… when there’s apparently now a market - not in Baghdad but in the U.S. - for bullet-proof bookbags? It’s marketed as “on the spot protection against guns and knife violence”. Man, the world is a lot different than when I was in high school in the late 60s & early 70s when the weapon of choice was a spitball. Even more sobering, the web site cautions that “Due to the overwhelming response to our products you may experience some difficulties with our checkout process.” And who is largely to blame here?

Us. The church, ultimately. The church-at-large in America wrote off our culture long ago, withdrawing into Fortress Church, disengaging from all aspects of the “tainted” culture. Our mega-churches with their fabulous facilities and never-ending programs, catering to virtually every possible need and desire, meant we didn’t need to soil ourselves with the surrounding culture. We didn’t need their television; we simply created our own television programming (although I’d argue that most “Christian” tv programming is far more hazardous to one’s health than the secular choices.) We’re simply pot-lucking ourselves to death while waiting for Jesus to come back and rescue us.

And now we’ve reaped what we sowed.

May the contemporary church grasp the vision to re-engage the culture. That doesn’t mean picketing everything in sight that we disagree with and being adversarial. It doesn’t mean electing “Christian” politicians. It doesn’t mean boycotting Disneyland. It doesn’t mean pulling all of our kids out of public school and starting our own Christian schools.

It means re-immersing ourselves into the culture - but without becoming a part of its inherent rebellion against God. It means loving the culture as Jesus loved the sinners … as an embedded witness. Sure, it’s risky. But look where the ostrich-with-the-head-in-the-sand mentality has gotten us.

God, forgive us for our apathy, arrogance and greed for comfort. Wake us up from our delusional lethargy. Show us how to love innumerable multitudes into Your Kingdom and how to lead them to Your Throne, instead of scaring a handful out of Hell. Relight the fire within us and help us to once again be a glowing light of life and hope amidst the culture, instead of a spotlight of condemnation and judgment.

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
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Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)