Saturday, 11 February 2012
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Church and Culture: From the Inside Out
Watching the news on television is depressing. Election years seem to pour fuel on the culture war fires. I much prefer to spend my leisure moments reading, listening to music and walking with canine friend Hannah. Today a song on my iPod from Seventh Day Slumber caused me to ask some questions about the way the church engages our culture. The song is From the Inside Out.
My heart and my soul
I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside outChange happens from the inside out. I wrote about the culture war in my book “When Bad Christians Happen to Good People”. Here is an excerpt from that discussion.
If I were to ask the average Christian what victory in the culture war would look like today, I would probably get answers along these lines: Abortion would be outlawed. Homosexuality would be less visible. The Ten Commandments would hang in every courthouse, and kids would pray in school.
But would accomplishing these objectives constitute true victory? Most of us think it is our mission as Christians is to rid the world of sin. That is not going to happen until Jesus returns to reign. We have tried through politics and failed miserably. We have tried boycotts. We tried advertising and media with very mixed results. We have targeted immorality but have not helped those hurt by or entrapped in it. We fight abortion. We fear homosexuality. We denounce drugs. We battle Hollywood and television and the evil media. We criticize the music industry. We rail against pornography.
As a young man who grew up in the ’50s and ’60s, I can confirm that all of the aforementioned cultural indicators now sought by many Christians were once in place: There was no legalized abortion or aggressive gay political agenda. We prayed at school functions and watched Ozzie and Harriet on television instead of Jersey Shore or The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Yet the sexual revolution, recreational drugs, violent political protest, and explosive racial tension emerged from this very era. Hmmm.
We Christians have missed our calling. The church needs to understand that even if we devoured every single moral issue on our evangelical plates, the people of this world would still be seeking meaning and purpose in their lives. All of the cultural issues I’ve mentioned so far are merely symptoms of a bigger problem: the internal condition of millions of people. Political and legal processes can only restrain sin. Advertising campaigns or education can, at best, only restrain behavior, and that is not a viable long-term solution. Only the changing of individuals can really affect a society as a whole. And that is where we have missed the boat. We can attempt legislation of morals until the end of time. But change comes from the inside (heart) out…rarely from the outside (rules) in. We cannot herd sin neatly into our theological corral. Sin cannot be managed by moralism.
How did the early church have such a profound impact with no money, power or influence? By giving their heart and soul to God. They gave Him control and out of that surrender they gave and served selflessly. They loved the unlovable. Cared for those that no one else would care for. Risked their lives to comfort those dying of infectious disease and sacrificed their own possessions for orphans and widows. Their lives were so powerful that the culture could not help but notice. Even the pagan writers of the day marveled at the sacrifice of these “Christians”. The followers of Christ who changed the world did not drive fancy cars and have perfect hair. They sold out in complete trust and allowed God to change them from the inside out. They served sacrificially.
Jesus talked about the danger of a religion that tries to work from the outside in.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” (Matthew 23, NLT)
That is my prayer for today. I want to be live from the inside out. I have been changed but I want to live out of that truth. Don’t think that I am against having heartfelt convictions about cultural issues. I am not. But I am against communicating those concerns to a hurting world apart from grace and the love of Christ. God’s plan will be accomplished.
Everlasting, Your light will shine
When all else fails
Never-ending, Your glory goes
Beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside outThat is the cry of my heart today.
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- From: daveburchett
- Name: Dave
- About Me: Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award-winning television sports director for Fox Sports, ESPN, and Jefferson Pilot Sports. Dave has directed Southeastern Conference basketball games for over twenty years. He has also directed Texas Ranger’s major league baseball telecasts for over twenty years and had the thrill of televising one of Nolan Ryan's no-hit games and Ryan’s 300th win. He and his wife, Joni, are former staff members of Campus Crusade's Athletes in Action. They currently reside in Garland, Texas where Joni is a Special Education Coordinator specializing in elementary students. Dave and Joni are the parents of three sons.
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Comments (12)
I may not agree with everything you said but this verse I definitely love:
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” (Matthew 23, NLT)
Thank you for sharing.
I usually agree with you, and this post is not an exception. But I have a bit of an exception to the premise that it is only Christians who want to see some moral restraints and are actively pursuing campaigns to legislate them. Those who promote sin and profit handsomely from it are the architects of the smear to condemn decency by blaming it all on Christians, the enemy of the world. We are an easy target because we are vocal in our faith, as we are commissioned to be.
Yes we know that no one who dies rejecting Christ will be saved and that God only works in the hearts of His children, and will complete that work once He has begun it in them. Some of the spillover of a parent instructing his child or a man living out his personal purity convictions will run afoul of the world where his life and family conflict with the world's "morals."
We certainly won't win the world or any individual by preaching the law "for by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified." That, we agree on.
Well said. We can put all the laws we want out there, but it doesn't work at all. Telling a kid to it's against the rules to get into the cookie jar is an option, but if the kid is taught and understands that the the concept of exactly why the cookies are bad he won't touch them. (not a perfect analogy, but anyway...) Legislating morality only serves to makes us look like forceful tyrants. Those outside the faith cannot fully grasp Christianity. Some nonbelievers like a friend of mine can claim to, but without God it is all "foolishness to them."
Excellent post!
That simply isn't true. Most Christians understand that Jesus is only one who can rid the world of sin.
We Christians have missed our calling.Speak for yourself.
Jesus talked about the danger of a religion that tries to work from the outside in.No, he didn't. Jesus always addressed people directly concerning their attitudes, beliefs, and conduct, not their religion.
Being vocal about cultural values is a good thing. It's our Christian duty to speak out loudly, clearly and shamelessly on the moral issues of the day.
You're awesome, I agree with everything you've said here, you have blessed me tonight, and I want to give you a big hug. Thanks for everything!
Those who promote sin and profit handsomely from it are the architects of the smear to condemn decency by blaming it all on Christians, the enemy of the world.
Jewelry cardsMetal labelsFabric labelsZip PullersBarcode labelsShoes hangersMetal buttonsJewelry tagsSize hangersshoes hooks"Most of us think it is our mission as Christians is to rid the world of sin."
If that is the case, most Christians are wrong. The mission of Christians is to share the Gospel. I offer that the only way to do that is to set an example.
Francis of Assisi told some evangelists he was sending out to "Preach the Gospel. If you must, use words."
This is actually a very good post. Christians could actually take the world over if they
1. Were actually nice to non to non Christians.
2. Went on an aggressive attack against the televangelists and the people inside your church that is destroying your religion and making it look rediculous.
3. Did NOT preach the gospel but lived the gospel. Talk is cheap. Action speak louder then words. It is an INSULT to anyones intelligence when you push your ideology upon them.They know what you are doing and they resent it.
Unfortunately Christians are weak minded people. For the past 50 years in American (c)hristianity has been on the decline and christians think the reason is because it is a "sign of the times". They could have EASILY owned this country by now if they were willing to change. But the very nature of religion is pride in dogmatism (non change).
Guilt and manipulation is the christians weapon. It is what christianity is built upon. Works great!!! Unfortunately it only works in smaller isolated communities. With global communication (internet) you now have guy's like us who are waking people up and will effectively extinguish chistianity forever off the face of the earth. Guy's like us have unlimited time and resources to push our agenda. Peace :) xoxo
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I agree with you. Forcing people to change their actions is not going to do anything except bring even more hatred and bitterness. It's people's hearts that need to be changed, and the only way that can happen is when the get true revelation of Jesus Christ and His deep and powerful love for them. That is the only reason that I changed. Laying down our lives and loving even our enemies is the only way we are able to show people this love that transforms hearts.
Caroline is right. When I was a christian I did so much damage by being a self righteous you know what that I seriously turned away hundreds of people. Ideology is very dangerous when we cling to it like flees. Unfortunately. Damn I really knew my bible and theology though. lol I forgot more of the bible then most pastors will ever know :)
good post...I agree with you.
Good post! Amazing Song!!!