THE LAST RIVER MILE

Apparently we’re involved in culture wars. I guess I’m not as up to speed on this as I should be. Evidently the concept of “culture war” dates back to the 1990’s, and has something to do with the tension between the moral values of progressive thinking verses traditional thinking, however those are defined. As a current example, I heard somewhere that aggressive efforts at deportations and limitations on immigration are seen by some as an effort to protect “American culture.” (That seems to mean protecting white, conservative, upper-income culture, but I’d probably get push-back on that.) Anyway, I have to admit my ignorance in not keeping in step with all this.

While the movement of following Jesus isn’t at “war” with anybody, being a Jesus follower is counter-cultural by definition. The good news of Jesus the crucified and risen has challenged the values of human cultures from its inception. That’s what got Jesus nailed to a cross and what has made martyrs of many who have followed Jesus for the last two millennia. If I choose to proclaim that Jesus is Lord and not Caesar (or whoever currently represents the power of empire), I’m already swimming against cultural flows.

In cultures in which power and control are highest values, Jesus-followers live knowing that love is the only real power and hope. (Romans 12:21.)

In cultures in which a hierarchy of human beings is presumed as a given, Jesus-followers dare to live believing that everyone is equal in the eyes of Christ. (Galatians 3:28.)

In cultures in which human worth and value are acquired, bestowed, or inherited, followers of Jesus insist that basic worth is a gift given to all, in spite of our very worst. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 138:14.)

In cultures that must have an enemy, that have to see everything as “us/them” (thus justifying unspeakable cruelty under the guise of protecting “us”), followers of Jesus have to obey the challenging command to love enemies and even to see them as brothers and sisters. (Luke 6:27-28.)

In cultures which see humility and empathy as weaknesses, followers of Jesus see them as strengths. (I Peter 5:5.)

In cultures promoting the idea that God has favorites, with variations of the motto – “Our group first!”, Jesus-followers esteem others as better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3.)

So, though we’re not at war (because those outside of us and unlike us are the reason for which we exist), the Body of Christ is most definitely counter-cultural. No culture at any point in history captures, contains, and controls the God made known in Jesus the Christ.

I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.