How should Christians relate to and engage with this fast-changing post-Christian world? Hiding behind the walls of a religious subculture cannot be the answer. Engagement is difficult. It requires wisdom to decide when we go with the prevailing winds and when we are obliged to struggle against them. Let’s explore this complex topic.
I recall the decade of the sixties. The Vietnam war was raging. Each evening, news broadcasts read off lists of forty or fifty additional Americans who lost their lives, along with their ages and hometowns. I was confused. I didn’t understand what our leaders were doing. One of my friends, after returning from his tour, shared his experience with me. He was stationed with a company of marines at Que Son. Frequently, the Vietcong would succeed in capturing a soldier, who was then subjected to torture. The screams were loud, piercing, and soul wrenching. Nothing could be done. The soldier was bait. Any attempt at rescue would be met with a barrage of firepower. Those were traumatic times for our nation, possibly even more so than today’s political divide.
The Vietnam war triggered riots in the streets, a dramatic increase in drug-use, and it initiated an era of sexual liberation. Not everything was negative though. Those times spurred the Civil Rights movement. As I recall, I think that I can safely say that the cork blew off and the bottle exploded. Things would never be the same again. The seemingly stable era of the fifties was gone and a major cultural shift was under way. Bob Dylan’s song “The Times, They Are-a Changing” perfectly captured the moment.
Come gather ’round, people
Come writers and critics
Come senators, congressmen
Come mothers and fathers
The line it is drawn
Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin, 1964
Cultural shifts like this are not new. There are times in history when everything that many held dear would evaporate, only to be replaced by things new. It makes me wonder.
Why does culture even exist at all?
I guess the answer is: “Because it works.” Beliefs and behaviors fit the needs of society.
What happens when it stops working?
Crisis ensues.
Why does it stop working?
To this there are many answers. As I think about it, a number of possible explanations come to mind.
Force : An invader comes in and disrupts the stability.Exposure : Cultures clash and then fuse together.Revolution : Those in leadership ignore those whom they lead.Subversion : Humanity seems to have a perverse tendency which seeks to destroy things when they get too safe and predictable.
Sometimes, cultural shifts happen slowly over time, like the long, bumpy path towards women’s equality. Other times change is sudden. It is amazing how society’s attitude towards gay marriage so radically changed in just a few years. At an instant of time, things may seem permanent, but this is an illusion. Even in stable societies, culture is never static. There are always pressures. What works for one, undoubtedly will not work for another. As I contemplate, I recall many times where I encountered things said and done for which I was surprised and totally unprepared. I remember wondering: “I don’t get it. What do I say? What do I do? How do I react to that?”
Of course, pressures for change undoubtedly meet resistance. There is always a fight to maintain order, the status quo. We all have a natural desire to preserve those things that we view to be important and precious. Letting go is never easy, even in those cases where change is necessary. A measure of fear is also part of the equation. Change can be disastrous. This is especially true when the long-term effects are not immediately apparent. Nature responds quickly when a person leaps from a bridge. Not so when it comes to morality and values. The long-term effects might not reveal themselves for generations. In the end, cultural upheaval inevitably leads to times of crisis.
So, why am I writing this article? As a Christian, I want to explore how I should interact in this fast-changing post-Christian environment. First, though, a bit of history is in order.
A major cultural shift took place in July, 1925. We were in the midst of the Roaring Twenties and pressure was building. It was only a single generation before when Darwin shook the intellectual world with his 1859 “Origin of Species” publication. Initially, there was great skepticism to his work, even among intellectuals. To Christians though, it was a deal breaker. They resisted and strongly took their stand. “Darwinism leads to atheism,” was the rallying cry, and it was loudly proclaimed throughout the West. A large majority agreed, summarized by the statement: “No way are we advanced monkeys!” And so, Laws were passed. with widespread support. Teaching Darwinism was forbidden in public schools. This all reminds me of the 1996 “Defense of Marriage Act,” passed during the Clinton administration with an overwhelming 85-14 vote. It defined marriage to be the joining together of one man and one woman. Laws like these can keep things in check for a time, but they serve only to intensify the pressure for change. Eventually, when public attitudes shift, they are destined to be overturned.
So, with this being said, let’s return to 1925. The event took place in a small town, Dayton Tennessee. A substitute teacher, John T. Scopes, was encouraged by activists to do the unthinkable. And so, he introduced Evolution to his class. The whole thing exploded, leading to the famous criminal proceeding, dubbed “The Monkey Trial” by the media. It was the trial of the century, capturing the attention of the nation and the world.
During the trial, William Jennings Brian, the famous prosecuting attorney and three-time presidential candidate, agreed to testify. He did not do well under cross examination. In the end though, Scopes was found guilty and fined $100. It is ironic. His background was in law and geology; he was not a biologist. Subsequently for many years, he experienced harassment from the pursuing press. Eventually, interest died down and his life returned to a semblance of normalcy.
The monkey trial was a win for the prosecution, but in the minds of the populace, Science was the victor. Christianity’s biggest victory became their biggest loss. It is interesting how the Church reacted to this setback. Rather than refining their arguments and continuing to engage with the wider culture, believers largely retreated into silos of congregational safety. This subculture is complete with its own vocabulary. Believers are very familiar with words like Grace, Sanctification, Salvation, Propitiation, Sin, Unregenerate, Atonement, Holiness, and others like these. The wider culture no longer has a clue what these things mean, other than recognizing it as religious speak.
So, what are we as Christians to do now? I see the statistics. About a million people are leaving the Church each year. A full-scale retreat cannot be the answer. It is time to reengage with society.
But how do we do that? At times when I was wrestling with my own faith, I had to ask: “Do I really believe that Christ died, was buried, and was raised from the dead? Am I certain that God is in control and that in the end, the truth will prevail?” If the answer to these things is “Yes,” I then have no need to react with defensiveness, frustration, and anger. So, of first importance is to avoid harsh words and keep the lines of communication open.
Next, soul searching is in order. Do I do what I say? If not, then why not? The book of Acts, documents many who accepted the Way of Christ. In every case, they immediately experienced a transformation. With the prodding of the Holy Spirit, I do believe that it is possible for me to clean up my own act. The bigger question is: “Am I willing?” That one is not always easy to answer.
Finally, what are the deal breakers? What are the principles that are not subject to compromise? Are we prepared to explain why we do what we do? Let’s consider a couple of examples.
Consider the desire for money, power, and stuff. Or, how about a tendency to focus so much on the admirable, that important close relationships break apart? These undertakings go haywire when they become idols. This violates the first greatest commandment: “Love God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.” Balance in life is something that is important to maintain.
As a second example, consider sexual immorality in all of its aspects. It is no longer good enough to say: “It’s wrong because the Bible says so.” That will not work in our generation. I remember one encounter that I had. The person confidently proclaimed that pornography was fine. My answer (I hope it was okay): “When we watch people exposing themselves, we see them as gratification objects, not as human beings, which is degrading. Furthermore, it is an addictive substitute for real person-to-person relationships. Finally, money paid to pornographic outlets supports sex trafficking of children, which is the plague of our time.” Pornography violates both parts of the law to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
There are moral absolutes for which we must stand our ground. But how do we discern? This is my approach. When I read the Bible, and find a particular command, I try to think through how disobedience violates one of the two principle laws described above. I then consider how it can apply to this generation. This approach works for me. Hopefully, others can find it valuable as well.
Thanks for listening,secondlooknow.com
Dan,
Especially since at the beginning, God gave you that phrase from the song composed and sung by Bob Dylan….”The Times They Are
A-Changin'”…. this is excellent and good for “Now”…….
Thanks for your hard work..
Viv
Thank s for this!
I was out of touch with the main stream in the 60s, so I only heard of Dylan’s song. Never knew the words.
Yes. Silos is what we’re in, and with our own silo speak.
Thanks for naming our plight.
If it is no longer good enough to say:” It’s wrong because the Bible says so.” Then on what Authority should I accept the law to love my neighbor? Certainly Nature doesn’t teach me that. Nature can be cruel to the most innocent. Nature is indifferent to my pain and even to my existence.
If you say because Jesus says so. Says who? Maybe he never said that. If you pick and choose what he did or did not say aren’t you creating a Jesus that suits you?
You raise a good question. Even in our modern culture, I have not encountered anyone who is apposed to: “do to others as you would have them do to you.” If humanity, as a whole, begins to do otherwise, I fear where that will lead.
Maybe you should read the Scriptures yourself, Bonnie; maybe you are creating a deity that suits you;
These principles for GOOD life are not edicts, they are good principles FOR good living..Just as the Proverbs are not edicts, either…but they are sound principles..
You want to be treated the same way you treat other people? One life principle that is good to remember is, what we plant
( acts of kindness or not) we will receive….one way or another…
These principles guide us….and even if, for some reason someone else does not respond exactly the same, it is satisfying to know you did do a Good thing…and it will come back to you, even if later, somehow..
I find a lot of hope in Bob Dylan’s line from the song, “the loser now Will be later to win.”. Whenever the follower of Christ was down and out in the past, it was just a small intermission before a large comeback. The bottom line is God never loses. I believe that the current health crisis and the massive disruption it’s going to cause will open the door for us to once again reengage society. This isn’t the end, it’s only the beginning
I get a lot of hope from the Bob Dylan line, “the loser now
Will be later to win.” revolutions are just that, things that go forward and then come back around. The one thing that we as believers have going for us is this; God never loses. The gospel is true because it is true, and the truth always wins in the end. Facts are stubborn things; so are the realities to which the scripture speaks. I believe this current health crisis will open the door for us the once again re-engage the culture as if the gospel is his brand new is the day where Christ charged his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all men.