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Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 7 of “Compelled – Living the Value of Authentic Community”  (LISTEN HERE).

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“Did you hear what happened?”

The host pastor greeted us as we entered the church in Winston-Salem, NC.  It was our monthly pastor study club…the second Tuesday of the month.

The radio was silent on the drive from Cary to Winston Salem and conversation with a brother pastor filled the time.

But the day quickly changed.

One plane.

A second plane.

A strike on the Pentagon

Collapse…one tower…a second tower.

There was no better way to start the tragic day with brothers in the ministry to try to make sense of what was going on, but also spend time in prayer and Scripture.

Like many we were confused and in disbelief.  However, we quickly realized the study club we had scheduled was of less importance to getting back to our congregations and providing words of comfort and promise amidst the terror and tragedy of the day.

I don’t remember what happened every moment of September 11, 2001, but like many others I was trying to understand and comprehend what was happening.

But here’s one thing I remember.

I was glad to be with others…with my family and my church family.  To have neighbors and friends.

In tragedy, we need each other.  In tragedy, communities come together.

We did.

That night we had a special worship at the hotel in which we were worshipping at the time.  I don’t remember how many showed up, and honestly I don’t remember what Scripture I shared, but here’s what I remember.

We were in community with the Lord and with each other.

We had the promises and peace of the Lord from his Word and the presence and support of brothers and sisters in Christ.

I pray a tragedy like this never happens again to our country, but what I do pray happens regularly and often is the sharing of community with the Lord and with each other.  The Lord has designed us for community, not isolation.  He has designed us uniformly as humans, but uniquely as individuals.  He desires that we come together, we carry each other’s burdens, we comfort each other, we encourage one another, we pray for one another, we just be with one another.

We need each other because God created us to be with each other.

The unity after 9/11 lasted for a while, but faded all too quickly.  I pray that as the week begins with a reminder of the events of 9/11, the desire, the effort, and the blessing of genuine community is something we find and work to build in our homes, but especially in our churches.  For the next tragedy or the next celebration, we want to be there for each other as God has put us here to be together.

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Apply: What has been your most recent experience of genuine/authentic community?  What made it a blessing to you and others.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing us together under your love and grace.  Lead each of us to make every effort to build and maintain a community which brings the reality of relationship with you to bear as we build relationships with others.  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 will continue to challenge us and challenge the proclamation of the Gospel.

Don’t give up.  Keep working at it.

To wrap up the week, I’d like to share just a few reminders about the Gospel to encourage us that working to bring the unchanging Gospel to an ever changing culture is always worth it.

First, remember the Gospel transcends culture.

Every culture of ever time of every country of every people need the Gospel.

How do we know?  Here’s three passages of Scripture that remind us the universal need and universal application of the Gospel:

Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…”

The whole purpose of the Gospel is to affect every person of every culture with a transformation from sinner to saint and from hell to heaven.  The Gospel above any other influence has changed hearts in every culture.

Which is the second truth: The Gospel will transform a culture.

The fear as we seek to be culturally relevant is that we will conform, water down, or change the Gospel to reach a culture.  Yes, that is a danger.  However the benefit is more exciting…that a culture is transformed by the Gospel.

Finally it is the power of the Gospel that changes a heart to conform to the words and ways of the Lord and align one’s heart with the heart of the Lord.  It enables a person with the Spirit of God to discern what is truth and God’s will and what is of Satan and his will.  The Apostle Paul put it this way:

Romans 12:1-2  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The Gospel changes our focus from conforming to the culture to conforming to Christ.

So never give up the challenge to bring Jesus to your culture.  Every person around you needs the power of the Gospel at work in their heart and life.

So here’s a few summary thoughts on what being culturally relevant looks like:

1. Dissect the culture – take time to understand it.
2. Intersect with the culture – take time to get to know it.
3. Engage the culture – communicate Christ in a real, relatable, understandable way to the culture.

The end result?  Here’s a glimpse:

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

May God bless all of us as we seek to bring him to every “nation, tribe, people and language”…ever culture.

Apply: What is one idea you can implement to connect with the culture around you?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for a message that has meaning to every culture.  Use me to bring that message to the culture around me in a real, relevant, and understandable way!  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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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.