Culture Challenges

What is something you would never want to be?? (Just answer to yourself…) Now, I don’t know that this idea came across anyone’s mind, BUT I am willing to bet than when you hear it…you wouldn’t want to be it…

“A Fish Out of Water” [Am I right? Anyone ready to sign up to be a fish out of water?]

So, in this common expression…what do we mean??

I read in the Cambridge Dictionary that ‘feeling like a fish out of water’ describes “a person who feels awkward or unhappy because they are in a situation that is not familiar or because they are different from the people around them.”

This phrase may sometimes (many…most…?) describe how you and I feel as Christians in the day (world…times…culture) in which we live. We could feel like sojourners in a foreign land.

I believe we have good reason to feel this way. The Bible—in Romans 1 and 2 Timothy 3–describes the all-to-frequent characteristics of our surroundings…

[The description(s) of culture:]

Romans 1:29–32 “They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.”

2 Timothy 3:1–5 “But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.”

Soooo, wow, yeah. Today let’s look at three ways we as Christians experience interaction (connection) to the culture (the world) around us:

ANTAGONISM FROM

2 Timothy 3:12 “In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

John 15:20 “Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

With conflicting views in opposition with the world around us, we must see this as no surprise. J. Paul Nyquist, immediate past President of Moody Bible Institute, in his book—PREPARE (published in 2015…so, before all the craziness which has been our lives since 2016)—lists five ‘counter-intuitive’ aspects regarding persecution/antagonism directed toward Christ-followers (& how we should “handle it”):

Normal not Strange [Living in a nation which has had significant Judeo-Christian influence, we have been lulled into an assumption that ‘peace & prosperity’ for Christians should be the norm…but it’s not. Antagonism is to be expected. Now, to what level…varies.]

1 Peter 4:12 “Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.”

Blessed not Cursed [antagonism shows we are identified with Christ. Now, not stirring it up on our own whim, BUT from living faithfully and not seeking to be antagonists ourselves; also, antagonism (should) draw us closer to Christ—we need him!]

Matthew 5:11 ““You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.”

Exposed not Protected [Our commission (Matthew 28.18-20) sends us out among wolves. We are not saved to be guaranteed ‘easy street’ in this life. We are sent out to introduce wolves to the Shepherd who can change their lives…and that kind of conversation isn’t always easy. ALSO—loss is gain for believers.]

Matthew 10:16 ““Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.”

Compassion not Anger [Respond to antagonists with compassion, not anger. Anger is cursing (in the grand sense consigning to hell [“Go to hell”-ish])…not holding accountable, nor seeking justice. The most loving thing we can do is hold someone accountable for wrong actions—to prevent them from repeating actions which could (would) be detrimental to them.]

Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” [surely you mean bless like “Bless your heart...”]

Rewarded not Forgotten [An extended duration…requiring endurance can leave us feeling (wondering if we’ve been) forgotten. We. Are. Not.]

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” [you might say that’s all well and good but that’s future. IS IT THOUGH?? I mean endure trials for whatever period of time…and be guaranteed the reward!]

COMPROMISE WITH

Compromise with any of “that?” (Romans 1 or 2 Timothy 3). Well…

Lovers of money (wellll, okay.)

Demeaning

Unloving

Slanderers

Conceited

[In fact, context of 2 Timothy 3 moves to include the tenor of Romans 1 into the house of the people of God…alongside the culture-at-large.]

1 John 2:15–17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.”

INFLUENCE ON

Matthew 5:15–16 “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

UNINVITED

Our light just shines.

INVITED

We are asked to shine our light ‘over here, please.’ [Like when working on a project and you need a flashlight so you can best see how to get this screw in place, etc., etc.]

CONCL—

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Teaching [informing what is right]

Rebuking [warning, stopping what is wrong (thinking or actions)]

Correcting [changing wrong thinking (actions) for what is right]

Training [equipping, discipling for thinking and doing what is right]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Perseverance

Influence

LORD’S SUPPER

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””

1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Matthew 5:15–16 CSB

No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

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