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TechnoratiI am not suggesting compromise of any kind. I am merely suggesting that the current cultural conditions may be closer to those of the early Church than our grandparents. Our brothers and sisters in the first and second centuries did not labor under a “christianized” culture—quite the contrary—and yet their testimony transformed the world.
They did not mobilize politically, they couldn’t. They had no voice in government. They did not control the educational institutions of their day. Information was strictly controlled by the Roman authorities and any opposing perspectives were quickly and decisively crushed. The moral and ethical consensus was in stark contrast to Christian virtues. Culturally speaking, the Roman world was brutal and completely lacking in compassion. There was nothing socially conducive to the Church and her mission in the world. Sound familiar?
Nonetheless, our first and second century brothers and sisters “lived such good lives” that the unbelieving world could not help but take notice. In the book of Acts we are given some insight into the life and impact of the early Church. What we see is a picture of a “new” people that stood out from the rest of the world and what distinguished them first was their love for one another. They reflected something unprecedented in the Roman world: real and authentic community where people were caring for others and they were of “one heart and soul.” From there this love spread to those outside the faith as the Lord “added to their number day by day.” By contrast, we often appear indifferent, judgmental, radically individualized and intractably divided.
I believe we must continue to speak truth to the culture, especially while we still can. Justin Martyr, the first Christian apologist, labored to commend the Christian faith to the second century Roman authorities, which ultimately cost him his life. However, I also think the present conditions necessitate new ways of thinking if we hope to preserve the opportunity to share the story of Jesus.
In other words, I don’t want to be identified by what I am against but rather what I am for: the kingdom of Christ. I want my apologetic efforts to point people to Christ and not merely the preservation of Christian morality. Preserving Christian morality and ethics will not necessarily lead to Christian conversions but conversion to Christianity will most assuredly lead to true
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S. Michael Craven is the President of the Center for Christ & Culture, a ministry of discipleship and Church renewal that works to equip Christians with an intelligent, thoroughly Christian and missional approach to culture. For more information on the Center for Christ & Culture, additional resources, and other works by S. Michael Craven visit: www.battlefortruth.org
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