By the way, you are not obligated to take every cultural imposition lying down. Neither are you obligated to go with the flow of prevailing trends. In fact, the most courageous thing you can do is go against the grain.
You see, everyone, knowingly or unknowingly is advancing an agenda. The secularists want God out. The Christians want Jesus in. The LGBTQ+ want a seat at society’s sexuality table. Then there are those who want none of all that -just vibes and Inshallah. That, is also an agenda.
The only problem is that a lot of people think that Christians are not entitled to an agenda, let alone the advancement of one. They think that the only position Christians should take is the defensive one. They could not be more wrong.
I like to say that the business of faith is as political as it is spiritual -and there is absolutely nothing wrong with expressing the reality of faith in those terms. The Biblical language of faith is political, legal, and governmental. Think “kingdom,” “authorities,” “powers,” “principalities,” “the law,” “weapons” “warfare”
Yes, it is absolutely political, and the driving agenda is unequivocally clear:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.
It is a global agenda -one that is open to question, criticism, and even position. In fact, the motives of Christianity are often under skeptic scrutiny, despite this clearly stated agenda. All that is actually okay.
What is not okay is the presumed entitlement by many people groups to exclusive rights to advance their own agendas, but with the simultaneous expectation that Christians will not participate in this right for their own interests.
As a Christian, you have as much right to advance the ideals of Christianity as every other people group has, to advance its own interests. You ought to politely but firmly reject that presumed entitlement to exclusivity to influence – it is illegitimate.
More importantly, you do not have to accept every idea, social concept or cultural trend that comes your way just because it is the in thing -no. You possess sufficient intelligence to make not just good decisions, but those that honour the priceless value of your spirit, body and soul.
You owe it to yourself to live with not just an authentic autonomy, but one that aligns with soul-preversing truth. You will be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying worldview. While many worldviews promise freedom, it is often at the price of your very soul. Real freedom and contentment are not found in pleasure or possession but in a person: Jesus Christ.
Yes, this is the agenda that I am advancing. What about you?
You see, everyone, knowingly or unknowingly is advancing an agenda. The secularists want God out. The Christians want Jesus in. The LGBTQ+ want a seat at society’s sexuality table. Then there are those who want none of all that -just vibes and Inshallah. That, is also an agenda.
The only problem is that a lot of people think that Christians are not entitled to an agenda, let alone the advancement of one. They think that the only position Christians should take is the defensive one. They could not be more wrong.
I like to say that the business of faith is as political as it is spiritual -and there is absolutely nothing wrong with expressing the reality of faith in those terms. The Biblical language of faith is political, legal, and governmental. Think “kingdom,” “authorities,” “powers,” “principalities,” “the law,” “weapons” “warfare”
Yes, it is absolutely political, and the driving agenda is unequivocally clear:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20.
It is a global agenda -one that is open to question, criticism, and even position. In fact, the motives of Christianity are often under skeptic scrutiny, despite this clearly stated agenda. All that is actually okay.
What is not okay is the presumed entitlement by many people groups to exclusive rights to advance their own agendas, but with the simultaneous expectation that Christians will not participate in this right for their own interests.
As a Christian, you have as much right to advance the ideals of Christianity as every other people group has, to advance its own interests. You ought to politely but firmly reject that presumed entitlement to exclusivity to influence – it is illegitimate.
More importantly, you do not have to accept every idea, social concept or cultural trend that comes your way just because it is the in thing -no. You possess sufficient intelligence to make not just good decisions, but those that honour the priceless value of your spirit, body and soul.
You owe it to yourself to live with not just an authentic autonomy, but one that aligns with soul-preversing truth. You will be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying worldview. While many worldviews promise freedom, it is often at the price of your very soul. Real freedom and contentment are not found in pleasure or possession but in a person: Jesus Christ.
Yes, this is the agenda that I am advancing. What about you?
