Is Cultural Christianity ENOUGH . . . for the CHURCH ?

Is Cultural Christianity Enough . . . for the CHURCH ?

This issue is VITAL to understand

because it tears apart a congregation.

Lenten Meditations

. . .  Setting our Face Toward Jerusalem . . .

Preparing our Hearts in Remembrance of the Paschal Passion of The LAMB+ of GOD,

The LORD JESUS CHRIST

2018

" And now, O LORD, we present unto THEE+ our selves, our souls, and our bodies to be a holy and Living Sacrifice unto THEE+ . . . which is our reasonable service."

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Is Cultural Christianity Enough . . . for the CHURCH ?

NO. 

No. . .  because cultural Christianity is not based on a Living, Loving, Faith-obedient relationship with CHRIST JESUS as LORD, as is found in the Living Church.

  

Cultural Christianity is not Living.

A personal walk with The LORD JESUS CHRIST is the mark of the members of the Living CHURCH who follow the LORD JESUS.

Within cultural Christianity or even within a Christian community , society in general follows customs or traditions of men.  Yes, these tradtions may indeed be based on the Word of GOD, but:

 following traditions is not

what brings Salvation.

Following cultural Christian traditions will bring order, but it will not bring LIFE.  True LIFE only comes through Salvation via The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The Living Church members will peaceably go along with cultural Christianity in the church . . . UNTIL . . . following The LORD JESUS demands a separation from the group's "Christian" culture.

Then the Living Church members will follow JESUS and part ways with cultural Christianity.

Living Church members have only ONE IDENTITY: to be a Follower of CHRIST JESUS, in season and out; in the church and out; on earth as well as in Heaven.

In contrast, Cultural Christians do not mind parting with The LORD JESUS in order to keep their "Christian culture."  They protect THAT with all of their heart because it is part of their identity. They do not realize they are hurting The LORD.

This phenomenon can be found across the entire spectrum of practicing Christians: From the  Roman Catholics - Orthodox - Anglicans  to the various Baptists -- Fundamentalists to the Horse 'N' Buggy Mennonites and Amish, and in all the ones in between these groups.  

This issue is VITAL to understand

because it tears apart a congregation.

In the Church, cultural Christians are easily identified. They faithfully follow all the rules, standards, and traditions of the church . . . but do not have that personal walk with the LORD. 

It is missing in their lives. The life of the SPIRIT is missing. If they had it, their First Love of CHRIST is long gone, having been starved to death by the constant feeding of their cultural Christianity. 

Diligently, cultural Christians may indeed listen to sermons, but they do not listen to The Voice of the LORD. The Word of GOD is for them a rule book or a history book, but never the In-Breathed, Living WORD of GOD which is able to save their souls.  

They have been baptized, but they are not changed. They still live for themselves . . within the church traditions, of course . . .  with which they are comfortable. 

There is no witness of the SPIRIT in their lives , their talk, or their hearts' desires; they are not spiritually-minded in their personal lives or concerns, for themselves or for others. 

Engaging in a direct battle for a soul gone astray is never embraced by cultural Christians. This avoidance is part of their identity to "live and let live. "  

If they see a friend diving into heretical doctrines, they will not struggle with him or her. Keeping the friendship "friendly" is of utmost importance; guarding the soul or feeding the flock is NOT.  

Nor is there any thought

 to defend the Truth of the Gospel, nor of CHRIST. 

Also known for their faithful attendance at church, cultural Christians will faithfully attend every church function because that is their identity. They are uncomfortable being absent. If ill for very long or in a nursing facility, they would have identity problems until they could return to church.   

They feel their salvation would be in question and, if they did not attend, that they would "lose CHRIST."

How can one "lose CHRIST " ?  

One may fall away from CHRIST JESUS by becoming lukewarm; then HE+ will spue the lukewarm out of His+ Mouth, according to Scripture. 

But, someone eager for CHRIST , totally in love with HIM+ , can never "lose" HIM+ ; otherwise, those persecuted for CHRIST would be in jeopardy of losing their Salvation since they could not "attend church."  

Cultural Christians are identifiable because they never stand for the Gospel , outside of the church milieu. They are pleasant to all.

Even inside the church, they are noticeable because they make no waves for Truth's sake, liking everything and everybody to remain comfortably pleasant. 

They will crucify Truth 

in order to keep things pleasant and peaceable.

Cultural Christians are diametrically opposed to the Living Church members, and especially their spirit, when an issue arises about the Truth of the Gospel.

They cannot understand the thinking of the Living Church members because cultural Christians are not spiritually-minded. They have nothing to guide them but their culture and traditions.

This divides a congregation.

Worse, from time to time, some Living Church members forget who they are and revert to upholding cultural Christianity. This act creates GREAT confusion and chaos among the congregation and especially among the younger or new-born Followers of JESUS.

CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY HAS NO PLACE

within the Living Church.

It will constrain the working of the HOLY SPIRIT.  It will deaden the desires of the congregation to draw closer to The LORD. It will confuse the true Seekers.

 And, alas, instead of bringing conviction, cultural Christianity will serve to strengthen the natural-minded ones in the church.  

So, what do we do

with the cultural Christians

who are in the Church ?

No, we do not kick them out. Rather, we work with them. . . old or young, male or female, in charge or not-in-charge,  until the Living CHRIST be formed in them. 

We not only pray for them, but we seek The LORD for their soul, that HE+ may show us how to dislodge their comfortable partnership with cultural Christianity.

They do not recognize their need for CHRIST JESUS. 

They do not recognize their need for that deep, inner change. 

They do not sense their disloyalty to CHRIST as they keep their cultural Christianity, with all its accompanying traditions.

They think they are "fine" because they keep the church traditions. Conviction for them is limited to when they or others break with a tradition or a cultural norm. 

Church traditions, rules, and standards ARE  fine . . . UNTIL they demand more loyalty than following CHRIST JESUS.  They should be the RESULT of a close following of CHRIST, not an end unto themselves.

We adhere to CHRIST JESUS as LORD, submitting our Christian traditions and practices unto HIM+.  

When they become an end unto themselves, then church traditions, rules, and standards become: cultural Christianity.

NO. . .

There is NO place

for cultural Christianity in the Church

because

cultural Christianity is not Living,

but dead.

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Your glorying is not good.

Know ye not that a little leaven

leaveneth the whole lump?

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump,

as ye are unleavened.

For even CHRIST our PASSOVER+

is sacrificed for us:

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven,

neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;

but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I Corinthians 5:6-8

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