Culture Change

I've been trying to get, and keep, my finger on the pulse of what the larger movements within the church are thinking and doing. What I keep finding, and have found for sometime, is this continuing presentation of culture change. There are so many catchy slogans that preachers and churches use. So, I took a really hard look at this idea.

Here's what I think. Culture never really has changed. And, culture rarely will change. A change in culture can only occur when there is a different spiritual approach to life. There must be a change in nature. Since the day Cain killed Abel people have remained steady in their selfishness, greed, violence, envy, etc. Don't buy into the idea that culture is "constantly changing." Just because our toys are becoming more advanced doesn't mean that culture is changing. Ed Young Jr., the preacher at Fellowship Church, says that culture is constantly changing. Therefore, we must constantly find "new" and "creative" ways to keep up with the culture change. This absolutely false. Any Christian can walk right up to another person, whether it's at work, school, or wherever and tell them about Jesus. We don't need "creative" ministry ideas. Why do preachers push "new" and "creative" ideas? Because they don't have the guts to teach solid Biblical doctrine. They don't have the guts to challenge their congregations to carry their crosses. They don't have the spiritual backbone to demand what the Bible demands, to be born again. They don't have the spiritual muscle to challenge their own congregations to read, study, know, eat, sleep, breathe, and devour the Word of the Living God. We have whimps in the pulpits today who couldn't start a fire in their own congregation even if they were carrying a flame-thrower.

Do you want a culture change? Then start telling people about the Love of the Holy, Almighty God who is Jesus Christ. Start telling people how He died for their sins. Start telling people what the Bible says: The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Start falling in love with chasing after the very heart of God. Start desiring a knowledge of God's Word. That's how the culture will change because when the Church starts becoming serious about the Great Commission then there will be revival! And that's changing the culture!

The Weirdos

Rich Mullins once said: "The thing I like about the Bible are all the weirdos in it." After going through the Old Testament again I am finding that to be really true. What's really mesmerizing, and what most Christians would call weird, is the gutsy attitude that these Old Testament people had when praying/talking to God. Take Abraham for instance. When God is sending his angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah Abraham says: "Far it be from you to destroy the righteous with the wicked. Far be it from you!" He yells at God who is standing right there! And Moses. When God wants to wipe the Israelites out Moses tells God he will have to take him out first. Are you nuts!!! On and on these prophets and people had this crazy relationship with God. They spoke with him like they actually knew him. They spoke with him like they actually believed him.

So, what is going on with Christians today? There are those who have an amazing and powerful relationship with God. However, for the most part most Christians have either no or little interaction with God. Why? I don't understand it. They don't read the Bible. They don't pray. They don't witness to the lost about their need for Jesus.

After a lot of life experience the only conclusion I come to is that people are either ashamed of what they say they believe or they don't really believe the Gospel.

Are you going to whither away? Or, are you going to overcome the world by the power of the Gospel? "He that winneth souls is wise."

Obedience vs. Application

How many times do we go to church, hear a preacher read a verse of scripture, and then want to tell us how to "apply" it to our lives? There is a lot to be said for wanting people to apply the Bible to their daily lives.

What if, instead of application, preachers and teachers started telling people what the Bible really says? The Bible teaches obedience and obedience alone. Because the Bible is of the nature that it is it does not allow for anything such as application. It allows, and demands, either obedience or disobedience. There are no other options. "This is love for God: to obey his commands" says 1 John. When a person obeys what the Bible teaches then that person is pushing far beyond application. It's all about obedience. It's all about reading the teachings of Jesus and simply acting upon them.

When a person wants to apply the Bible to one's life it becomes less about the command of God, which is where life comes from, and more about that individual. Application takes the focus off of God. Obedience to the commands of God keeps the individual in the right relation to Jesus and His cross.

Application of the teachings of God bring about a form of superficial religion. Obedience to the teachings of God brings forth life and more life. Obedience is the standard. We human beings will either obey or disobey. In being obedient to the Bible people grow in knowing God. Often times, when people try to teach others to apply the Bible, they are reduced to a religious formula. It is easy to apply a Hail Mary. It is far more difficult to obey the commands of a rigtheous Creator.