Relevant or Counter-Cultural

Yesterday, as I talked with a friend the questions came up, "should the church be relevant or counter-cultural?"  Wow!  What a big question!

Of course, much has been written on both sides of the issue for many years. Each side has its proponents and detractors.  The divide between them can at times seem as the American church's own demilitarized zone in which each side lives in idealogical safety, periodically lobbing bombs across to the obviously deluded.

The question itself is the problem, since it allows for only one answer.  The Biblical mandate is for the church to be both relevant and counter-cultural.  Jesus exemplified this dynamic in his life and teaching.  He preached the gospel of the kingdom in such a way that people could "relate" to it.  He used analogies and parables from their everyday life and experiences, making deep spiritual truths "relevant".

At the same time he called for an ethic beyond their current culture.  He called his followers to love their enemies, choose service over position, and embrace a standard of righteousness greater than that of the Pharisees.  He walked a path marked by such extreme counter-culture, that at the end of his life, he had almost no one who remained by his side.  

How do we, as the people of God, live out this same dynamic today?  The answer is in the gospel itself, which calls us to take up our cross daily and follow our Lord.  You see, without a crucified life, one quickly moves from counter-culture to self-righteousness.  Without the cross, being relevant can become being comprising.  Both of these pitfalls are covered over with the lure of self-interest, self-protection, and self-pride.  The cross, praise Jesus, is a trully effective method to kill self.  

The answer to the question of what parts of a culture the church should relate to and what part it should counter is, no pun intended, relative.  It all depends on the cultural element in question.  But before we run to our side of the zone and pick up our weapons, let us instead run to the Lord and pick up His cross.  From here we see Him, the gospel, people, and ourselves much more clearly, avoid pitfalls and, by His grace, walk in His ways.