Post Tenenbras, Lux “After Darkness, Light” |
It seems that America is conflicted between its higher powers and its lower passions. It is truly a conflict for our society’s soul. One look at the moral landscape of our government or at our universities betrays the fact that something that was right is now very wrong. As James Baldwin reminds us; Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
The Church of Jesus Christ must face the facts. The culture has changed the church more than the church has changed the culture. The spiritual has become more secular. We have trifled with the sacred and trafficked in the secular to a point where the world does not even care what we have to say.
But this truth does not mean that we are not to continue to proclaim the truth through both the music of the gospel in our lives and the message of the gospel through our lips. As Paul Achtemeier reminds us: “Cultural isolation is not to be the route taken by the Christian community. It is to live its life openly in the midst of the unbelieving world and just as openly to be prepared to explain the reason for it.” We must be committed to “flexing two muscles” at the same time: Our Convictions toward Christ and our Compassion toward people. A sense of wonder and a spirit of curiosity have the power to motivate and move people. May our lives, as we are filled by the Holy Spirit, cause people to see His wonder and develop a spirit that is curious to know Him. Always remember the insightful words of Alan Keyes, “It is not for us to calculate our victory or fear our defeat, but to do our duty and leave the rest in God’s hands.” Serving Him with you until He comes for us, Fred |