Keeping Your Head In The Game

Recently, President Obama’s “evolution” on his views on marriage came to an end in both an historic and tragic milestone: the first time in history that a sitting U.S. President endorsed same-sex marriage, and basically called for the transformation and subversion of civilization’s central institution.   This earned him the cover of Newsweek Magazine’s title, “America’s First Gay President.”  While not really a surprise, observers referred to it as nothing short of a cultural earthquake.  It brought to the forefront once again in a very deep and dramatic fashion what has been dubbed, “The Culture Wars.”

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to         suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.” (1Pet.3:13-17)

What originally “sparked” my inspiration was a call being echoed for a “social truce.”  Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels was the one who this is first attributed to: calling for a “truce” on social issues (which are considered divisive) going into 2012, since the gravity of the economic and fiscal challenges facing America trump all.  This idea seemed to gain traction with a lot of people.  Jeremy Mayer wrote, “It’s about the economy.  I just don’t think God, guns, gays and fetuses is really going to matter that much.”  My concern with this is that it comes from a false premise.  Peter said, vs.14, “but even if you should suffer for righteousness sake.”  Fiscal responsibilities and policies matter, but the “basic glue” and foundations for our country go beyond money.  The fallacy is that many are made to think they must choose between economic issues and social ones.  Biblically, however, they are all connected!  Charles Colson asked, “Can freedom survive where virtue isn’t able to flourish?  The response is obvious, “He knew the answer in theory.  And that answer was: No.  Virtue-less societies cannot remain free for long.  Without self-restraint, justice, love, for fellow human beings, and other virtues, eventually real chaos will follow moral chaos.”  Some of our most pressing social problems today have definite moral and ethical roots.  We only have one cause, and that is to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.  By definition and certainly by application, this will always means “engaging our culture” at a heart level.

This what caught my attention.  I heard Radio Talk Show host, Dennis Prager, say, “The last bastion of traditional moral values is the Evangelical church.”  He’s not writing as a Christian, either, but as an informed cultural observer.  This has brought to the surface the question of to what extent should Christians be involved in the political process?  I happen to agree with the late Carl F.H. Henry who addressed evangelicals and argued that disengagement from the critical issues of the day is not an option.

Jesus spelled out for us that we are to be salt and light in a fallen world, and this includes politics. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”  The main emphasis is salt as a preservative, to arrest the putrefying process.  James Emery White wrote: “We should use our freedom to vote in any way possible to bring the Kingdom of God to greater reality.  And yes, the Kingdom of God includes the biblical understandings of marriage and family.  This is not about attempting to impose things through power, but influence.”  In Jesus’ day, the main use of salt was a preservative to keep food from rotting.  Without refrigerators or freezers, canned goods or packaging, salt was used to keep food from spoiling.  If you had a piece of meat that you couldn’t eat right away, you would take some salt and rub it into the meat, which would prevent the meat from going bad.  John Stott wrote, “The notion is not that the world is tasteless and that Christians can make it less insipid...but that it is putrefying.  It cannot stop itself from going bad.  Only salt introduced from outside can do this.  The church...is set in the world...as the most powerful of all restraints within sinful society to be His own redeemed, regenerate and righteous people.”  He continued, “The influence of Christians in and on society depends on their being distinct, not identical.  Unless the salt penetrates the culture, the decay cannot be arrested. 

Jesus Christ was no stranger to culture wars.  On a number of occasions He was drawn (attempted) into His generation’s “culture wars”!  Whether it involved paying taxes (Mark 12:13-17), or the touchy subject of marriage and divorce (Matt.19:3-8).  Then there was the debate over social justice where He was asked, “Who is my neighbor?”  The whole Sermon on the Mount (masterpiece) could easily be looked at as Jesus’ treatment of the culture wars, “You have heard....but, I say unto you.”

1. WE MUST GIVE GOD HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE, vs.15a “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” The answer to maybe 90% of life’s problems can be boiled down to our hearts.  Is Christ Lord and at home there?
   


2. FOCUS ON REASONED WITNESS, vs.15b, “always be prepared to give answer to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”  There should be an authenticity of content about why you’re living the way you are.
   


3. ALWAYS MAINTAIN A GRACIOUS ATTITUDE, vs.15c, “with gentleness and respect.”  He’s referring to the manner that we engage people with the truth of the Gospel.
   


4. LIVE THAT WHICH GIVES VALIDITY TO WHAT YOU SAY, vs.16, “having a good conscience....good conduct.”  Peter says there will always be those who will speak against you, but a good testimony will win out in the end!
   


5. REMEMBER, THIS WILL COST YOU SOMETHING, or there’s always a price for doing what’s right.  You will never be able to remove the scandal or offense of the Cross to the carnal mind. 

Today when people “lose their religion” well, you must blog about it or at least be interviewed.  You know, a “why I left” treatise.  It’s one thing when people leave because of an unloving attitude, but another it it’s over a moral stance that the Bible commands us to take!  The “bookends” of Jesus’ ministry was that “He came preaching repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” and he concluded with, “and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”  To quote James Emery White: “THIS, BELOVED, IS ONE CULTURE WAR THAT WE CANNOT AVOID.”  Over the next six months or so, it is my desire to help us think Biblically, and bring a reasoned voice of leadership to the issues of freedom and virtue, and ultimately for God to “heal our land.”