Christianity is Counter Cultural
Many people quickly learn that the most important things in life do not come easily; they usually cost a lot, and are reached at a tremendous sacrifice of one or of many!
This idea fully applies to the Christian cause since the faith it represents became possible through the sacrifice of the Son of God on behalf of all He came to save. It also pertains to the seriousness with which Christian disciples must view it and live it out in any society.
When Christianity was an infant religion, in the pluralistic Roman Empire, it faced massive persecutions in which many of its followers perished in martyrdom not merely because the new faith sought converts, but on account of its counter cultural nature. The very presence of Christians throughout the Empire became an irritant to the authorities as well as others who attempted its eradication. People came to know what Christians stood for, often without disciples even uttering a single word. And those perceptions prompted erroneous and unreasonable accusations levelled against the followers of “The Way,” as early Christians were originally called.
Yet, it was because of the firm convictions of its adherents that the Christian faith literally and swiftly “turned the world upside down,” albeit at great sacrifice to many. It made a permanent difference in the world of that time, and in the history of humanity ever since.
Today, nevertheless, it appears that Christianity is more keen on adjusting to contemporary mores instead of challenging what is inimical to the message of Holy Scripture. Not only much of the world has crept into churches, but some congregations have also allowed the world to set their agenda. And wherever this occurs, the vitality of belief decreases, truth itself decays, and the way of salvation is no longer recognizable on account of caricatures being offered, instead of the biblical creed.
In many quarters, it appears that only entertainment is now in vogue. Many churches resemble a circus more than the house of God where serious people struggle with issues of ultimate concern. There is more accomodation to the world instead of challenges to the world. Much that is alien to the Gospel is being promoted and accepted.
Congregations are filled with individuals who were inoculated with a mild form of the Gospel, which perpetually keeps them from catching the real thing. As a result, some people may be active in churches, running in many directions, yet never arriving anywhere. Just like there is a “pretend horse” in front of many supermarkets, which small children love to ride, houses of God also harbor a number of “pretend” Christians who never understood the real claims of the faith. Sadly, “pretend” ministers also exist, who just love the spotlight of a platform while remaining distant from a true shepherding role which their calling fully requires of them.
In the long run, it is not a magnificent church structure, the latest technological gadgets, a most generous budget, the ultimate in music, nor the best of programming that will save us. Only faithfulness to what Scripture requires, individually and corporately, of God’s people in living out the faith while challenging the darkness!
