The term “Christian” is a loaded term in our culture. 48% of Americans are considered post Christian. They know about Jesus and the church a choose not to belong or believe. Many just do not care. So how can we be the light of the world in a post christian culture. The begin years of our nation had Christian culture on the forefront and was considered very positive.
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Jesus came into a world that did not hold the culture of His Kingdom but the culture of the world. He came to extinguish the darkness with the light of the Kingdom. So how did He do it?
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Today we have a Church culture that tries to champion one or the other. We have churches that are full of grace and no truth saying live how you want do what makes you happy. Then we have churches that are truth and no grace. They have rules and don’t know how to handle rebellion. Jesus came as the Truth but He led with grace.
Romans 2:4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
The Father led with grace by giving His Son, then sending His Spirit, that would lead us into truth. Had he come with truth first we would not have know how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient the Father is.
We have a world culture that promotes self, pursuit of happiness despite consequence, and pleasure above all else. Then we have a Kingdom Culture of grace and truth that values selfless ambition, sacrifice, and preferring others. This culture is not truth in moral compass, but Truth is a person who revealed grace. It is not a culture of stop doing bad thing so you can belong, but allow the person who is Truth to transform your heart. Come to Jesus and He will love you out of sin that holds you captive!
So I ask you, whose culture do you reveal? The culture of this world or of Jesus? And before you answer do you lead your life extending grace and from that platform sharing truth in love? This Christmas people all over are hurting and they do not truth apart from grace but may we lead with Grace and reveal the Person of Truth!
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
