A Light in the World


"This church is here because Jesus wanted it here; the Lord wanted a church like this in a city like this called out under His voice to worship His name and bless the world He loves." — Tim McConnell

Yesterday we started a new series, Together, that focuses on God's call on us as the church, our unique gifts, and how we make up the Kingdom of God. Tim's thrust was that we need to be a light in our culture; that's part of the call in our lives and as a church.

It was an inspiring morning that focused on the idea that the church exists for a reason, and has a special charge in fulfilling the will of God in the world. This got me thinking about how Christians sometimes approach culture and the world — which is to stay away from it.

One of my favorite movies is "No Country For Old Men." A major part of the plot is the struggle of Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), who can't reconcile his idea of God and goodness with the struggle and evil he sees in the world. His opening monologue talks about the choice you have to make to be a part of the world.

He says, "The crime you see now, it's hard to even take its measure. It's not that I'm afraid of it. I always knew you had to be willing to die to even do this job. But, I don't want to push my chips forward and go out and meet something I don't understand. A man would have to put his soul at hazard. He'd have to say, 'O.K., I'll be part of this world.'"

He struggles with this idea of being part of the world and trying to influence the world throughout the film. His ultimate answer is to withdraw completely. Though it's an extreme example because of the crime and violence in the world, I think many Christians have felt similarly drawn to depart culture. In fact, we've created our own sub culture — Christian music, books, TV shows, and films. It's all an attempt to be separate.

In the passage we looked at in 1 Corinthians yesterday, we are called to be separate or "set apart," but not to be apart. That's a fine distinction, but an important one. The charge for us is not how to be outside of the culture, but how to be an influence — a voice for Christ — pushing for change from within.

And that's a challenge that's worth pondering.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve
Read more