Today’s culture is often unkind to Christians, viewing us as soft targets known for turning the other cheek. How do we live in a world so opposed to Jesus’ teachings, Christian beliefs, and the values He commands without being overcome by the culture around us? Let’s look at a first century church to find out.

Corinth was an ancient city renowned for its sinfulness, yet God called Paul to start a church there, of all places. A church on the Vegas strip seems, to me, a place where attaining spiritual maturity would be particularly challenging. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, from Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrase, Paul bluntly addresses the congregation’s need for spiritual growth:

“But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I’ll nurse you since you don’t seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way? When one of you says, “I’m on Paul’s side,” and another says, “I’m for Apollos,” aren’t you being totally childish?”

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 The Message

Being united in Christ means focusing on Christ, not unrelated details. Instead of quarreling over teachers, they should have been aligning themselves with Jesus’ teachings. As we all should.  A much better pursuit, wouldn’t you agree? The key to living in a secular world without being conformed to it is to hold fast to the faithful Word of God and live out loud what we say we believe. Put our living where our heart is.

The Bible is our anchor in the sea of a corrupt culture. The world wants Christians to go along with whatever they choose instead of following the Lord, to ignore His Word, and fail to apply it to our lives. What happens if we follow the world? Culture steals our focus. Other things influence us instead. The world wins our affections. Culture topics dominate our thoughts and conversations instead of Jesus. We start to look and sound like the culture, spending money on worldly things, not the Lord’s work. We change our schedules to make time for worldly pursuits and less, or none, for God. We fill our minds with the sensual and immoral thoughts celebrated by culture instead of what is good and true. In short, we walk ourselves into idolatry.

I understand, and maybe you do too, that our culture is dominated by materialism, immorality, sensuality, and various perversions. That’s why I’m not shocked every time something new confirms reality. It’s a waste of time and energy to point out that people live in defiance of God’s Law, thinking there are no consequences—they already know that. They know our influential culture damages lives, families, and even churches with corrupt philosophies, ideas, and values. That message is not needed. What is? The Word of God was given so that we could be saved, even in Sin City! That reading the Bible helps us understand His plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus, how to receive forgiveness of sins, and how to be reconciled and transformed by our Creator, God. Isn’t that amazing? It’s also the message needed desperately, now.

Someone asked me if I was offended by the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I’m more concerned about how offended Jesus is when I miss an opportunity to talk about him. Does he mind the attention “The Last Supper” is getting, regardless of the reasons why? He certainly walked through every open door, no matter who opened it. And God works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. If I get the chance to talk about Jesus, I don’t care who opened the door or why—I’m walking through it! Because when we read the Word with care, meditate on it daily, study it seriously, believe it wholeheartedly, obey it consistently, and apply it personally, then and only then can we share it confidently. Culture needs us to share the Good News of Christ. Confidently, whenever possible. Praise God, and AMEN.

With hands to the plow,

Pastor Theresa