Dear Christian,
Is it possible to be “on the fence” between Christ and culture?
I mean, we know the Bible has always spoken strongly against the idea of being “lukewarm”. (Rev 3:16) And we know we’re called to suffer for Christ…
Still, for a long while, here in America, it was easy enough to bow to the illusion that such a fence existed. It’s not been too hard to think that we could be followers of Christ AND the culture around us. We could spout a few soft on the stomach Bible verses and easily avoid the real gut punchers, couldn’t we? We could go to church on Sunday, claim to be a Christian and know for sure it wasn’t going to effect our social status, security, or comfort.
For a long time, we’ve been fooling ourselves into believing that we could have the “best of both worlds”. Trying desperately to balance a life in Christ in one hand (securing our eternal future) and a non-confrontational friendship with the world around us (ensuring a comfortable present) in the other.
… and never should the two hands meet.
The Tide Has Changed
Well, now that proverbial fence we’ve been clinging to has been ripped from beneath us, leaving us with the very vivid reality that we’ve been fooling ourselves this whole time, and now we have choices to make.
We can no longer simply claim to be a Christian and move on without that claim having to mean anything.
We can no longer bask in the glorious sunlight of complete religious freedom as it slowly breaks down in the midst of a Godless society.
As American culture becomes more hostile to Christ, claiming him means a larger impact on our lives, our comfort, our feelings and our security than it ever has before.
The Results
This will strike fear in our hearts if we allow it.
This will keep us awake at night if we dwell on it for too long.
Even within some churches, we’re seeing what was once objective made subjective, what was once absolute called into question. What was once wrong made… well… a little less wrong.
We’re watching pastors and spiritual leaders we once respected, back away from moral truths we once wouldn’t have thought them capable of denying or avoiding.
I’ve asked myself questions and struggled with doubts that I never have before. Because if I truly believe what I’ve always claimed to believe, it’s going to cost me.
The days we are living in are calling us to test ourselves and see that we are truly in Christ. To see that the Spirit of God is truly at work in our hearts. To see that we truly treasure and trust in the word of God as perfect and sufficient over this ever changing, fallen world.
Now, there are some topics which can be disagreed upon that are not clearly laid out in Scripture and thus legalism is a danger.
But we must realize that there are some issues, many of which are on the political, social, moral table today, where there is no room for flexibility, no room for silence, no room for compromise.
As Christians, we CANNOT call good what God has called evil, nor call evil what God has called good (Isaiah 5:20). God has spoken and his people must stand on His word at all cost. He made us, loved us, gave all for us, and his word is best and final.
It’s time to admit that our fence sitting phase is over. We have choices to make.
Our Options
We will either serve culture or we will serve Christ.
We will either love people by speaking truth or hate them by approving of the lies they want us to.
Regarding Pro-Life vs. Pro-Abortion
We will either love women AND children, by fighting to end the murder of the unborn and the damage it inflicts on their mothers (without excuse or compromise), OR, in the name of “choice”, we will stand back and allow the continuation of a heart wrenching holocaust of the innocent that God will surely judge.
Exodus 20:13, Psalm 139
Regarding Marriage vs. “Gay Marriage”
We will either honor marriage between a man and a woman as the beautiful God given gift that it is, OR, in the name of “acceptance”, we will suppress the truth and approve of a sinful lifestyle that is not only detrimental to the fabric of society but (in all truth) damning people to hell.
Genesis 2:24, Leviticus 18:22, Matthew 19:4-6, Romans 1:18-32, 1 Timothy 1:9-10
Regarding Sexual Orientation
We will either protect the innocent and their young and impressionable minds, OR we will look on with indifference or even approval as they are told that they were NOT fearfully and wonderfully made, male or female, with perfect purpose by a Creator who’s love is the fulfillment they so desperately need.
Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139
Regarding Critical Race Theory
We will either search our individual hearts, repent of our own sins and treat everyone, no matter their skin color, with fairness, respect and dignity, knowing that in Christ we are all one OR in the name of being “woke”, we will trade redemption for condemnation, the inward heart for outward appearances, grace for an account of past wrongs, forgiveness for reparations, truth for false accusations, accuracy for hearsay, God’s justice for social justice, unity for division.
1 Samual 16:7, Acts 10:34-35, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 4:32, Revelation 5:9-10,
Regarding The Church
We will either be a light to this world or look every bit like the dark and dying culture we say we want to reach. We will love people enough to tell them the truth or hate them enough not to. We will either trust God to provide for our needs, or we will people please our way into full seats and continual cashflow in the budget. We will care enough for the soul of a man not to leave him in sin, OR, for the sake of his momentary comfort, we’ll leave well enough alone. We will fear God or we will fear man. We will be a friend of Christ or a friend of the world.
Matthew 5:14-16, Acts 5:29, Colossians 1:24, Revelation 2:19-20 & 3:16
In Closing
There are a million more topics to discuss. There are many more fences to tear down.
And let me be so clear that under no circumstance are we ever to speak truth without love, we are never to speak truth in indifferent self-righteousness. But to CEASE to speak truth can never be called love at all. And though, in todays society, speaking truth is considered hate no matter how much love you strive to pour into it, let’s love big all the same. Let’s show respect and courtesy as we speak truths that aren’t popular.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… (Eph 4:15)
So love and love well, but TELL THE TRUTH.
After all, it’s the TRUTH that sets us free!
On the hot topics of the day, Christians simply can’t remain “on the fence”.
Friends, there is a path that leads to life and a path that leads to destruction.
So let’s get off the fence and by God’s grace, choose the former.
My Family Freedom 
With regard to CRT, I would state that we are not all one in Christ. Commonality in Christ is only through salvation. Each and every one of us are (by his design) the bearers of the image of God, that alone being our right to love, protection, and respect.
Also, I believe national patriotism in the church has highjacked her primary purpose and conviction. While we may be able to do both, ought we not to willingly suffer the loss of all things that we might -and others might – gain Christ? We never hear Paul calling the church to restore the nation of Israel. While he did acknowledge the nation’s importance in the redemptive story, it had in its place for a time but now is called to unity in the Spirit through faith in Christ. He saw greater value in riches of the kingdom of God. I think today’s church should also.
LikeLike
Hey! Thanks for making that clear. Every person is not one in Christ if they are not in Christ. I simply stated it this way because (I noted at the beginning), that this was a letter specifically to Christians. But perhaps I could have stated this differently! We treat everyone with respect as image bearers of God, so true!
LikeLike