The Christian Man Chapter 9
Culture and the role of the Christian man in it.
The culture that you are in is a product of the actions of everyone in it in the years leading up to now. If your culture seems consistent, then you are in an environment where people share ideals and pull everyone along that path. This is not likely today in America. Our culture is constantly changing as people with different ideals push to have theirs impact the rest of us. There is one minority in America moving the needle on a lot of issues because they and their backers are fighting so hard to be relevant.
One of the phrases in my mind is that we want to take action in our culture now to help our kids in the future. And not only our kids, but everyone who comes afterwards. If we do not act to protect our religious freedoms, they will be taken away. Afghanistan is not full of evil backwards losers, but they sure are in control now, and many of the good people have fled never to go back. The same thing happened in Iran and other areas where good people did not fight hard enough.
How are we to be? We must look to Jesus as our example. Jesus did not overthrow the government as people are trying to convince us that Trump tried to do. Putin did overthrow the government. Jesus did try to impact the culture in which He lived by pointing to God and living faithfully. Jesus did not withdraw and He did not embrace the failed culture around Him. But make no mistake, He engaged with the culture and made an impact. Even those who do not believe Jesus is God, they cannot deny He had a huge impact on the world.
The chapter wraps up with a few ideas of how to engage. Serve the needs of others, serve in the place you are, do not be negative, apathetic, or indifferent, be an example of heaven on earth, and be involved. God has called people to be in politics, to be in education, to be in civil life, and every other aspect of society. Each group has impact. God wants His people to impact the world in each of these areas, and He equips His servants with the skills and gifts to do so. He has given you skills and gifts and wants you to use them for His purposes, Even if you do not want to, just do it.