Cultural Relevance

“For though I am free from all people,

 I have made myself a slave to all

 that I might win the more.” II Corinthians 9:19

Mark Twain said, “The only person who likes change is a wet baby.” That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but from my own observation, most people have some hesitancy toward change. Those who have reached the age of 100 have seen radical change in their lifetime: they are unexpected witnesses to an era that brought forth Band-Aids and penicillin, Kellogg Corn Flakes and pizza, the World Series and Reader’s Digest. They remember not just when man landed on the moon but when he first soared into the sky. They remember the terrifying toll of the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918 and the wrenching despair on the soup lines of the Great Depression. The last century opened with the first telegraph message being sent across the Atlantic and concluded with millions of email messages being sent around the world every day.

With many changes in our culture, we must also understand this is the culture we have been called to minister to. This is our world, and God has placed us here for such a time as this. We have been called to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of this generation in a culturally relevant fashion. Try inviting an unchurched friend, family member, neighbor or associate to worship with you. People are longing for meaning and purpose in their life. You can make a difference in someone’s life by giving them a faith foundation in which to live.

And there are some things that don’t change, Jesus. In a world of constant change it is good to know that Jesus Christ is always the same, always with us and always loves us. Neither does the Bible change. The Word of God gives us directives for worship, for lifestyle choices, for practical instruction and for our salvation. Neither do spiritual needs change. In every generation, people have hungered for spiritual truth.

Ken Olson, President of Digital Equipment Corporation stated in 1977, “There is no reason why anyone would want a computer in their home.” While I’m sure he was a fine man, he was not a visionary and did not understand the changes that were to come. Our culture is radically changing before our very eyes. Let’s be ready for it, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Go with God!

Pastor Qualley