Irrepressible Culture Wars, Past and Present

A new generation of evangelical elites is imploring evangelicals to step back from the culture wars. Mostly they want to escape polarizing strong stances on same-sex marriage and abortion, and perhaps also contentious church-state issues, like the Obamacare contraceptive mandate.

Purportedly the evangelical church is failing to reach young, upwardly mobile professionals because evangelicals, who now broadly comprise perhaps one third of all Americans, are seen as reactionary and hateful. On their college campuses, at their coffee shops, and in their yoga classes, among other venues, some outspoken hip young evangelicals want a new public image for their faith.

One such prominent voice is Jonathan Merritt, a progressive Southern Baptist and son of a former Southern Baptist Convention president. His new book, A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars, has earned him many recent bookings on cable talk shows.

A popular young evangelical blogger echoing Merritt's theme is Rachel Evans, who conveniently grew up in the Tennessee small town famous for the Scopes Monkey Trial. Her 2010 book was Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions. "We are tired of the culture wars," she explained in a recent interview. "We are tired of politics." Lamenting the church's preoccupation with "shame and guilt," she urged evangelicals to reconsider their opposition to same-sex unions.

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wesley

a very good article. if all you read is the blur here you would be left with the wrong impression. the culture war can be best describe by Ronald Reagan when in 1964 he said politics are not about left or right but down into tyranny or up to freedom. Jesus himself was involved in a culture war of his day. his culture war was a spiritual war where were going to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or the Roman Emperor. today it is are you going worship the Triune God of the Bible or the State. my guess Rachel and Jonathan mentioned in this article would rather worship the state for peace and security than the Triune God of the Bible. those who would rather have peace and security than to stand for what is right are worthy of neither.
- daves
  
  These kids are great. We should be focused on Jesus' message of love and kindness instead of condemning people for who they are or what they do.
  - wesley
    
    i take it you only read the exert here instead of the entire article for the author finds it disheartening that they thing the culture war is something new. the Church of Jesus Christ is called to influence the culture not to let the culture to influence it. Christianity is a counter-culture movement for it looks to God instead of man for acceptance.
    - daves
      
      But the earth is not the center of the universe anymore.
      
      I still agree with the kids – Jesus was all about forgiving sins and being kind.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        You only get forgiveness if you repent and turn life around and live according to HIS commandments, all of HIS rules. We do not get to pick and choose which we will obey or not obey, or to repent "if you fell like it." JESUS CHRIST does preach against hate of all of HIS children for each other. BUT HE HATES SIN, THE BREAKING OF HIS COMMANDMENTS, There is no way around it. You repent and change your life from all of these anti-GOD practices or you don't get saved. I am not saying that you have to be perfect but you have to continue to strive to live for HIM and in HIM.
        
        AGAIN, WE ARE NOT TO HATE EACH OTHER, WE ARE TOLD TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND HATE THE SIN IN OUR OWN LIVES AND THE SIN IN OTHER LIVES.
        
        All of this love by unbelievers without repentance is hog wash, if you think you can make it without repentance and the acceptance of JESUS CHRIST AND HIS COMMANDMENTS, THEY GO TOGETHER,HAND IN HAND..
      - daves
        
        That is fine if you believe that but don't try to force anyone else to believe it.
      - daves
        
        And remember, it is between God and the sinners, it is not our job to judge others.
      - Ashley Cooke
        
        I could have have ever said ti better. One's sins and faith is between man and his Creator. No more and no less.
      - Eric
        
        How exactly does someone go about "forcing" others to believe something? Why is it that when Christians defend or try to persuade others of the validity of their beliefs it is called "forcing," yet when those opposed to orthodox Christianity defend or try to persuade others it is called "tolerance"? When did voicing your opinion become synonymous with using "force"?
        
        Oh, I know you'll say something to the effect of "because Christians want to make laws and use the courts to push their beliefs," as if those on the other side DO NOT do this. It has become a "culture war" because both sides are absolutely convinced that they are correct. If you're going to accuse those on one side of "forcing" their beliefs, than at least be consistent and accuse BOTH sides of doing it.
  - Jerry
    
    I totally disagree. While it mat be important to teach of God's love, it is just as important to teach of God's wrath! In an attempt to bring in the younger crowd we have watered down God's word to the point they do not understand there are consequences for their actions. Take for example if you will a soft drink. If you water it down it no longer quenches one's thirst. This same principle applies to the Bible. It also does not quench the thirst for the truth. These teachings of tolerance and of turning the other cheek are fine if one understands the principle behind it, but Christ himself did not turn the other cheek when it came to evil. Case in point the money-changers in the Temple. We must teach Old Testament principles and values first for the Bible to be understood. After all, this is where it all began.
    - daves
      
      Where is the wrath in Jesus' message?
      - wesley
        
        read Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 for he is warning his audience of the coming judgment within the forty years. the Great Tribulation, destruction of the Temple, humans taken away as plunder. then add Matthew 25 when he talks about the final judgment at the end of time. these are just a few examples.
      - daves
        
        None of that sounds like retribution for sins. Merely a general chaos at the end of the world.
        
        Matthew 25 most likely means not to lose or relax your faith.
      - wesley
        
        Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 described events that place between 68-70AD. it says THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS AWAY BEFORE THESE EVENTS TAKE PAST!!! read what Jesus called the Pharasees living corpses, whitewash tombs.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        Daves, you wil get to meet HIM face to face when he separates his people from the ones who did not choose to live according to his commandments.
        
        Matt. 25:32-46, is a good explanation, of how he will divide HIS people from those who chooses to live against HIS rules.
        
        Another excellent source of scripture is:
        Rev. 22:11 He that is unjust,let him be unjust still: an he which is filthy, let him be filthy still" and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still, and he that is holy let him be holy still. .
        We need to bare in mind, by this i time it will be too late for deciding who we will live for, who we choose to obey.
  - lambsev11
    
    John 3:16-18
    
    16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    
    17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
    
    18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

It's called Matthew 5:13 Christianity: Salt that's lost its savor, good for nothing but to be trampled under the foot of man.
aceituna

Everyone needs to study the book of 1st Corinthians where Paul is fighting the culture war. There we learn that as Christians we need to stand up and be counted as a forgiven people who try to live up to the precepts God commands. yes, Christianity is all about the love God has for us even though we are fallen sinners, and how Jesus died to pay the penalty we deserve because of our sin, but a Christian response is to live according to God's precepts and to warn others of the path to destruction which is why we point out the sins within our culture.
Esteban Cafe

Christians who 'go along to get along' will come to a point where they must choose between Christ and the world. The Gospel has ever been so. But we can walk the walk with pure hearts and with charity towards all men/women. We do not have to condemn anyone, but …

Some people identify so strongly with their sin that there is no separation: they are the sin, the sin is them. We see this in discussion of the gay life-style. To condemn the sin of homosexuality is to also condemn the practitioner: in their world, perception is reality; approval of one is approval of the other. "Don't judge me !!” is a frequent refrain. This myopia is also the result of the sin—sin darkens ones views; in the dark it’s difficult to separate self from sin and see yourself as a Child of God while in a SF bathhouse. But we Christians must continue showing Christian charity and love to the person; but opposing the sin at all points. This is what Christ did.
lambsev11

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. And we want to be hip? pffft.

Beware when all men speak well of you…

The comparison between gay sex and slavery is just laughable, but it is a lie told so often it is being believed. Truth be told, gay sex IS slavery.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the slave of sin.
John J Flanagan

How the enemies of the Cross reveal themselves when the times get tough. How the cowards who profess to be Christians in our day reveal they have no stomach for defending the faith and the values which the martyrs were willing to die for. Reading about these things should make us even more bold, more courageous, that we will be fully involved in the culture wars and that we will be unrelenting. Why let evil prevail? Do we want to be dishonest and popular, or salt and light? Choose!