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Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Culturally Relevant”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Almost every week I was asked after one of my Sunday sermons, “So what?”  “Jesus died for me, so what?”

The question wasn’t asked from a lack of faith or understanding of the truth that was presented, it was a challenge to me to make the truth relevant.  WHY does this truth matter to ME TODAY?

When something is “irrelevant” it is identified as something that has no significance or important to me in the moment or situation.  Something that is “relevant” is something that IS significant and important to me in that moment or situation.

The challenge of carrying out the value of being “culturally relevant” is not just helping people understand what something SAYS, and not even just what it MEANS, but WHY it matters…to them!

How many times as a kid going through school did you ask, “Why do we have to learn this?”  In the moment the reading of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet just didn’t seem to have that much importance (I made it through the class – but other than using it for this illustration, not sure how much value Shakespeare and his writings have added to my life.)  We have all asked the question and we have all taken time to evaluate “Why something matters” when we determine if we are going to give it our time, energy and effort.

Sure, the standard answer to the students question, “Why does this matter?” is that you will need it in the future.  True…something could take on more relevance in the future than it does in the present.  However, to engage a culture, we must take time to help them understand WHY the truths of the Bible matter.  Struggle with the “so what” factor.

An example of this is the Apostle Paul in Athens.  After taking a bit of time walking around the city and observing people and their habits, he made this observation:

Acts 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god.

This short statement is profound in Paul’s ability to observe and connect with a culture around him.  Notice that he didn’t go in and try out the temple prostitution or bring an offering to the temple statue, he observed the culture and noticed what was important to it.  They were a very religious culture and honoring their gods was so important they wanted to make sure that no god was missed…even the one they didn’t know or didn’t even know they didn’t know.

So what Paul was going to share was going to answer the unknown:

Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

The “So what” factor was making known what the people didn’t know.  It filled a void in their religious habits and answered the question that was lingering in the culture, “What if there is another god?”  Not only did Paul get to answer the question, but he got to share more about the true God and all he did for the people that the many other gods didn’t.  It was a message that mattered…to the people…today!

What do you notice about the culture around you?  What questions are they asking that answers are allusive?  What situations continue to perplex people?  What holes in life are left unfilled?

Only when we understand the culture and the voids they have in life can we bring a Word of God to answer the question, give clarity to a situation or fill the void.

Here’s two examples:

To a person who has struggled with perfectionism and finding acceptance from her parents from little on, the Gospel matters because it shares boldly and clearly that God our Father loves and forgives EVEN THOUGH we are not perfect.  He accepts us through Christ as his Son or Daughter.

To a person who didn’t know why they were still alive, the truth of Scripture communicates value and purpose to each individual.

The list goes on because every individual is different.  Yet the Word of God is relevant for every individual.

Help them know what it SAYS, what it MEANS, and why it MATTERS.

Apply: Think of someone in your life who is going through a challenging season of life or asking tough spiritual questions.  What insight from Scripture answers the question they are asking in a real, understandable way?

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for your Word and the way it brings answers and hope to every aspect of our lives today.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Culturally Relevant”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Have you ever found yourself in a setting in which the language spoken around you was a language you didn’t understand?  Even if the setting is not a foreign country, the language of teenagers, northerners, southerners, etc. can all have a different dialect which at times we ask, “What are they saying?”

Since the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel, communication between people has been a challenge.  Even if one knows the words being said, one may not always know what it means.

When we think about communicating the message about Jesus in a real and understandable way to the people of our culture around us, we must communicate clearly AND make sure they understand what it means.

An anecdote from Scripture comes to mind that illustrate this point (Actually the key verse for this value).  The first is from the book of Nehemiah, chapter 8.  Nehemiah was used by God to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem as the period of captivity later in Israel’s history came to an end.  Upon completion of the wall, the Book of the Law (aka the Bible at the time) was located and for the first time in many years, it was read in public for all the people to hear.

The challenge? There were people that didn’t understand Hebrew or Aramaic and perhaps were more familiar with the language of the Persians or the Babylonians as they had spent the last 60-70 years there.  But to ensure that the words would not be lost to lack of understanding, here’s what the helpers of Ezra the priest did: (Nehemiah 8:7-8)

⁷ The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. ⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

The Levites did two important things: They made the word of God CLEAR and gave the MEANING so the people UNDERSTOOD what was being read.

We live in a biblically illiterate culture.   The Bible used to be used in grammar school to help kids learn to read.  Just yesterday morning, I heard a dad call into a radio show and say a teacher in his daughter’s school forbade his child from reading the Bible during lunch (He did approach the principal and explain the “separation clause” does not forbid a student from personally reading the Bible at a public school.).  People used to go to Christian churches, now over 20% have no desire to attend a church.  People know the Bible as much as it is quoted by movies, media, and politicians…and that is a poor representation of the Bible’s content at best.

So if you have been blessed to be in the “Bible culture” for many years, using Bible words like “salvation,” “righteousness,” “sin,” “glory of God” or referring to Bible stories or biblical characters may receive a blank stare from people.

We must NOT assume people know what the Bible says are rejecting it.  I assume people DON’T know what the Bible says because they never have been honestly presented its content.

A good way to know what a person knows or understands is by asking questions when in a spiritual conversation.

“What do you know about who Jesus is?” (Let’s not assume a presentation of Jesus’ death on the cross is known by everyone.)

“How do you define ‘love’?” (Who knows, until you ask someone to define love.  Our culture has many ways ‘love’ is used.)

“What was your experience with your father?” (How hard might it be for someone to understand the love of our heavenly Father when they have been abused by their earthly father.)

Making sure a person understands the word of God starts with asking a person what the understand about the Word of God.  Now we have a starting point to “make the Word clear and give its meaning” so they can understand.

Apply:  Think through a biblical truth you have come to know and love.  Now think through how you would communicate that truth/story/promise to someone who has had no exposure to the Bible.  (Not always easy!)

Prayer: Thank you Father for people in our lives who have helped make your Word clear and understandable to us.  We especially thank you Holy Spirit, for opening our hearts and minds to understand and believe the wonderful truth the Bible is.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Culturally Relevant”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Culture compromise?

One of the knee-jerk reactions Christians have when the topic of being “culturally relevant” comes up is a fear of losing the Gospel if we adjust our forms and practices to the whims of culture.

Fair concern.

But often the fear or concern is used to do nothing to try to understand and adjust the presentation of the Gospel to reach the culture around us.  There is an inherent expectation that the person “outside” the church will figure out and adjust to the culture in the church.

Not always a fair expectation.

So what is the balance?  How can we be culturally relevant, not compromise the Gospel, yet reach the culture that is around us?

Let’s return to the same Scripture as yesterday: 2 Corinthians 9:22-23

I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The heart to reach the culture with the Gospel is the Gospel.  The Apostle Paul had a zealous desire for all Jews and Gentiles to hear and believe the truth about Jesus Christ.  He was passionate about bringing a message to the hearts of people that would transform lives and change eternities.

So “by all possible means” he became “all things to all men” to “save some.”

Being culturally relevant isn’t a desire to “keep up with the Jones’” or to “be cool to the culture around” or to be accepted by all people.  The only desire is to have others share in the blessing of the Gospel, even as we do ourselves.

Here’s three things I see in Paul’s missionary heart and effort that give us guidelines today.

1. We adapt to the culture without adopting everything in the culture.

Every culture has sin.  After all it is made up of sinful human beings.  When Paul walked around Athens he noticed temples to many different Gods.  He didn’t go in and try out the worship of every temple to experience every god of the Greeks.  He read their poets and quoted them when appropriate, but didn’t base his life purpose and value on the words of the Greek poets.

Perhaps in our culture we make use of the technology and social media platforms for the sake of the Gospel, without liking or supporting social media influencers that promote a message contrary to the Gospel.  As one church said, “We will do anything short of sin to reach people with the message of Jesus.”  Adapting our approach to the culture DOES NOT mean we have to adopt everything in that culture.

 

2. We make use of our Christian freedom without compromising the Christian faith.

Forms of ministry and practice do flow from our faith in Christ and belief in the Bible.  There are many clear aspects of Scripture that guide us.  In no way are we wanting the Gospel to conform to culture, we desire the culture to conform to the Gospel.  So again, if it does not compromise our Christian faith and beliefs, it is open for discussion.

Examples?  We have chosen to use more current and contemporary music in our worship.  It may not be everyone’s preference, but we make sure the lyrics do not proclaim messages contrary to the truth of Scripture.  While the temptation may be to avoid “tough teachings” on sexuality, finances, or living together before marriage, we deal with these topics with a sensitivity to what people are struggling with, but with clarity of the truth of Scripture.  Scripture always guides our freedom.

 

3. We leave our comfort zone to reach those leaving Christ.

Reaching a culture different than your own is challenging.  We are always most comfortable in the culture in which we live or have created.  The danger is we feel everyone should adjust and join our culture.  The challenge is to leave our comfort zone to reach those leaving Christ.

Jesus hung out with Matthew and other tax collectors.  Activity that was not socially acceptable by the religious leaders.  Yet he did it not to find out how to cheat and steal like the tax collectors, but to call them from their lives of cheating to a life of following Jesus in honesty and truth.  Hanging out with people who don’t think like us, act like us or look like us, may not always be on our comfort zone, but a love for the Gospel and the soul of each individual compel us to leave our comfort zone to reach those leaving Christ.

This is a tough value, but important one.  God has put us at this time and this place and this culture to reach this people for Jesus.

It’s tough to be “all things to all men” but the reward is great as we share in the blessings of the Gospel.

Apply: What is one thing you might try this week that gets you out of your comfort zone to engage in a part of the culture that is different or foreign to you (without tempting you or causing you to sin!)

Prayer: Lord continue to work in my heart a passionate love for every soul to know you.  Then give me wisdom and courage to engage the culture where I am able, not always where I am comfortable, to meet people where they are so you might bring them to where you are.  AMEN.

 

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 6 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Culturally Relevant”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Every organization and group of people has a culture.

Organizational culture includes an organization’s expectations, experiences, philosophy, as well as the values that guide member behavior, and is expressed in member self-image, inner workings, interactions with the outside world, and future expectations. Culture is based on shared attitudes, beliefs, customs, and written and unwritten rules that have been developed over time and are considered valid (The Business Dictionary). (https://gothamculture.com/what-is-organizational-culture-definition/)

Every church has a culture.

In week 6 of our “Compelled!” series on our church’s values, we identified a desire to be a church that is culturally relevant, that is that we desire to communicate the Gospel in a real, relatable, understandable way to the people of our culture.

The challenge is three-fold.

First, culture is fluid.  It is always evolving and changing, so being relevant will always be a challenge.  (Just think what you wore 20 years ago vs. what you are wearing today.  … OK, some of you are wearing the same things, but you can tell the fashion is not current!)

Second, to be culturally relevant, one must understand their own culture and how it compares to the culture around us.  Self-awareness is hard because we often don’t notice our own culture.

Third, it is a challenge to understand our own culture and the culture around us and know what to give up and what to embrace for the sake of bringing the Gospel to people.

But it is a challenge that we must engage in and wrestle with for the sake of bringing the saving Gospel of Jesus to the souls of people around us.

The Apostle Paul lived in a time of cultural change.  The religious culture was changing from one dominated by the law of Moses and following the regulations it outlined, to following the message of grace and forgiveness and the life it compelled people to live.

Paul came from the culture of the law and was now living in the culture of the Gospel.  Yet, he was willing to engage with people still living under the regulations, customs, and traditions of the Old Testament, even as he clearly shared the grace of God and the forgiveness in Christ which made the old obsolete.

1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Before we look at the culture around us, evaluate the current culture of your church.

1. What activities do you do that are very familiar to you, but perhaps not common occurrence in the culture around you?
2. What is very important to you, but perhaps not really important to the people around you?
3. What do you spend your time, energy and money on compared to the neighbors around you?
4. If a visitor evaluated your church’s “culture” what do you think they would say?
5. What language is used in your church and would it make sense to the people around you?
6. What traditions/customs do you have and would they make sense to the people around you?
7. What does your church spend money on and what does that say about your culture?

We could list other questions, but the point is to evaluate your own culture and that of your church.  Because in the end, we desire, especially at Crosspoint, to have a culture that upholds the truth and glory of the Gospel, but is also a culture that is attractive and engaging to the person who first steps in the door.

Apply: What is one change in your church’s culture you think would make a difference and take a step at “becoming all things to all people”?  How might you suggest a path to adjust that aspect of your culture to relate better with the culture around you.

Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see and a heart to discern what aspects of our own culture can be adjusted or changed to better engage the culture around us with your saving message of grace.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 5 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Extreme Generosity”  (LISTEN HERE).

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What does generosity look like?

We’ve looked at examples of generosity this week, but are the outward expressions of generosity (helping someone with my time, giving a special financial gift to my church, sharing my knowledge or ability) what generosity looks like?

Yes…but…

Generosity will always have outward expressions.

But, generosity will always originate from an inner conviction.

If we could peel back the outward expression of generosity and dissect the inner convictions which lead to outward expressions, what would those be?  Perhaps another way to look at it is this, “What inner transformations do I need to ask the Spirit of God to work in me to lead to more regular expressions of generosity?”

Generosity flows from conviction that I have received ultimate generosity from the Lord.

Generosity flows from the conviction that life is about reflecting the generosity of the Lord in my generosity to others.

Generosity flows from a heart that desires to give, loves to give, and needs to give.

Generosity flows from a heart that is captured by the abundance of God, not the scarcity of human limitations.

Generosity flows from a heart that is cheerful in giving, never forced or compelled.

Generosity flows from a heart that is convinced that the Lord has much more seed to give so that I might continue to be generous.

Bottom line…generosity flows from a heart of faith which trusts the Lord at all times to provide all that we need so that we might be generous on all occasions.

All of these realities flow throughout the pages of Scripture, however these few verses from 2 Corinthians 9 capture what generosity looks like … on the inside.  Read the following slowly.  What else does the generous heart look like?

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

I love the verse 11.  You WILL be made rich in EVERY way so that you can be GENEROUS on every occasion.

The result?

Sure, through your generosity others are blessed and you receive joy and satisfaction, but ultimately the result of faith driven, God-given generosity?…people will give thanks to GOD.

That’s what generosity looks like.

Apply: Take time today to allow the Spirit of God to open your heart and expose the aspects of your faith life that are supporting generosity and those that are not.  Slowly read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11.  Wherever your heart needs the Spirit’s strength, ask and seek his guidance to mold your heart to be generous on all occasions.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for times when my outward expressions of generosity were not driven by an inner conviction of generosity.  Transform my heart by your Spirit to more and more reflect the generosity of your heart in my expressions of generosity to others.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.