Last week, I was
reading a post from another "edgy" Christian, someone who, in the
past, has said some difficult, but important things for the Church to hear.
Like so many others, I discovered that this person seems to be slipping over
the edge into something that can no longer be identified as Christian.
Now before I go on, I really want to make it clear
that I'm not trying to simply pass judgement on these individuals or that I am
taking lightly the pain and suffering and injustice that many have gone
through. I'm just really sad.
My heart grieves over the loss of another potentially influential
voice desperately needed in the Church today. These writers and artists that I’m
referring to, forced believers to examine their belief system, forced them to
examine and, at times, deconstruct their worldview. I think that is needed and
encouraged. Being a Christian is defined as someone who follows Christ and
lives as He lived, not someone who goes to church on Sunday. In a country where
the Church still has much influence and power, it is a good thing to have these
prophetic voices call out to us and tell us when we’re out of line.
The current social/political
climate has done little to nothing to glorify the name of Jesus. There is one
side of the Evangelical spectrum fighting against injustice and inequality in
all its forms, racial, gender, social, etc. – something that the Church should
champion. At the same time, there is another side fighting for the rights of
the unborn and doing their best to stand guard in a society whose moral base is
rapidly eroding under its feet. Both of these sides – in the eyes of an
unbelieving, non-churched culture – are at odds with one another (specifically
going against what Jesus himself prayed for in John 17).
For many of these
influencers that I referred to, their path started out in the right direction,
but in my humble opinion, they’ve lost their way.
I don’t know if
they’ve become misguided because of their way of looking at things. For
instance, did their intention to deconstruct their worldview take them too far?
(In a sense, did they destroy the foundation of their beliefs as well as the
building that was sitting on top of it?) Or as they gained influence and popularity,
did they feel less and less comfortable in confronting sin, as it is defined
biblically? Or maybe they themselves, in an attempt to explain their own pain
and suffering, simply abandon the faith that they had clung to?
Whatever the
reason to coming to this conclusion, the response has been the same – a lashing
out against or abandoning altogether the Church (or at least Evangelical Christianity
as they define it).
I’m saddened for
two reasons. The first: the loss and grief that I feel over their conclusions.
I have been affected and positively influenced by their books and music over
the years. They have been so formative to my faith. They forced me to ask questions
that I didn’t want to ask. They forced me to explain why I did what I did – and
to go deeper than, “Because the pastor said so…” They forced me to re-examine the
Bible so that I could really weave it into the fabric of who I am. While doing
all of this, though, I have felt the amazing grace of Jesus act as an anchor to
my little boat of life. He has secured me in place through the storms that
threaten to destroy me. I see it as though these cherished people have chosen
to cut their anchors when things got shaky, and now I grieve as I see them
being swept out to sea.
The second: I
fear that we’ve not seen the last. While, I’ve been referring to anonymous writers
and artists, I’ve also seen close friends walk down this path. I fear that
other believers and followers of Christ will cede to the temptation of cutting
ties with Him and with the Word because they feel it is no longer relevant or expedient.
I fear that they will try to interpret their actions through redefining scripture.
How do followers
of Jesus respond to a culture that is moving farther and farther away from a biblical
worldview? How can we respond in love and compassion to the LGBT movement while
still addressing the sin issue? How can we call out our leaders – who claim to
read the Bible – and confront their immorality without using the end to justify
the means?
I am convinced
that the answer is not found in redefining or recontextualizing the Bible in
order to adapt to our society. This culture is fluid. It will change again. I
am convinced that the answer is found through the transforming message and
power of Jesus – the one that we can find clearly in the Bible.
He was a radical
influence in His society. He called for social change. He forced people to re-examine
their belief-system. In the end, however, He was the answer. He TRANSFORMED
society. Jesus is the anchor that will help us weather the temporary storms that
surround us. He will be there no matter which direction the wind blows.
I want to urge my
friends and family (who follow Jesus) to think about their faith. We MUST
respond to the difficult issues in our society. We can’t sit on the sidelines
and do nothing. But the answer is not to cut ties. The answer is not to seek
out what others are saying about any given topic. The answer is to dig deeper.
To stay closer to Jesus. To pray. To study the Word. To look more like Him.
I love you and I’m
open to your thoughts…
