Two evenings ago, I watched a question and answer session by a pastor addressing an issue raised by inquirers online. I was interested to see this particular pastor’s response to the topic. I’ve read one book of his in which he demonstrated creative thinking and logical progression in his arguments. He also showed he is very well read. I had heard his view on the topic was opposed to mine, but as I’ve debated this topic in numerous churches with many people, I was interested to hear if this pastor would bring anything new to defend the counter-perspective to my own. I was highly disappointed.
The presentation was about 45 minutes of what a friend of mine refers to as “theological gymnastics.” This is a process where a person works hard to show how their understanding is Biblical through the use of ambiguous texts and takes the texts that speak clearly on the issue and attempts to muddy them to ambiguity. None of what the pastor said was new to me. You can find it all easily by simply Googling the topic. However, the pastor insisted he had come up with this solely from his own Bible study and he never really addressed the fact that his presentation was a reversal of his previous stance on the topic. In his words, he claimed the colleagues he contacted to get insight into the topic said they had none. So (once again in his words) he, like Marin Luther by candlelight with his Greek New Testament, had to come up with his own understanding of scripture’s statements on the issue he was addressing.
As I watched, and all the logical and Biblical objections I had in my mind with how I would rebut his points came to me, I decided there was one question I would have asked him if we were there on stage together discussing the topic. The question would be this, “if you were pastoring your church 100 years ago and culturally this would have been a non-issue (or perhaps culture may have even opposed his new perspective) would he maintain the same position? The pastor had repeatedly made statements that seemed to be motivated by concern people were just going to say he had shifted his position because of cultural pressure. He was adamant that this was because he was being Biblical. It’s difficult though to defend that when your position trends to be more in line with what culture says than what the Bible says. It seemed the whole purpose of the inquiry stemmed from something that had become a cultural issue.
He’s not the first minister in a “Christian” named ministry to take a culturally friendly stance. Several years ago, the Pope made a statement that he wasn’t in position to judge two people who loved one another, when addressing the issue of same-sex marriage. Sir Elton John responded to the Pope’s words by saying the church should make him a saint immediately. It’s an ironic position though. The Catholic church in Africa (where we are located) is supposed to be under the Pope’s authority. But homosexuality is very offensive in our culture here and you would never hear a priest speak in support or approval of it. In fact, it’s often vehemently condemned. I would ask the Pope the same question. 100 years ago, would you have held the same position?
More and more, we see ministries gearing themselves towards reaching “unchurched” people within the fellowship of the church. Some seem concerned that people will never listen to the church if there are principles the church obeys that are offensive to culture. I think this is actually killing the effectiveness of those churches and filling them with people who aren’t saved and don’t understand the gospel. My opinion is supported by the revolving door attendees of these ministries and the immorality in the lifestyles of the members. There is great flash and excitement around these ministries, but time reveals a lack of substance and a lack of fruit.
There was no person in history more aware of cultural nuances than Jesus, and yet he displayed a complete lack of care for what was culturally appropriate. He openly associated with women and allowed them to play an active role in his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). This was contrary to appropriate behavior for men in his day. He went to the Samaritans (who the Jews didn’t associate with) and spoke first to a woman, who was known for her immorality, and she became an evangelist to the people in Sychar (John 4:1-42). Even his disciples were passing judgment on him for that one. Jesus also repeatedly offended the cultural traditions of the Jewish leaders (Matt 12:1-8, Mark 7:1-9). There is something we should understand about the gospel –
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[b] to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18-20)
The things of God don’t make sense to a lost person since he doesn’t interpret life through the lens of God’s Word.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.[d]
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)
The gospel is not mean to mold into culture, but rather it should be distinct from culture.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
Two of the greatest testimonies of the gospel’s influence on culture is the rights of women in modern times and the elimination of infanticide (until the practice of modern abortion). It was the church that first gave equal value and standing to women with men. Up to that period of history, women were largely treated as servants with few rights. It was the church that first spoke out to say, “you shall not kill what is born.” Over time as the gospel was preached and sinners repented, cultures were changed. I’m concerned at the trend we see where the church is rejecting God’s methods and instructions to be more agreeable to culture. Culture trends further and further away from God. In the end, we will find the church further and further from God. The only thing to do is to return to God’s Word. Salvation belongs to the Lord. It’s the Spirit that produces the fruit of the Spirit. If we follow culture, we may have larger congregations, but there will be fewer of God’s people. In trying to make the church more palatable to people, we will lose the gospel that can save them.
James 4:4 “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
lubumba pastors blog 
Very good.
LikeLike