Jesus taught an incredible doctrine of Christian living. One
of the key tenets is that His followers are to live in a world which they
transcend. As Jesus faced the cross, He prayed that His followers would
transcend the prevailing culture without being engulfed by it.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed a message of
salt and light for His followers. He challenged His disciples to be a
preserving, palatable, purifying, radiant influence in the culture in which
they lived. They were obligated to elevate the moral tone of society.
Mediocrity was unacceptable. Broad cultural sin and prevailing depravity were impermissible.
The Christ-follower had to make a difference.
The Apostle Paul taught a doctrine of dual citizenship. We
are citizens of the nations and empires of the world. Our earthly citizenship
obligates us, as believers, to submit to the laws of the land. We pay taxes,
vote, and participate as peaceful citizens. But our true loyalty is to another
King, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Our citizenship is in heaven.
When the laws of the land violate Christian principles, we follow Christ,
whatever the cost.
The Apostle Peter taught a doctrine of submission. This
submission began with submission to God, and extended from government to employment and into the home. Peter
challenged the early church to be so thoroughly yielded to the Lordship of
Jesus Christ that when faith in His Name conflicted with other loyalties, the
believers would stand peacefully and graciously to suffer for His Name. If
Jesus suffered for us, Peter challenged, we must be willing to suffer for Him.
“If
you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of
glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your
part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an
evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as
a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For
the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins
with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
(I Peter 4:14-17 NKJV).
The 21st century is a season that demands
counter-culture Christians. “Courage” is the Christian watchword of the day.
Moral slippage, relativism, and tolerance rule the doctrinal landscape of the
popular cultural idolatry. Biblical morality is passe’. Truth is subjectified
into absurdity. Tolerance has been weaponized with a scorched-earth policy upon
all who hold to the authoritative, revealed truth of God’s Word.
Suffering is not simply coming for the church. Suffering is
here.
But in the face of it all, I find myself terrifically
inspired. I believe that no time has more clearly paralleled the first century
world like the present. What happened with the Gospel in the first and second
centuries? It spread hope, joy, salvation, and holiness like no other time
before. Believers were multiplied. The church grew exponentially.
What is the potential for the Gospel today? Like the first
century, I believe that the 21st century is an era ripe for the
spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the face of relativism, tolerance, and
the absurdity of their nihilistic ends, people are searching for meaning,
belonging, and hope. That hope is found in the presence and person of Jesus
Christ. But if we are going to proclaim Him, we must have the courage to be
counter-culture Christians.
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