This has been on and off my radar screen for quite sometime now and it’s getting more intense as the days go by. Perhaps discussion on this should really be in the “Stand Out or Blend In” topic posted earlier but I figure it deserves a space of its own.
Culture in this discussion refers to the secular as opposed to Christian. I will refer to Christian culture as Conviction so that the separation is clear.
2 Corinthians 5:15-17 states, “and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
As new creatures in Christ, we adopt a value and belief system that’s not patterned after the world. We should view things through the filters of God’s Word. Our lives are not to be dictated and shaped by the standards of the world system and its culture, but by the teachings of our Lord and the Holy Scriptures. After all, we are now citizens of heaven, aren’t we? Our allegiance is first and foremost to the King and our commitment is to kingdom living.
What do we do when secular culture and Christian conviction collide? We can either compromise or count the cost if veering collision is not an option, but compromise is cowardice and opting for it puts a big question mark on our commitment to Christ. That leaves counting the cost as the viable choice, and to most, that’s easier said than done. Counting the cost of what? The cost of firmly making a stand for your conviction which is Christ-honoring; hoisting high the banner of truth amid threats, intimidation and even persecution; and, choosing to be principled rather than popular.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
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