Christ or Culture: Who Are You Following?

A few years ago, I was talking with a young woman, and I asked her what she thought of Jesus. Her reply was a good answer but qualified with this phrase: “but I don't think he was very polite.” The more I read the Gospels, the more I am convinced her qualification is a true one. Her problem was that, to her, politeness was a high virtue, and since Jesus was not polite, He was not perfect.

Many of us, like this young woman, interpret the Scripture in the light of our cultural mores. We do this because obedience to the text as it is might mean crossing or offending our Christian and secular friends. In our society, we have compromised for so long we think we are following Christ when in reality we are following the evangelical American culture.

This time, as you read through your New Testament, pay attention to the hard sayings of Jesus. Here is a plan to follow for the summer.

Written February 1987.

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Why Is Obedience So Hard?

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Roots by the River

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