The Church in the World

The Corinthian church had a problem with worldliness.  Their spiritual immaturity kept them from seeing (or admitting) how they’d imported into the church various secular, sinful values prevalent in society.  Pride and a resulting divisive spirit were especially damaging to the health of the Corinthians’ Christian fellowship 2,000 years ago.

What about the church today?  Last Sunday I mentioned several values that are prominent in our 21st century Western society.  Do we allow these worldly attitudes in the door at Goshen?  Consider:

• Impatience:  We want answers in a sound-bite.  If you can’t say it in a Twitter post, it’s not worth saying.  No time for complexity.
• Tyranny of the visual:  We’re glued to our screens, eyeballs flitting.
• All or nothing:  If someone differs from us on one thing, we can’t trust or learn from them about anything.
• Truth by polling:  A thing is right or good if more people favor it; low numbers mean low value.
• Individualism:  It’s all about me—me before you.
• Emotionalism:  If it feels good, it is good.  If it doesn’t, get rid of it.
• Mobility:  Don’t sit still and stay put, especially if things are getting tough where you are.
• Trivialized sexuality:  Sex is just another form of recreation.
• Secularism:  There is no God who has any claim on my life.

And that is by no means a complete list.  Satan is very clever at finding ways to infiltrate the church and undermine our faith and witness—especially through values that are the cultural air we breathe.

I point this out not to drag you down, but to encourage all of us to be humble before the Lord:  admit we’re easily outsmarted by the Tempter; admit we need each other’s support … and loving correction; and recognize that the counter-cultural pathway of Jesus-trusting, Gospel-sharing, self-giving humble service and love is also the way of joy!