We’re changing as a culture, that’s for sure. The fruit that’s been ripening on the cultural tree over the last few months looks markedly different from any fruit that same tree has borne during our lifetimes. As a culture-watcher, I have to admit that my head is spinning simply over the rate and speed of change. It’s happened fast.
Over the course of the last few days I’ve been trying to sort things out. For me, what is becoming increasingly clear is that the SCOTUS decision, while significant and important for sure, is not the primary issue. There are some deeper and more foundational shifts that are taking place and even have taken place in the church long before last Friday. I certainly don’t claim to have them all figured out, but I’m at a point where I’m going to “think out loud” and hope that this might make some sense, both to me and to others. Bear with me. . .
As I’ve engaged in and followed so many of the conversations taking place on social media since last Friday, I’ve seen and heard some common response threads and themes among those who confess to follow Jesus Christ. And because I’m a part of the Body of Christ, I think I need to come to terms with the deeper issues that these responses reveal both about me and the larger family of faith. And then, under the guidance of God’s revelation of Himself in the Scriptures, I need to be constantly asking God’s Spirit to answer this plea: “Lord, please help me (us) see your will and get this right.”
Specifically, there are some words that are appearing over and over again in our conversations that, I fear, we’ve allowed to lose their meaning. We’ve redefined these words to the point where they are hardly recognizable in terms of how we should understand and live them. God’s revelation of Himself both in the Incarnate Word (Jesus Christ) and the written Word (the Scriptures) offers us benchmark definitions of each of these words. For those of us who are older (parents, pastors, youth workers, etc.), I don’t think we’ve offered the emerging generations through our words, practices, and deeds an accurate and balanced definition of any of these terms. But I do grieve the loss of an accurate and balanced understanding of each of these words because each of them matters, and the definition we choose to embrace and live will always have individual and corporate consequences.
Think about these words. Go to the Scriptures. . . Genesis to Revelation. . . and look for how they are defined by our Maker. Read and interpret Scripture correctly by allowing the Scripture to interpret itself in light of itself. Ask yourself these questions: Where am I holding and living skewed and imbalanced definitions? What can I do to teach those around me and under my care proper and balanced definitions?
Here are the words. . .
Love
Hate
Judgment
Marriage
In several of the conversations I’ve had I’ve heard people say things like, “I’ve never really read the Bible” or “I don’t know the Bible that well. . . but I think God _______.” We can’t do that. . . knowingly or unknowingly. So, perhaps the real issue here is that the bride has failed (over time) to really listen to her Groom, and we don’t know Him, His will, or His way very well.
Love does not allow all things. It is a non-negotiable for the followers of Jesus.
Hate is not a synonym for disagreement. It is not a posture option for the followers of Jesus as we engage with those who may disagree with us.
Judgment is something unavoidable. We all make judgments every day. To tell someone to “stop judging” is a judgment in and of itself. Judgment done humbly, gracefully and right is always a part of loving accountability. Judgment done right leads to human flourishing. Love judges for the benefit of the judged. And, of course, God’s eternal judgment is God’s judgment. . . not ours.
Marriage is a creation institution ordained by God as the covenantal, monogamous, lifetime union between one man and one woman.
Perhaps the real issue is that we all must humbly return to our roots to rediscover His will, His way, and the counter-cultural manner in which we are called and expected to live. I include myself. . . first and foremost. . . in that number.
it is really sad to see this nation turning away from the will of God and his revealed Word…I think the body of Christ should be prepared to suffer persecution for the sake of the gospel, and be willing to speaks God’s truth in love, but never negotiated!
Hi Walt,
I always appreciate your thoughtful responses to the issues of the day. One other word I would add to the mix is tolerance. This word comes up again and again and has also lost it’s meaning. The media and those with a pro-gay agenda have cast it to mean, “to agree with”. But to tolerate is to put up with a differing point of view. To disagree, with respect for another’s opinion. It seems that not only has the word lost its meaning, but any call to tolerate differing viewpoints is completely lost to those espousing a liberal viewpoint. As soon as Christians disagree, we are labeled intolerant. But it seems our point of view is not only not “tolerated” but loudly condemned. The double standard is disturbing but I suppose should not be surprising. It seems we have come to a time in our nation where it may truly cost us something to name the name of Christ. I pray we can be bold for our Lord.
Respectable, thought provoking words. Well said!
Another definition critical to modern local church youth ministry is the “relationship” between church and family. Given all the recent (last 5-10 years) chatter about “family discipleship models, orange ministry, and Family-driven youth ministry, youth ghettos, condemnation of age/sex developmentalism, and integration, one might begin to get the idea that the church was created for the family or is only made up of families. So sad, and soooo wrong. Give me one scripture that says that the church was created for the family or was to be an institution OF families, do not waste your time, there are none. No the church was established by Christ to spread the gospel to all nations and all people, family or no. Married or no. Parent or no. The “family” does not and should never RUN the church or direct the churches programs. Rather, scripture teaches that the church should BE the father to the fatherless, husband to the widow, etc. The church is not made up of families, but CONTAINS families and BECOMES the family. It is the church’s responsibility to disciple, everyone in the church, regardless of whether they have a family or not. The youth ministry is a tool of the church, as directed by the church to accomplish the evangelism and discipling and mentoring of the youth, with or without the families cooperation! Preferably WITH, but if not, get it done anyway. The youth ministry is NOT the enemy of the church, it should be a well crafted, well led wonderful tool of the church to assist good spiritual families disciple their youth, but be there for ALL. So let’s dump this false dicotomy of youth ministry vs family, and get back to workin hard to reach and disciple youth in every culture and sociological constitution. We should be planting churches, not family networks. PLEASE!