Preparing the Church for the "Shaking" that Lay Ahead

Thought leaders now are suggesting America is at the begging of a structural change in our culture. The new culture that is descending upon us is statism, which desires to replace the authority of God over mankind. It is the next in the progression of recurring events after technology and science in the claim to wield authority over people and nations. Its spokesmen pit the state's prerogatives over against godly values. It is within that setting the gospel of Christ must set forward as the renewal of a disfigured and disordered world--men and women, who through sin have lost the Divine image. Opportunity is being given to the church to contribute to rebuilding of a new structure for our time. The real question is whether the church is prepared to make that contribution.

In the New Testament the "god of this world" is said to have blinded the eyes of unbelievers "so that they might not see" (2 Cor. 4:4). Jesus came to revolt against the tyranny of him who was the power behind the blinding (1 John 3:8; Col 2:13-15; Heb. 2:14). The spiritual forces of wickedness are challenging as in few times in history the Biblical culture that America was build upon. Do we just continue defending our state of affairs in the face what is before us as if nothing has changed? The mission of the church is God's mission; each generation is to find ways to articulate the gospel so that its doctrines of creation and redemption become pivotal for the people living at the time.

I notice a clear difference between how Peter at Pentecost engaged his listeners and those Paul addressed in the city of Athens. Peter spoke to those thoroughly acquainted with the history of God's dealing with their own nation. Paul, whereas, spoke to a mixed audience of Jews, God fearing Gentiles, Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Peter began his discourse with, "Men of of Israel listen to these words" (Acts 2:22); Paul began with, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious" (Acts 17:22). Both connected with their hearers within the culture in which each lived. There was a transition from the approach Peter used to teach his Jewish kinsmen and the time Paul was sent to the Gentiles, who did not know God. Paul went to their culture and kept on showing them the light that proved to bring them to belief. In Rome, at least, the Gentiles became the majority within the congregation. Can this biblical principle become the wisdom for regaining the culture being open to the gospel of Christ? That did not mean they preached a different gospel. It means they proclaimed God has entered history in Christ, giving it meaning and purpose.

Jesus recognized His identity is in the revealing the true story of God's self-giving love; where the world lies in deep distress He brings the possibility of healing. He did not leave anyone He touched unchanged (Luke 24:13-35). It is the healing and the unity of Christ the apostles taught that we have not learned that the church now must search out to respond to the critical times ahead.