Friday, October 23, 2009

Since When Is Relevant the Opposite of Holy?

Where are we as the church going to end up after this movement of "being relevant" plays out? I understand the intent. However, Jesus is not a person who needs to be changed or watered down to be "relevant". Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Having said this, would Jesus approve of the things we watch, listen to, say, think? Now I am not trying to be self-righteous, or high and mighty. Do I watch, listen to, say, think things I shouldn't? Of course. Would I, as a person in leadership, post these things on a bio for a webpage for my ministry or church to proclaim them to the world as my favorites? NO WAY!
If the pastor of a church can go online, and post a raunchy movie as their favorite, what does that tell me? It tells me that there is no standard of holiness. To do things that may not be what Jesus would approve of is one thing, to put it out there for all to see that you think nothing of it is another! Desensitization!
What scares me most is that there are these churches out there that are drawing people in by being "relevant" and are leading them into the very state of lukewarmness that God says He will spit out of His mouth. What good are we doing people? A wise youth pastor once told us that when you are leading whatever you do bad a little bit, those who follow you will do a lot, and whatever you do good a lot, they'll do a little.
I guess what I am saying is that I am scared for the next generation of the church. If the leaders in an effort to be relevant are leading people into a Christianity with no standard of holiness, then what will they become? A church of people who either miss the point entirely, or make it to eternal life by the skin of their teeth. Is that what we want? Or do we want people who truly know what it is to seek the Heart of God and be like him, not be relevant?
This is what Jesus prayed for us:
John 17:15-17
15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[a] them by the truth; your word is truth.
I myself want to be in the world not of it. I think that was the idea behind being "relevant", but I just think it has gone seriously wrong!