Wow, I bit off a lot on that one, didn’t I?
Once again this week I am hearing comments, seeing facebook posts, receiving emails—all expressing outrage at the sinful nature of an event (in this case, the Grammy Awards) and calling for a Christian response. I have to admit I am baffled by this. Perhaps because I don’t share some of the assumptions that seem to undergird these responses. So, I’m going to throw out a few thoughts here—mull them over or respond—but let’s keep the tone such that it honors our King!
First, I don’t believe American culture or society is on the decline. Sure, we’re seeing some sins being more openly flaunted (most notably sexual sin of various kinds). But at the same time, this culture has made some enormous strides since its birth. America no longer practices slavery. America no longer practices genocide. America no longer gives cart blanch to people fueled by pure greed. America makes attempts at helping the helpless (no, those attempts are obviously not always well planned and executed). In short, America hasn’t declined morally, it has shifted. This shift is entirely based on mores—the moral values which reflect the common agreement of a group of people regarding right and wrong.
Second, it is inappropriate for citizens of the Kingdom to express outrage (I don’t tell people what to feel, but we have to own responsibility for what we do with that feeling) at a worldly institution acting worldly. Why would we think they will do anything else? Expecting the Grammy Award organizers not to focus on blatant and “shocking” sexuality is like expecting a one year old not to dirty his diapers. He isn’t mature enough to meet that expectation. And people who are rooted in the world aren’t going to be mature enough to meet our moral expectations–not to mention the fact that they don’t share our moral expectations.
Finally, the only way any of this will change is through people changing—and real change happens only when people come to the King. Jesus came to us physically in an extremely corrupt and immoral cultural setting, yet he never tried to change institutions—and he didn’t tell us to either! Instead, he made disciples by changing people, and commanded us to follow this example. The result was real change in uncounted lives. This continued right up until the time we (Christians) started believing we could change worldly institutions (the Roman government). From that time forward, the corrupt institutions changed the church, and lured many into the belief that they could belong to the Kingdom while having both feet firmly set in the world.
I suggest the answer to this country’s problems—and any other country’s problems—is simple. People, individually, need Jesus. Nothing short of that will make any lasting difference in them or in any of the institutions of the world—all of which are destined for destruction on the return of the Lord.
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