Purity vs. Proximity

I’ve been finishing up an eye opening book lately called ‘UnChristian’, written by David Kinnaman (President of the Barna Group - www.barna.org) and Gabe Lyons (founder of the Fermi Project - www.fermiproject.com).

This book comes out of a new research project, which describes the increasing negative reputation of Christians, especially among young Americans. It unveils the main criticisms held against Christians, and is helping me to understand why these negative images exist.

The back sleeve of the book describes it like this: “Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like ‘hypocritical, ‘insensitive’ and ‘judgmental’, young Americans share an impression of Christians that’s nothing short of… unChristian”.

It’s pretty scary stuff. Scary but true, because I see it happening all over.

I think a big part of it comes out of the difference of values represented by our different generations.

If you look at the ‘Boomer’ generation, they are generally more focused on outward things, such as behavior, action, accomplishments, obedience, numbers. Even more, statistics say that they have a strong value system of right and wrong. Their values are based on black and white truth, and most of anything that doesn’t fit within that system is tossed.

If they’re not careful, it could quickly turn into a judgmental religiosity that lacks a healthy balance of love and grace.

Then you’ve got the Busters (my generation). As a whole, we tend to lean much more on relationships. That’s why I believe countless sub-cultures are popping up everywhere these days - it gives everyone a place to ‘belong’. That’s what seems so important to us - to belong. I remember back in my own days of high school, there were maybe 3 distinguishable cultures in the hallways. Now, there’s dozens, maybe even over a hundred that call out for the loyalty of teenagers.

But, in our quest for relational connection and belonging, the “morality line” our previous generation is holding so tightly to has begun to blur. I think what is driving this comes down to what I hear in my own generation so regularly now - ‘I want to be authentic.’ Keeping it real is a big buzz word and we want to stop pretending to be something we’re not, while being wide open about our faults.

We haven’t been careful in this, though. I’ve seen over the years as a Master’s Commission Director, how despite being exposed to regular messages on ethics and morality, our generation does not seem to be getting the message. It seems to me that more and more young Christians are living out their faith with deepening moral laxity… and it doesn’t bother them that much.

In my own eyes, this looks like a battle between truth and grace. One generation is fighting for absolute truth and spiritual morality. The other is fighting for the power of grace, and spiritual relevancy.

I don’t know if anyone is winning.

Actually, I think it’s only provoking a deeper divide between us. And, the world is watching us with the same skepticism like they’re watching the Democrats beat each other’s heads in right now.

So, on all this, there is a particular chapter in ‘unChristian’ that is hammering away at my own heart, and I wanted to share the reading and my thoughts on it with you.

“Being salt and light demands two things: we practice purity in the midst of a fallen world and yet we live in proximity to this fallen world. If you don’t hold up both truths in tension, you invariably become useless and separated from the world God loves. For example, if you only practice purity apart from proximity to the culture, you inevitably become pietistic, separatist and conceited. If you live in close proximity to the culture without also living in a holy manner, you become indistinguishable from fallen culture and useless in God’s Kingdom“.

Wow. Doesn’t this just nail it?

How many times have we seen someone get pushed out of church, because they couldn’t ‘meet up’ to the standard portrayed by a Christian of how to live for Jesus?

And, how many times have we seen someone back out of church, because all they saw was hypocrisy lived out by someone proclaiming to be a Christ follower, who’s life was a far cry from the integrity Jesus desires?

I wonder if we could embrace His love and law at that same time. I wonder if we could hold on strong to truth and grace together. Because, truth without grace is only legalism, and grace without truth is mere compromise.

I wonder what our churches would look like if we were able to walk in purity and proximity together…

JJ

~ by jeffjohnston on April 20, 2008.