Ay bay bay means Culture to me in this post! For those that will stop reading because it has a lyric that will send you to hell if you hear it in the street, get over yourself and please keep reading (just having a little fun).
This post may be worldly to some, but just hear me out... Let's make sense of some things! Because we are in trouble.
This generation is acting out only on what their grandparents and parents believe, to the point that we are not checking the "subject" (whatever it is) for ourselves with the scripture. Although I believe that the things that parents and other men and women tell us, often have great value.
But let me check it out for myself With the Scriptures.
I don't want any of your traditions. I don't want any of your "I think this way" beliefs. I want to be like JESUS!
(Wow! I had to get that off my shoulders, hehe).
Hear me out. Learn something with me. I don't know everything. I learn from the best. One of my favorite writers and theologians, I can say is Mark Driscoll. Check him out. I got some stuff from him.
Anyways, let's do this...
There are 3 main Principles that Christianty revolves in...
- Gospel
- Church
- Culture (Ay Bay Bay!) Haha!
1. The Gospel of Jesus is the good news of Christ.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also ye have received,
and wherein ye stand... Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again
the third day according to the scriptures"
The gospel tells us about the death of Christ, the Burial of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ.
2. The Culture that we live in.
It changes all the time. People act and dress differently. For example:
- 2,000 years ago, Guys wore robes and cultivated the ground. Ugh!
- 500 years ago, we had different cultures. Indians were hunters and wore nothing and English people wore spandex-looking pants under their "skirts" (Huh! Taking you back through History class here).
- 2007, Guys wear shorts with sandals and work at mcDonalds, while girls cut their hair short and wear t-shirts.
Culture! It changes. It evolves. Our lives are shaped by the culture that we live in.
The gospel has to be adapted to the culture. Read that last sentence again. I said ADAPTED. I did not say IMPROVED! The gospel is unchangeable. It cannot be renovated or redone.
So that our witnessing of Christ is effective, we have to strtategize to fit the gospel in the culture.
You may disagree with me. But if you keep playing your cassette preaching tapes and not switch to podcasts on your ipod. Your evangelism will be weak.
Some people are so ridiculous! They drive a 2007 Honda, have DVR in their homes, but cannot adapt to the culture when it comes to reaching the lost. They can't relate to them. They say big words and do not explain the meaning. They pass out boring "tracts" (flyers) that have their doctrine printed in black and white with 7 pt. font. They scream in church without knowing what the heck for (O.K. I'll stop).
3. The Church.
Matthew 16:18 says:
"...that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The Church is the place where God's people and even sinners (aren't we all in need of forgiveness?) come to be equipped and get prepared in God's word to go out and have community with one another. I should say communion with one another...
In Part 2, I will talk about how these 3 Principles are used in Christianity. You need these 3 Principles to be effective in this thing called "Your Walk With God." Sometimes we only get 2 out of 3 and it puts us in categories that will be discussed tomorrow. I can't wait.
What say you?
Really give me your opinion. I would like to know.
If you disagree, tell me, I don't mind.
If you agree, tell me, that shows you have been praying (just kidding).
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