Reggie Weems

In recent years, much has been spoken and written about the “culture war” that exists between the church and the world.  As Heritage enters into our November emphasis on missions, the Scriptures will assure us that any such world war will be triumphantly won by Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords!  There is however, another more war, close to home and waging in churches across America.  I literally mean ‘in’ churches.  This is a battle between the culture of custom and the created culture. 

The anthropological definition of culture is “the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.”   The culture of custom is the indigenous, one might say, customary “ways” of being and doing.  A created culture is a new or (often) imposed “way’ of being and doing.  In the United States, the struggle between customary and created culture is keenly, sometimes painfully, evident in musical styles or worship experiences; although music and worship are only the tip of the iceberg of the battle for culture supremacy in local churches.  Before any discussion of music or worship styles begins, everyone interested in the discussion should recognize that both the culture of custom and created culture have their intrinsic strengths and weaknesses.  Neither is what really was (in the New Testament church) and neither is what actually will be (in a glorified, heavenly church). 

Caricatures of opposing cultural systems are often slung at those who hold to a differing view.  Such easily created exaggerations should be immediately discarded and barred from meaningful conversation about God’s work in the church.  In addition, it is far too easy to pass judgment on either without due considerations of the inherent weaknesses of each system.  Both run the risk of creating an environment of segregation based on nothing more than the elitism of personal preference and choice.  Such attitudes are foreign to the concept of a gospel that saves sinners by grace.  As such, both cultures are inherently vulnerable to the same problems although both are redeemable and can be used greatly of God.

Customary culture is traditionally rooted in an historic, treasured, perhaps idolized past.  Created culture pins its hopes on a yet-to-be existant future.  Customary culture is based on what has worked.  Created culture is based on what is working.  Customary culture can often be a cover for fear, laziness, comfort or indifference.  Created culture tends to base its success on the performance of a few and the large crowds it attracts.  In that regard, customary culture uses small numbers to prove its spiritual authenticity while created culture uses large numbers to prove its secular appeal.  Customary culture pleads with hearts.  Created culture prides itself on intellectualism.  Customary culture wants to feel and be.  Created culture is passionate about knowing and doing. 

In reality, there is little scriptural basis for the supremacy of one culture over the other in the local church.  All that we are and all that we do should fall somewhere in the middle of custom and creation.  The church needs both to be effective in the Great Commission.  Balance is difficult but best.  The church should not fall into the rut of the past simply because it is familiar nor should it ignorantly plunge into the unknown, unproven future.  In the same Bible we are instructed to “ask for the ancient paths…(Jer 6:16) while God is simultaneously “doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:9).  There is appropriate value in both new wine and old wineskins.  Our God has historically used both the old and new as a means of reaching the entire world with the gospel.  Thank God for His faithfulness to Israel but also praise Him for His acceptance of the Gentiles.  The potential strengths and actual weaknesses of each culture should be taken into account in order to best present God’s truth to a maturing church and a watching world.  As such, serendipity is certainly in the process and not the destination.  We will never arrive at what should be but will always strive for what can be. 

As such, there should be no culture war in any church.  The existence of such cultural conflict only speaks ill of we who we are.  It demonstrates the idolization of self above God’s fame.  The Lord is certainly going to win the world versus church culture war.  If only He could vanquish our hearts. That would be a victory indeed!     

American Christians live in a world surrounded by unbelievers who regulary assert and often demand their rights.  It is an “eye for an eye” law-suit happy culture.  Get even or get run over.  Immersed by our work, school or friendships, it is very easy for believers to become also become ‘me’ centered.  Such thinking makes it easy for Christians to be offended.  Our skin becomes so thin that we are offended in a world in which our Lord prophesied that “offenses would come” BUT that He would recompense every offence (Matthew 18:7, Luke 17:1).  I think our Pennsylvania Amish friends can quote those verses.   
 
We are easily offended because we doubt God’s sovereign care.  Our faithlessness leads to fear and fear makes us easily offendable and causes us to respond like unbelievers.  We feel the need to defend ourselves because we doubt God’s willingness or ability to do it for us.  We could be Amish excpet for our M-16.  Receiving offenses without retaliating reveals a sincere belief that God uses all things “good” and “bad” to shape our character.  Being unoffendable honors a God Who alone should seek vengeance and always does justly.  By the way, God can open and shut lions’ mouths as well as the mouths of those who intentionally or accidentally offend us.  If He does not, it is probably a lesson for us to learn more about ourselves than those who have offended us.   
 
Only Jesus Christ was genuinely justifified in seeking His rights, or revenge or reverence. He did not!  On the other hand, we want to be right and we want everyone to know it.  We want to be respected, held in esteem, looked upon with regard.  This is entirely contrary to the “contrite spirit” (Psalm 51:17) and “humble attitude” (Philippians 2:5-8) exemplified by Christ and commanded in Scripture.  Sadly, the internet has to easily provided us with a safe, sometimes anonymous opportunity to blatantly disobey Matthew 18 and show off our pride for the entire world to see our immaturity and carnality.  We are compelled to defend our honor, rectify the world’s wrongs and point out our brothers’ errors.  All this from a depraved saint!?   
 
Contrary to us, our Savior was willing to be “despised and rejected” (Isaiah 53:3).  When offended, He “spoke not a word” (Matthew 24:17).  He didn’t respond to injury by trying to hurt his accusers.  He did not defend His rights or state His side of the case.  He never retaliated.  He did not seek His own rights but forgave those who offended Him; even to the cross (Luke 23:34).  Perhaps we should wait until we can claim to be God and are unjustly crucified on a cross before we start slinging mud.  Until then we need to remember that we too, like those who offend us, are made of mud.  Or maybe we should ask the Amish what it means to be a Christian?  Humbly and patiently accepting offenses creates Christ-like character.  Doing otherwise…well, it is so evident that we far too often succumb to worldliness.  In so doing, we become exactly like the very people we are complaining about.  When we become the offenders who will protect those whom we offend?  God Himself.           
 
Let’s face it.  We may be often offended but offend far more often.  The ability to quietly accept offenses without demanding our rights or retaliating runs counter to almost everything American, even American Christianity.  Being easily offended, and responding as we normally do, is not a Christ-like, Spirit-filled, biblically based, eternity-driven mindset.  Every day we make the conscious choice to behave like playground children fighting over the toy of human approval.  How dare someone step on the territory of our rights without asking or apologizing? All the while, the world is literally dying to see Christ in us.  The Amish make us look like nonChristians.  Perhaps we should worry that we aren’t.    
 
This is exactly what Paul meant when he told the Philippians that by witnessing his constant willingness to die for them, he could fill up “the sufferings of Christ.”  His readers did not see Christ suffer for them. However, Paul’s suffering was a visible witness to God’s redemptive actions and a living reminder that love for the church drove Christ to the cross.  We provide the world with every reason not to believe in God when we demand our rights, stand up for ourselves and retaliate in ways that are totally contrary to the cross’ life-changing power.  Who are those Amish people to think they can teach us how to forgive?  We want our rights.  We want revenge.  We want someone to hurt as much as we have been hurt.  All in the name of Christ.   
 
Whatever happened to rejoicing when we are grossly misrepresented, when we are lied about, when someone intentionally tries to hurt us?  Is Matthew 5:11 still in the Bible?  Why do we act like Jesus is still in the tomb and our defense rests in our hands?  Can we not trust the Judge of the living and the dead?  Is our God not strong enough to comfort us and simultaneously deal with our enemies?   Whatever happened to believers accepting offenses because we understand that ”offenses must come” but that God has issued a very stern “woe” to those who offend? 

Our God will arise and His enemies will be scattered. Until then, a patient hope in our immortal and just God will render us quite unoffendable in a very offensive world.  Would that be too Amish? It’s certainly Christ-like.              
 

Every Christian should be involved in evangelistic conversations.  But we must also remember that conversation, debate or discussion is a means to an end.  Words are the bridge to that end.  We say “I love you,” not simply to say the words but to express what would remain hidden in our hearts without the words.  In conversation, we must be careful not to burn the bridge of dialogue by using inflammatory verbage.  Instead, we should choose words and means that effectively build a communications bridge.

The end, or purpose of what we intend to say should always be kept in mind. The purpose is most important; the words are just a means to our end.  As such, our words should be gauged by what we intend to be the end of our conversation. We should not use words that will negate what we intend to mean or say.  Is the end, understanding?  Then don’t say things that alienate people.  Is the end, commitment?  Then use words that will inspire.  Is the end, agreement?  Then use words that make it easy for people to find common ground as a stepping stone.   

You may be right and say the wrong thing.  If so, in the mind of your listener, you may as well be wrong.  There is a natural offense to the gospel message.  It tells people they are wrong, not just in actions but in constitution.  That is hard to hear.  So we must insure that we are not offensive it the way we share.  The same is true about doctrine.  Doctrine is like surgery and it naturally divides.  If you saw someone cutting open another person’s stomach you might be tempted to yell for help.  But if it’s a surgeon, the dividing of flesh is essential to healing.  Doctrine does divide.  It’s supposed to.  By dividing, God unites.  The doctrine of the gospel divides those who are Christians and those who are not Christians.  Thus all Christians are united around the gospel.  The doctrine of the Trinity divides those who are orthodox, historic Christians and those who are liberal in their thinking.  Such truth unites as it divides.  The doctrine of the church divides the polity of one church from another.  This unites people into meaningful means of fulfilling the Great Commission.  The gospel and doctrine are too important to be shared haphazardly.  There should be no offense in the way we speak the truth. 

It is quite possible to win the debate and lose the message.  Let every gospel herald stive to insure that even those offenses may exist, they do not exist because of the messenger.     

The very fact that Jesus is called God’s logos (”word”/John 1:1f) shoud strike fear into our mouths.  The Son incarnatte is God’s Word to humanity.  We too are called to speak God’s Word into a world that abuses language with every exhale of God-given breath.  Oh, be careful little Christian mouth what you say.  The Psalmist pleaded with God, “ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).  This is a verse every Christian should memorize and meditate on before speaking or writing.  God is our Rock.  The certainty of what we believe is founded on His eternal being and not the craftiness of our speech or the multitude of our words.  God is our Redeemer.  Yes, even our speech has been redeemed.  Thus Christians should be satisifed to “let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay” (James 5:12).  When we speak much beyond “yea” and “nay“ we run the risk of falling “under judgment” (James 5:12). 

James Bradley’s “Flag of our Fathers” (old book, new movie) reinforces the truth that people die for ideals.  Ideals like the American flag are encapsulated in words like “liberty” and “freedom.”  Throughout history people have actually died for the ideals represented by words that moved them to sacrifice their own lives.  Ideals may create passion but it is the words that help us understand the ideal.  It is the words that actually move us to action.  Thus words are directly responsible for life and death.    

The gospel is the “word of life” (Philippians 2:16).  As such, our words should be life-giving.  God created everything that exists by words.  Our words can also create or destroy worlds, give or take life.  But to be Christ-like is to speak the words of God.  In part, this is why Jesus could claim that “I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8:29).  It is why the Father said that He was “well pleased” with His Son (Matthew 3:17).  Christ-likeness requires that God be pleased with “the words of our mouth.“  There will one day be an accounting of every word either privately or publicly spoken.  God-pleasing behavior demands that our conversation rightly represent God who commands that our “speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).  So “if” we speak (we don’t always have to), “when“ we speak (timing can be everything) and the “way” (”a soft answer turns away wrath” - Proverbs 15:1) we speak is as important as what we say.  Remember too, that a sin of omission is often committed by remaining silent in the face of intentional, blatant error or injustice.  Such ocassions require humility and sincerity both of which are evidenced by the words we use to respond to such issues.       

These are certainly important thoughts to think about as we stand around the office water cooler or instruct our children or openly debate a subject in class.  Far too often the gospel is not heard simply because it is hidden by our conceit or unkindness.  When we choose to speak, how we do so is as important as what we say.  So “be careful little mouth what you speak.”  By all means, speak…but do so to please the Audience of One.