FROM: Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
ABOUT ME: Living the highs and lows of life in the adventurous pursuit of God Himself and of who I'm meant to be as the Bride of Christ.
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Monday, June 12, 2006,10:01 a.m.
Are We AT ALL Counter-Culture?
I heard a preach last night on being counter-culture. I LOVED IT. I agree with it whole-heartedly. We are Believers - our very scriptures call us to be counter-culture. But I am often afraid that we are not only not counter-culture, but that we are indeed following culture so closely that we are indiscernible from the world. And just so there's no confusion, I too, sadly, fall into that category all too often.
Maybe we should start examining our own church culture and weigh it against the scriptures. Where we are lacking - faith, truth, or the execution of commands - then may we find the strength to change, by the grace of God.
To be clear - I don't want to be counter-culture just for the sake of being different. I want to be counter-culture because I believe that what we are called to be as children of God and believers of Jesus IS counter to what our world practices and believes. I want to be radically obedient to the Word of God and radically opposed to the norms of the world where they differ from that Word.
Difficult?
Yes.
Painful?
Potentially.
Worth it?
Undoubtedly.
Necessary?
Unarguably.
Romans 12:2 says this: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will isÂhis good, pleasing and perfect will." Be transformed. Not CONFORMED (made the same as) but TRANSFORMED (completely changed).
Be completely changed by the renewing of our minds. Soaking our minds in the Word of God, the beauty of God, the will of God. Finding the truth about what God sees as success, failure and love. Exposing the lies of our culture (by the way - that culture is run by the enemy) about who we are, what power we have and how urgent our calling is.
Being counter-culture is not just what we do either - I think at its very core it is WHO WE ARE. What we do will naturally flow out of that.
Be transformed. Changed. And here is a good word - do not fear. We have no need to fear this culture or what it will do when we completely change and throw our dependencee on it out the window.
Never forget: "... greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
Maybe we should start examining our own church culture and weigh it against the scriptures. Where we are lacking - faith, truth, or the execution of commands - then may we find the strength to change, by the grace of God.
To be clear - I don't want to be counter-culture just for the sake of being different. I want to be counter-culture because I believe that what we are called to be as children of God and believers of Jesus IS counter to what our world practices and believes. I want to be radically obedient to the Word of God and radically opposed to the norms of the world where they differ from that Word.
Difficult?
Yes.
Painful?
Potentially.
Worth it?
Undoubtedly.
Necessary?
Unarguably.
Romans 12:2 says this: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will isÂhis good, pleasing and perfect will." Be transformed. Not CONFORMED (made the same as) but TRANSFORMED (completely changed).
Be completely changed by the renewing of our minds. Soaking our minds in the Word of God, the beauty of God, the will of God. Finding the truth about what God sees as success, failure and love. Exposing the lies of our culture (by the way - that culture is run by the enemy) about who we are, what power we have and how urgent our calling is.
Being counter-culture is not just what we do either - I think at its very core it is WHO WE ARE. What we do will naturally flow out of that.
Be transformed. Changed. And here is a good word - do not fear. We have no need to fear this culture or what it will do when we completely change and throw our dependencee on it out the window.
Never forget: "... greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
