“Christian Culture?”

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Christianity has shaped the West for the past two thousand years.  As the church grew and Apostles died out, heresies and perversions were introduced; and yet, in name at least, Christianity came to dominate the Roman Empire.  In AD 380, Emperor Theodosius I issued the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Christianity the official religion of Rome—essentially making it compulsory to the whole  Empire.  Alongside this stunning reversal—it had been outlawed and ruthlessly persecuted just a few decades prior—came a host of new problems, as the church began, more and more, to mirror the government.  Was this really what Jesus had in mind?

Today, we’ve inherited a country founded by Christians seeking freedom to live and worship as their consciences demanded.  The government they established has taken the church quite seriously.  Yet, as in the Roman Empire, this has led to a host of problems.  As the church influences the world, so also the world—all too often—influences the church.  When public figures make displays of Christianity, it often gets…dicey.

Among those sounding the alarm on this are many who simply like to find fault with everything.  It’s far easier to tear down, than to build up, and some take perverse pleasure in society’s degradation, so that they themselves stand out more proudly.  Others are afraid that they will be lumped in with some unserious pop star or politician who says something vaguely pro-Jesus, while living in a manner more in keeping with Satan’s will.  Of these, most are worried that it damages Christ’s reputation, as Paul warned, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Ro 2.24).  Finally, there’s a danger to Christ’s body itself.  Peter echoes the warning, but adds an interesting tidbit: “And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2Pe 2.2).  Even before the world latches on, he predicted the advent of “false teachers” within the church (v1), who pretend to follow Christ, but have turned back to behave like the world (vv2-22), like a dog returning to its own vomit.  Rather than being immediately recognized and removed, Peter said they would lead many Christians astray.

All of these concerns are, of course, valid.  Even the cynical critics, who’ll never be satisfied, have a point.  We’ll always be beset by human imperfection, and we ought to recognize sin and name it properly.  But there is a limit.  “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (Ja 2.13).  Jesus elaborates on this in Matthew 7.1-5, and every harsh critic must take what he says to heart.

Likewise, we ought to walk carefully in this world, considering not only how to keep a list of commandments, but also how our behavior and associations look, and the effect they will have on observers.

For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

(1 Corinthians 8.10)

Paul’s point is that eating meat that had been used in idolatrous worship was not—in and of itself—sinful.  But he strongly discouraged it, because of how it looked, going so far as to call deliberate refusal to consider a brother’s conscience “sin against Christ” (v12).  So, even on a personal level, it is wise to distance oneself from public figures who profess Christ and yet walk in blatant sin.

Similarly, we should be zealous to guard Jesus’ reputation.  He told us,

“let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

(Matthew 5.16)

The goal is more than our own righteousness; it’s for God’s glory.  Similarly, Peter writes,

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

(1 Peter 2.11-12)

Finally, it is good to guard the church from worldly influence, and worldly people who profess Christ are just as dangerous as those who are openly hostile.  There exists today a wide range of fake Christians worshiping the spirit of the age.  Many have given in with regard to sexual sin of all kinds.  Many have taken Jesus’ commandments to give to the poor (e.g. Lk 14.13), and turned them into an impersonal, political ideology involving little or no personal sacrifice, but lots of forcing others to contribute.  Many have abused scripture to make it conform to their own ideas about the roles of men and women—or to erase the distinction entirely!  They have used it to justify greed, lies, theft, murder, carving up people’s bodies—even children’s!—and all manner of lawlessness.

In the face of all this, it’s understandable for Christians to want to retreat—as it is written:

“Come out of her, my people,

lest you take part in her sins,

lest you share in her plagues…”

(Revelation 19.4)

However, while Christians are not to be of the world, we still have to live in the world.  In fact, it’s part of our job.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

(Matthew 5.13)

Jeremy Nettles

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