This post follows two others. First, “7 Reasons for America’s Moral Mess,” which outlined seven components forming the decline of American morality, and Second, “The Christian’s Reaction to America’s Moral Mess (Pt 1),” in which I presented three general approaches commonly held by Christians today in their interactions with “the world.” In this final installment I will present seven practical and biblical positions the American Christian can take to promote change in our nation.
I firmly believe that dedicated Christian living holds hope for ushering in lasting change. Following are seven Christian reactions which can bring sweeping change across a nation filled with division, hurt, and a deep loss of any morality:
1. Holy and Love Filled Living – Secular American society continues to grow with a worldview that is hesitant, skeptical, and often resentful for the role religion has played in American life. Religion is often pointed at as part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. More than ever before a call must be heralded for authentic holiness and love among Christ followers. As the primary balanced attributes of God, these characteristics must also permeate the life of His people. In the Christian interaction with “the world” we have often isolated or immersed, neither of which has balanced the holiness and love of God. Isolationists have emphasized the holiness of God and immersionists have emphasized the love of God. A balanced insulation will bring Christ-like living which displays God’s holy standard saturated in grace, and His divine love which covers over a multitude of sins.
2. Gospel First Identity – When one comes to faith in Christ, she is born again (Jn 3:3). The old is put to death, and the new has come (Gal 5:24). As a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17) our complete identity has shifted. For the Christ follower, your primary identity is fixated in the gospel. Jesus taught that this identity is primary even over the most important identifying relationships on earth, one’s own family (Mk 3:35). Each living individual has many parts which form their overall identity. I am a Christian, married, straight, a father, a son, a teacher, a missionary, a jogger, a musician, and so on. However, our identity as a disciple of Christ must significantly stand above all our other components of identity. This means that the other parts of my identity submit and come under the identity as a Christ follower. The gospel filters out my views on family, marriage, money, and authority. The gospel lessens the passion which I might otherwise pursue support for a political candidate or party, or social issue, prioritizing the clear communication of the gospel that leads to the transformation of lives. The gospel causes me to put aside areas of less importance, that I might not be a stumbling block to weaker brothers and sisters (1 Cor 8:9). There will certainly be variations of views even within the church on politics, social agendas, and other community issues. However, the gospel holds the trump card, it purges pride and ushers in humility and gentleness despite any difference.
3. Give Honor to Who Honor is Due – One of the primary issues which is distorting American society is the erosion of authority. Christians must live with counter-cultural values and this includes our treatment of authority. In the Epistle to the Romans the Apostle Paul reminds us to, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honour to to whom honour is owed,” (Rom 13:7). Despite living under the leadership of a heathen and oppressive colonizing authority, the Roman Christians were encouraged to live at peace and submission to authority. Even so, American Christians must honor the many authority forms in society. This doesn’t mean that Christians cannot fully participate in the democratic freedoms which at times may involve peaceful protests or opposition to immoral, unethical, or unbiblical practices. However, this does mean that we must engage in such activities with respect and honor, in a winsome manner.
In a society and generation which has completely shrugged off respect for elders and other positions of authority, Christians must be those who swing the pendulum back in the other direction. The Christ follower would do well to intentionally use vocabulary, mannerisms, and compliance toward all those in authority, whether directly or in third person conversation. These include, just to name a few – law enforcement, teachers, political figures (regardless of party affiliation), employers, pastors and church elders, the elderly, and parents.
4. Thrive in Thoughtful and Intentional Arts – In Carl Truman’s recent book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, he notes the significance that Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s emphasis on self-love, sentiment/empathy, conscience, and expressive individualism as a whole has had on modern society. A worldview which has arguably had more global and deep seated cultural impact than most other philosophers. Rousseau’s views were intentionally embedded within the larger movement of Romanticism which embraced the arts. Truman tracks the power that several poets exhibited on society at large through their creative works, as opposed to other elite thinkers. The core principle of what Truman argues has been no secret. Even today, across China elderly people gather daily to enthusiastically sing a genre of songs which are coined in China as, “red songs.” They are the indoctrination tool of the Communists, written and introduced as the Communists gained and took power across China in the mid 20th century. These anthems are chock full of Marxist, ethical, and political teachings, with plenty of praise and chants of commitment to accompany. Modern American society also knows the power of the Arts. The values and ethics of the new American worldview are being crammed down our throats everyday as we watch movies, listen to music, view YouTube videos of modern day poetry (now called, “the spoken word”), and open web pages and magazines to visually indulge in images that move our hearts.
The arts move our passions, Christians have not been wholly absent from the arts, but they have not been at the forefront. The quality of Christian music trailed secular by decades, in only the last decade have a series of quality Christian movies begun to see releases which have made headlines. For centuries Christian missionaries speckled the earth leading the way in hospital building and school establishment because these were places of influence. I am thankful for the many ministries which are attempting to bring significant impact through artistic outlets. These are important venues which are capable of carrying the most powerful message of all time. Christians must intensely focus on training, encouraging, and discipling the artistic and spiritual skills which are capable of transforming society without making “gods” out of Christian musicians, actors, mega-pastors, and other significant Christian figures.
5. Grace-Nature Balance – The grace-nature balance is the mechanism by which theologians have used to describe the relationship of the Christian and his interaction with “the world” in his public interactions. Nature is the world we live in along with all of the cultural creations in our societies. Grace is the gracious salvation we are offered through Christ. There are several mixes this grace-nature balance can take which we will not discuss here. Many theologians have argued for a grace renewing nature position. Meaning, although the world we live in has been infected by the fall, God’s grace restores and renews aspects of humanity, displaying light, hope, peace, and salvation. God is still at work in the world and will one day complete His renewal in the creation of a new heaven and new earth. There is a battle raging over the sacred and secular. As C.S. Lewis articulated it, “There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.”
Thus, the Christ follower seeks to bring renewal across a world that is obviously broken. We champion the beauty of the universe in its preservation, in matters of ethics and morality, in concerns of justice, and a host of social issues which are rooted in biblical teachings.
6. Breaking Anonymity – In a society where there is little meaningful identity in local communities; where the consequences for socially causing major disruptions, disunity, and conflict are resolved by a simple move down the road Christians must live differently. By simply committing to a local community, being involved in the everyday life, decisions, events, and happenings of a community the Christian sets the model for social accountability and influence. The Christian must live differently in visible society, they must dig deep in friendships and community.
7. Back to Discipleship Basics – There are many Christian ministries and activities which can occupy our time today. Although, many of these are great and needed, disciple making cannot be replaced by these other activities and ministries. Disciple making is the primary outreach ministry assigned to every Christ follower. Discipleship has lost its clarity and needs sharp refocus. Discipleship basics are composed of three parts: identifying those who are receptive, sharing the gospel, and building a foundation. The final portion is normally what is spoken of when discussing discipleship. In building a foundation, disciple makers must ground new believers in truth, connect them to nurturing Christian relationships (especially in the church), and commission them out on mission with God.