The Culture Continues to Secularize but The Gospel is still Greater & More Powerful!

As the culture continues to secularize and the biblical church becomes more and more strange in the world, I become more encouraged and optimistic as a Believer. The darkness of the secular culture shows the light of the Gospel more vividly to a dying world that secretly seeks substance over style.  

 I believe now, more than ever, the church will have a greater opportunity to love extravagantly.  We love like Jesus, no matter the circumstance or cultural roadblocks. Part of that love is, with great compassion, informing non-believers that which separates humanity from God (aka sin). When Jesus caught the woman in adultery He defended her, literally saved her life, and then he said, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).

For the Christian to proclaim the destructive and murderous nature of sin, he or she must be honest and transparent about their own struggles with sin as well. My own struggles of lust, anger, and impatience (just to name a few) have hurt me, my family, and my friends in more ways than I care to recall. I am thankful that my salvation is secure because of God grace and not because of my good works. “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). And I am also grateful that after my salvation no one can snatch me out of the hand of Jesus (John 10:27-30).  However, my sins even after salvation, has consequences.  

But let’s not be fooled into thinking that a transparent Christian will not suffer persecution in this world.  Peter understood that Christians will be persecuted  and reminded the church not to forget their true identity in Christ and live lives of purity and holiness.

“. . . you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12

The ESV Study Bible explains 1 Peter 2:12 as follows: “Believers are to live godly lives even though they will be criticized by unbelievers. When believers do good deeds, some unbelievers will repent and believe and thus glorify God.”

Therefore, let’s keep doing what God has always commanded the Believer to do. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).