Do you remember the story, The Emperor’s New Clothes? A smooth talker convinced the monarch of the absurd. The shyster said he could weave a fabric so fine it could hardly be felt. The Emperor wound up parading around with no clothes. Know what’s worse than that? All the people who pretended to go along with the idea by complimenting the Emperor on his new clothes! Culture forced them into a lie even though they could see a naked Emperor. Where does that still happen?
A few years ago, my wife and I were part of a nation-wide revival effort in Spain. We were sent to the Catalonian region just north of Barcelona. The dialect there sounded like Spanish spoken with a lisp. I asked the local missionary about it and she said it was an accurate description. Then she gave me the cultural history.
A couple of centuries ago there was a ruler (I don’t remember what kind: Baron, Duke, etc.) in that region who had a speech impediment. Rather than risk being different or being perceived as making fun of the ruler, everyone began to speak as he did. He lived a long life. Centuries later, people still speak that way!
At least with the Emperor, a boy finally spoke the truth. Everyone, including the Emperor, acknowledged what they knew to be true. In Catalonia, the lack of truth allowed an accommodation to become a dialect. Why does that matter?
Conquering Culture
If we are to be in the world, but not of the world, we must reach the point when the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ surpasses our love of our own culture. We are not Americans who are Christian. We are Christians who are blessed to live in America.
Similarly, you are not an accountant, banker, real estate agent, or teacher that also happens to be a Christian. You are a Christian that God provides for by allowing you to serve Him as an accountant, banker, real estate agent, or teacher. Conquering (redeeming) culture is at the heart of missions and evangelism, whether it’s going around the corner or around the world.
Paul modeled this level of spiritual maturity for us: Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant-dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ-God’s righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself, (Philippians 3:8-10, The Message Bible).
Does your faith inform your culture, or does your culture inform your faith? Think about it. Culture is a constant battle!
Soli Deo Gloria!
PS: The cartoon is from the Catholic cartoon blogspot. Its perspective is obviously Catholic, but Culture is trying to get every church down in the muck! Good cartoon.
