It seems to me that society is in desperate need of Christians preserving what Jesus taught. And what makes me think that is what’s happening as society rejects Christian values and tries to come up with a better alternative.
The “better alternative” so far is setting oneself up, or one’s group up, as “progressive,” meaning moving away from God being the one who dictates how we behave, to doing and thinking whatever one pleases on a personal level, or doing whatever the government tells us to do on a State level. On the one hand, then, we’ve got individuals (and their tribes) trying to force their lifestyles on us, and on the other hand, the State angling to get control over everything in our lives.
In the middle of all this pressure on us to comply are Christians whose doing and thinking – and existence as groups – is to preserve and live by the teachings of Jesus. It’s why we’re called Christians – followers and disciples of Christ – because our love of life is learning, living by and teaching what he taught, believing that since it was he who created us, then he must know a thing or two about what’s best for us too.
Unfortunately, cultural pressure can suck in Christians to either rejecting or twisting what Jesus taught. And this is when things get touchy, because as Christians wilt under cultural pressure there’s a notable correlation between that and the disintegration of decency, honesty, kindness, humility, morality, hope and peace in society. Which is sad, because when Christians seek to obey Jesus – because of his love for us and our love for him – we are given superb promises, like “wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17), “power, love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7), and the ability to “escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). We can see through, and live above, the nonsense.
Which is why society is in desperate need of such people, and why Christians stand by Jesus’ teachings, even if we’re hated and hounded for it, because we can see how weird, clownish and morally bankrupt society can become. And who suffers the most? Those least able to do anything about the things affecting them. It’s horrible, especially when it’s children who are being targeted.
But Christians living by Jesus’ teachings have power on their side, to be witnesses to what he taught being so obviously right and good, and especially in a world like ours where the contrast becomes more obvious by the day.
But that’s our goal, “that his life may be revealed in our mortal body,” 2 Corinthians 4:11, believing it to be the best thing there is for a world floundering around without a guide or anchor.
Buck To Basics 