The Culture War

I honestly do not understand it. It baffles me that there so much intolerance of others and their ideas. Day in and day out I read blog posts, news articles, and op-ed pieces that constantly criticize. Its on both sides, but recently the heat has gotten exceptionally bad from those that wish to bash conservative Christians. (By conservative Christian, I mean those who support socially conservative policies - like traditional marriage, sanctity of life, and compassion for the poor.)

When the 1920s came roaring in with modernization in technology and social interaction, there were cultural shock waves. American values were in conflict in a major way for the first time in American history. Polarity became an American cultural and political phenomenon. As The Culture War grew its parties became very clear, and they remain clear to this day. Traditionalists face off against progressives. Conservatives against liberals. Everything now is in rigid dichotomy. Every major political and cultural issue - from abortion and homosexuality to gun control and drug use - have two clearly definable conflicting parties. It has truly become a total culture war, whether we like it or not. 

But for some reason, it is no longer okay to stand up for that with which we believe. I honestly do not understand the fact that conservative Christians are no longer allowed to stand up and speak up for their values. Intolerant, bigoted, homophobe, sexist, jingoist. Thats what we are called. Christians are being criticized in the public square, but are not allowed to fight back. We are urged to keep our mouths shut because, apparently, my generation is tired of all the fighting. 

Rachel Held Evans, a blogger and author, posted a blog back in May that was entitled "How to Win a Culture War, but lose a Generation" - it was centered around the North Carolina Amendment 1 that permanently banned same-sex marriage. One quote embodies the entire message of Evan's idea: "My generation is tired of the culture wars. We are tired of fighting, tired of vain efforts to advance the Kingdom through politics and power, tired of drawing lines in the sand, tired of being known for what we are against, not what we are for." She ends her post with the idea that we are ready to be washing feet instead of waging war, to lay down our proverbial arms in this culture war. 

Evans is arguing a sentiment that has become a hallmark of my generation: we should be loving of others - accepting others while looking the other way or not saying anything if their behavior is wrong or immoral. It starts off so well - embrace the grace and love that Jesus taught by showing unconditional grace and love to others. But I think we are missing a very important piece here: standing up for something naturally means that you are against another. From a purely Christian perspective, standing for God means that we stand against that which is not of Him. We cannot shy away from that fact, even if it is an uncomfortable one. 

Let's pause for a moment and consider the story of the woman at the well. 

Traveling from Jerusalem to Galilee, Jesus and His disciples were passing through Samaria. While the disciples went into town, Jesus was left alone at the well. Thirsty, He asked an approaching woman for a drink of water. This in and of itself is shocking, seeing as Jesus was breaking all social customs - talking to a Samaritan (looked down upon because they were a "crossbreed" and removed from the covenant shared between God and Israel) woman (seen as a lesser class than men) and asking for a drink from her jar (which would have made Him ceremonially unclean - unable to participate in temple activities). As the conversation unfolds Jesus offers her "living water" - an eternal source of satisfaction - through the acceptance of Him. Pushing the conversation further, He asks her to go and invite her husband out to talk. She responds saying, "I have no husband." In fact, she had had five husbands and was currently living with a man to whom she was not married. Of course, Jesus knew all of this. Through all of the symbolism in the conversation, the woman comes to know that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah. When the disciples return, the woman slips out, taking her leave. (Story found in John 4)

I think there are a few things that are important to take away from this story. 

(1) Jesus is not afraid to cross cultural barriers for the sake of His message. He was breaking every cultural custom known to Israel in talking to this woman. This is like an American sitting and having coffee with the head of the Muslim Brotherhood - there was that much animosity. The message here is clear: the call to following God is one that shatters all of our comfort zones. If Jesus had not had the courage to start up a conversation with this woman, she would not have found salvation. In fact, later in the John 4, it says that the entire Samaritan people group's salvation stemmed from this occurrence. Who are we ignoring because we aren't willing to cross some cultural barriers?

There are people in remote jungles and desert villages that have never had the chance to hear the Gospel. According to the Joshua Project, there are 2.97 billion unreached people on our planet. Thats 41.4% of the world's population  I would argue that this is because we don't have the courage to step out of our cushy comfortable western bubble. 

But the message is not just for the unreached people across an ocean. So many Christians are loath to associate with anyone that disagrees with them. In terms of our own culture we are neglecting the homosexual, the abortion doctor, the prostitute, the drug addict, and the drunk. I would argue this is because we don't have the courage to step out of our cushy comfortable Christian circle. 

The message Jesus gives in talking to the woman at the well is that cultural barriers do not matter when we are called to spread love and grace to other people. The Christian should be blind to cultural and relational barriers. 

(2) Most would like the story to end with the offer of salvific "living water". In fact, most conversations, sermons, and lessons do end there - bringing the outsider in. Do not get me wrong. That is a hugely important message that Christians need to understand, but the story does not end there. Notice the juxtaposition of Jesus offering loving salvation through acceptance of Him and His denunciation of her behavior. While Jesus does not say that her actions were reprehensible, he exposes something she wished to keep hidden. In effect, he brings to light the darkness of her behavior. 

Darkness is the absence of light. Once a light shines in a dark room, everything is illuminated, seen for what it really is. Jesus - acting in His identity as the "light of the world" (John 8:12) - points out the darkness of her behavior. By accepting a life in pursuit of God, He shines his impartial light upon us and our actions: "Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Uncomfortably, this light lays bare every action and every intention. In His grace and love, God accepts us as we are, no matter what is illuminated by His equitable light. 

God is love, but He also is truth. They work in union. Accepting His love means that we also accept His truth. This is where we find ourselves in tension - God's ways are not man's ways. It hurts to be told we are wrong, but it happens every time we contradict the things of God. It gets messy, uncomfortable, feelings get hurt, toes get stepped on. But that is the price of following in the footsteps of Christ. 

Now, where things get tricky is when Christ followers take up the mantle of pointing out others wrong action. We have all heard that we need to address the speck in our own eye before we can deal with the plank in another's (Matthew 7:3-5). We have all read the story of the Jesus saying "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone" when addressing a group of Pharisees about to stone the adulteress. These are important ideas to hang on to. We cannot become judgmental or hateful in addressing others and their actions. But the final words of Jesus are important here: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Jesus' teaching was one of love and reckless abandon to the things of God. Our mission - as given in the verses above - is to unconditionally love God and love others, and to wholeheartedly embrace the things of God. That means buying into the right action that He has called us to. Paul is known as to have said "Shall we keep on sinning so that grace may abound? May it never be!" (Romans 6:1-2). We are called to uphold a standard, the standard of God. 

Unfortunately, this standard is what is attacked in our culture war. This standard is said to be bigoted and intolerant. I cannot deny that! This is an extremely high standard to which Christians are called. There are things that are allowed, and there are things that are disallowed. We cannot pick and choose what is comfortable or what we like. In the face of so much cultural criticism, we cannot apologize for standing up for the things of God. This is going to ruffle feathers and make people upset, but we can never abandon the things of God in an attempt to be culturally relevant or understanding. 

Have you noticed that the heroes of fiction, film, and faith have not gained acclaim for hiding in the shadows waiting for the conflict to end? The same two lessons from the woman at the well are embodied by our heroes. They run into the fight, not away from it. Huck Finn fights fire with fire by not turning Jim, the runaway slave, into the authorities. Batman runs into the fray, not away from it. King David literally sprints to the valley to do battle with Goliath. Mother Teresa lived in the slums of Calcutta, she did not just sit on the sidelines wishing something would get done.  But why do they fight? They fight to defend a higher standard. Huck Finn challenges the issues with slavery. Batman safeguards the people of Gotham from those that would wish to throw it into chaos. Kind David stood up to the unrelenting taunts that mocked the beliefs on which Israel was founded. Mother Teresa followed the biblical mandate to protect and defend the poor and marginalized. 

We need to follow in these examples. The Culture War is crucial. It has been waged for decades in America, but the fight for our values in the face of worldly darkness will not end. Our foundation as Christians is under assault night and day, and only by our vigilant and righteous effort will it stand. We cannot shy away from our identity. We must run to the culture war, not back down because we are tired of the fighting. We do so in all love, humility, and compassion. But I will not apologize for standing on the foundation given to me by my life in pursuit of God. I will not apologize for raising my voice when the bedrock of my identity is threatened.