Hebrews 13:1-25 contains the concluding
exhortations in a book in which the author is concerned enough to restate
fundamental doctrinal truths out of concern that believers may fall away.
(Read)
From this 13th chapter of warnings and
recommendations, I am extracting the 8th verse because it pertains to a Conference theme, 'Changing Culture, Changeless Christ.’ As a Conference participant, it strikes me that verse 8 is the support for the 2nd part of the
title, Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever. What then can be understood about the first part,
the Changing Culture?
Canada's culture is defined by behaviours
and beliefs of innumerable social, ethnic and age groups. We understand culture
as consisting of foods, clothing, special holidays, distinctive music, modes or
forums for interaction. Foundationally Canadian culture has been influenced by
Aboriginal and European cultures and traditions and has now become a mosaic
comprised of an integration of numerous global cultures introduced by
immigrants whom we encourage to retain their cultures. This multi-cultural attitude is unique in that
it promotes both exclusivity and compatibility. There is also a sense in which
we have been culturally colonized by America whose influence is impossible to
ignore because it's the other country in our two-nation continent and its media
and Internet contact influences and impacts.
Christians recognize the benefits derived
from some of our cultural changes, yet we frequently speak out of concern for
the change factors that may adversely influence and affect children, youth,
young adults and young parents and inevitably our churches. Attitudes, ethical
and sexual mores are communicated in society through music, theatre, film,
television productions, literature and conversation. Christians are apprehensive
that faith foundations and principles for holy living and character and values
will be eroded by a virtual God-free
culture. The church desires not only to protect followers of Christ from
slippage but also aspires to present Christ's good news to others. Congregants
need to interact with the question of whether
their church should be changing what it does and how it does it?
Within an ever-changing societal culture, how
should churches speak to people about a human condition that has not changed,
and about the Saviour whom it is impossible to change, and about his gospel
that must not be changed? Reasonably, if the subject and content are
unchangeable, conceivably the communication method(s) we use can be altered,
changed, improved to suit an audience.
Consider these contrasts:
1.
One person conducting serious
hymns sung from a hymnal and a choir wearing robes, contrasted with choruses
led by a worship band of singers, keyboard, guitars and drums and lyrics on a
screen.
2.
Solemnity, silence and a Bible
in hand contrasted with informality, a coffee cup and an iPhone.
3.
Ties and jackets and dresses
contrasted with causal cotton pants for men and women.
4.
Tradition, regularity,
consistency, predictability contrasted with innovation, novelty, originality,
and surprise.
5.
Small local churches with one
pastor and where everyone knows your name contrasted with colossal mega church
enterprises or villages with multi staffs.
6.
Pastors preaching through Bible
books mornings and evenings contrasted with preaching themes and topics and
majoring on application rather than exegesis.
7.
Long churches with pews for
everyone facing the pulpit contrasted with round or wide halls and theatre
seating directed at a stage.
8.
Old and holy smells contrasted
with love and airy.
9.
Words read publicly,
responsively, words sung and heard contrasted with images, cartoons, lyrics
with landscapes, the pastor's faces up close.
10. Restrictive rules for living, for church membership, rules
pronounced and preached contrasted with ubiquitous freedom and autonomy.
11. Church loyalty to brand and to congregation contrasted with
relocating to a different congregation and denomination.
The
church in Canada has already changed a great deal within two or three
generations?
It's a waste of time to debate whether
those shifts and changes to church practice have been progressive or damaging?
Furthermore, those changes are not the discussion in which to engage. Rather, since
Jesus the LORD is unchanging, how then do Christians fit into this changing
Canadian cultural mosaic? Is it possible for Christians to practice their
commitment faithfully while accommodating changes that are relevant to their
time and culture?
Of greater alarm should be the other
changes that parts of the church are advocating, such as panning the
trustworthiness of scripture, or the validity of hell, or the exclusivity of
Christianity, or the importance of corporate worship, or the necessity of
conversion, or the mandate for evangelism.
Here is a fundamental premise statement. The Christian living amidst a
community whose mores, ethics and standards change, is herself or himself indwelt
by the changeless Spirit of the unchanging Christ who is changing female and
male believers into the likeness of Christ using standards that Christ taught ages
ago, and that will continue to be the Christian's guidance system within a
God-free culture.
Churches must consider doing things
differently? Perhaps because the way people process information has changed.
Perhaps because of people's education, or occupations, or conveniences, or
interests, or lifestyles or walls of protection or the economy. Perhaps because society's self-perception is
one of progress, advancement, values superiority, and its perception of
Christian standards deems them obsolete, archaic and invalid. Perhaps the
church can then recognize that it is not imperative to practice faith in the
same personal or corporate way as its been done. Churches must embrace the
change. How?
