Skip to main content

Living For Christ in Our Culture Today, #1

This next week I embark on a risky endeavor.  I'm going to do a series of messages on what it means to live for Christ in our culture - or what in the world does it mean to be a Christian and live for Christ in the midst of this world?

With all sorts of cultural issues to address, I do not pretend to be an expert on any.  I am a Christian first and foremost, and my allegiance is, and hopefully will always be, to be faithful to God, his word, and the work of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God.

I don't pretend to know what all of those things mean.  With racial strife, questions on same-sex marriage, terrorism worries, privacy concerns, and the technological malaise that exists...I would be naive to say, "Oh, I have an answer for this..."

What I do want to do is address some of the issues here - especially as it relates to what I'm teaching on.  I know that not all will agree with me - it has never happened before so I don't believe it will happen again.  What I do hope to do is "reprove, correct, with all long suffering and patience"... to challenge my mind, soul, spirit, along with your's, to "love the Lord your God with all your MIND..." (as well as heart, soul, strength).

My fear is that we have succumbed to the cultural world of post-modernism that tells us that our concepts gained from Scripture are unreliable, out of date, and no longer relevant to our modern world.  I've heard that before.

This week I'm going to dive into one of our more current cultural divides:  Same-Sex Marriage.

I wanted to post for your reading something that I read 6 years ago, and signed on to.  I still believe it to be relevant, as a Christian believer, today.  It is called "The Manhattan Declaration" and comes from a wide ranging group of Christian leaders from Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical groups.  It was released in October 2009, and I signed it in early 2010.

The Manhattan declaration is summarized as follows:
Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian faith to speak and act in their defense. In this declaration we affirm: 1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.

When I signed this document the waves of activism concerning same sex marriage were only beginning to be heard.  It has changed tremendously over the last five years and now our Supreme Court justices are soon to rule on States laws that either grant or prohibit recognition of Same-Sex marriages.

What is it therefore that we, 21st century Christians and citizens, supposed to do?  believe? hold on to? reject? work for?

I would encourage you to read the entire Manhattan Declaration, but especially the second section on Marriage... it's worth thinking about.  You can read the entire document at:

http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/man_dec_resources/Manhattan_Declaration_full_text.pdf

Let me know what you think.

Peace

Comments

Anonymous said…
Thanks Brother for your willingness to tackle a sensitive subject with many diverse opinions. I read the Manhattan Declaration years ago, and like you, signed it. In revisiting it briefly per you suggestion, I find it interesting that all of life is integrated, not compartmentalized, therefore each section of the declaration plays into one another and affects one another. The cheapening of life not only threatens the unborn, disabled, and elderly but creates the culture of violence that we see in this country. And this eventually leads to the destruction of the family, which is part of the foundation to this country's stability.
You and are a part of the generation of rebellious ones of the 60's who lead the way for our society to cast off God. I find it interested that God's Word says, "Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." I think we are reaping the seeds of rebellion sown in the 60's. The societal issues we are facing today are the consequences of America abandoning God. May we in the Church remain strong as our society continues to decay.
June 25, 2015 at 9:23 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Loving Well

As Jesus came to  his last hours on the earth, he spent them with his disciples - a show of his dedication to their special relationship with him.  If it were me and I knew this was my last night, I might want to take time to talk about what's important, and what they must remember....and perhaps it would be about doctrine, or beliefs, faith, etc.  Jesus goes a different direction: John 13:1-17 (NIV) 1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Betrayed by Failed Expectations

No one names their children Judas.  No other name is more recognized as anathema than his name.    It's hard to sort out what to do with Judas.  He walked with Jesus, learned from him, saw the miracles, knew what Jesus was up to early on.  Yet when it came down to it he betrayed Jesus. What's perhaps more amazing is that it doesn't surprise Jesus at all. John 13:18-32 (NIV) 18 "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' 19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me." 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Joy to the World - Help is On the Way

It’s the first day of Advent– while you prepare for Worship this morning at church take a minute to ask God to direct you through this season that you might be prepared to “receive your King”. In the first week of Advent we celebrate the PROMISE of His Coming. His promise is based on our need. We were made in his image, but there is emptiness in our soul that is the result of the Fallen nature of sin. But why did Jesus come? What in his coming announces God's heart? His desire for us to know and experience? 10 BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, "DO NOT BE AFRAID; FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY WHICH WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE; 11 FOR TODAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID THERE HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOU A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. GREAT JOY! Did you know that God is Joyful? 1 CHRONICLES 16:23-27 (NASB) 23 SING TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH; PROCLAIM GOOD TIDINGS OF HIS SALVATION FROM DAY TO DAY. 24 TELL OF HIS GLORY AMONG THE NATIONS, HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS AMONG ALL THE PEOPLES....
46 comments
Read more