As Christians, we want to engage secular culture around us and see that culture redeemed by Christ. As a result, many Christians (me included) try to be as non-judgmental as possible so as to engage as many people as possible. Remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23,
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Just as Paul was willing to adapt to reach people, so too should every Christian work to be “all things to all people” so that we might “win more of them for Christ.”
But, we should also be honest.
We try to be all things to all people, but the Christian worldview is starkly different from the spirit of the age. Biblical Christianity requires a different set of beliefs than those found in the broader culture.
One of the greatest illustrations of this difference is found in Proverbs 3: 5-7,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
The world teaches that people should be true to themselves. Our post-Christian age is hyper-individualized. Truth is no longer believed to be objective, but personal. So people are encouraged to embrace their own truth, to follow their heart, and even to rebel against anyone would would seek to “impose” objective truth standards.
But, the Bible is starkly different. The Bible says that people should not trust their own understanding, but rather they should trust in the Lord with all their heart. The prophet Jeremiah goes even further when he writes, The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is desperately sick: who can know it (Jeremiah 17:9).
The world says follow your heart. The world has even gone so far as to suggest that little children should be able to follow their own hearts, embrace their own gender, and rebel against their parents wishes. But, the Bible says that our hearts are sick and untrustworthy.
Wisdom that is from above, godly wisdom, doesn’t begin with being true to yourself. Rather, godly wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. Godly wisdom urges, Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Godly wisdom acknowledges the existence of evil, and even acknowledges that evil lurks within the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls.
The Great Commandment and the Great Commission dictate that we seek to love our neighbor as ourselves and that Christians everywhere work to find places of intersection between themselves and the unbelieving world. However, honesty and integrity require that Christians acknowledge the stark difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man.
Rather than urging us to trust our sinful hearts, God promises that everyone who comes to Christ will receive a new heart,
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
Hebrews 8:10
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
So, engage the culture. Love your neighbors, but give them more hope than they can find in their sinful hearts. Their hearts may be dark and sick, but you know the hope. You know Christ. Lead them to the light. Yes, you are a part of a different culture, a different worldview, but it is not exclusive. The hope of Christ is for all who will receive him. Christianity is incompatible with the spirit of the age, but the invitation goes out loud and clear for everyone to hear, “All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
