Good Morning Friends,
How do you change the cultural landscape
around you?
We face that question today because there are
ideas and actions that are common in our culture that are contrary to the basic
beliefs and philosophy of Jesus. For
instance, we live in a culture that increasingly devalues life. Abortion is accepted as a viable option for
ending an unwanted pregnancy. End of
life questions and options are discussed without consideration of their moral
implications. In general, our culture
just doesn’t value life in the way that the Lord does.
We have options for how to change our
culture. We can make a political fight
of it, developing a powerful voting block to protect life. Christians have tried that, largely
unsuccessfully. We can demonstrate,
causing civil unrest until our voice is heard.
Some have tried that, too, and the result has been a powerful negative
backlash against the church.
The early Christians faced the same
problem. One of the major cultural
issues of their day was slavery. There
were millions of slaves in the Roman Empire.
The early church chose a different route to bring change to their
culture. Instead of focusing on the
moral issues of the day and fighting for what was right, they worked to change
the hearts of people, one person at a time.
That is a slower process, to be sure, but it proved effective. Over time, as hearts were changed, the
culture began to change, too.
When you read the book of Philemon you can
see that effort at work. Philemon is
about a runaway slave named Onesimus.
Paul sends the slave back to his owner.
“I am sending him -- who is my
very heart -- back to you.” (Philemon 1:12)
And with the slave, came Paul’s hope that Philemon’s attitude toward him
would be changed. “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was
that you might have him back for good -- no longer as a slave, but better than
a slave, as a dear brother. He is very
dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the
Lord. So if you consider me a partner,
welcome him as you would welcome me.” (Philemon 1:15-17)
When those who owned slaves began to “welcome
their slaves” and treat them as “dear brothers” then hearts began to
change. Eventually, as enough hearts
changed the whole culture changed!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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