, teaching that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Through the courage of the early believers to resist culture, the Roman world was shocked and changed for good. So too, throughout history, Christians, courageously opposing culture, have been a testimony for Christ.
But today, much of the Church has lost sight of this truth, choosing rather to identify with culture. We see churches drape rainbow flags from their bannisters and declare their support for communities promoting fornication and depravity. They have “turned the grace of God into unbridled lust.” We see churches becoming places where you can have an “uplifting Jesus experience,” rather than places where you will be confronted by uncomfortable truths, convicted of sin, and called upon to take up your cross and follow Christ, walking the Narrow Way.
If you are making resolutions this New Year, let being more counter-cultural be one of them. 1 John 2:16-17 tells us, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of this world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Rather than being moved by the pull of culture, let us direct our steps according to the perfect light of God’s Word.
Pastor Peter Coon
