Thursday, March 13, 2008

Church or the Real World

To be sure, Christians watch television. Some are driven by a need to be entertained but most are simply looking for anonymous and effortless connections to the outside world. We are curious by nature and we want to know “what’s happening?” But, while television provides us with news (and gossip) that stimulates, it never really satisfies our need to know “the rest of the story.”

Where contemporary events are involved, I believe Christians are as informed as non-Christians. But who informs us? Do we get our news from someone with a biblical worldview or someone with a decidedly “worldly” outlook on life?

It is the perception of far too many Christians that there are two essential spheres in life. Sunday Church is a small sphere and the real world is a large sphere, and never the twain shall meet. We have been deluded to think that God concedes certain areas of our culture—that He doesn’t claim it all. That's a lie! Scripture says "The earth's is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."

Each night, ideas, ideologies, and philosophies that come against the knowledge of God are piped into our living rooms. If they are not addressed in church, it is easy to understand why many Christians are taken captive.

Martin Luther said that "Where the battle rages [culture wars] there the loyalty of the soldier is proved..." That means that although the earth is the Lord's, Christians sometimes have to go down to the Valley of Elah to post an eviction notice.

Friend, until Jesus returns, that is the real world!

Rick Forcierinfo@christiancoalition.us