Do You Smell That?

In modern culture, intolerance is seen as the one forbidden sin, and tolerance has been redefined to mean acceptance and approval of any and every lifestyle except for biblical Christianity. The church has sometimes capitulated to this “doctrine.” The seeker sensitive movement was one way that churches tried to open their doors to entice in the wider culture, but often this led to a neglect of the truth that every person is a sinner in need of a Savior. I read two passages this morning that speak to these issues. The first comes from the Apostle Paul:

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life” (2 Cor. 2:14-16a).

Paul is clear that the church is never going to attract everyone. Those who are predestined for salvation (Rom. 8:29-30) will find a pleasing aroma that draws them to life. But for the rest, it will be as repugnant as a rotting deer beside the road. The gospel is good news for those who will accept it and find salvation in Jesus Christ, but it is bad news for everyone else.

The church was never intended to accept or approve of sin for the sake of drawing people in. That doesn’t mean we should confront an individual’s sin the instant they set foot in the door, but it does mean we can’t let them remain in sin, believing it doesn’t really matter. As Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (3:5). The gospel is meant to bring death to the flesh, but life to the Spirit (Rom. 8:10).

The second passage I read is from Jesus’ words to the church in Thyatira:

“I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing My servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:19-20).

This sounds all too familiar today as we see yet another denomination fracturing over the endorsement by some leaders of sinful lifestyles. There are false prophets who have brought sin right into the church. To the world they may appear loving and faithful, but in God’s judgment they are spreading the stench of death. Jesus went on to announce His judgment against Jezebel and all who refused to repent of her teachings (vv. 21-23). This is no lighthearted tolerance of a different lifestyle. It’s a matter of eternal life or death.

The question for us is this—is the aroma we are spreading one that is pleasing to God or one that is pleasing to the world? If we please the world we are in danger of God’s judgment, but if we are pleasing to God we will condemned by the world’s standards. In the end, there is only one Judge whose opinion matters.

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court… It is the Lord who judges me” (1 Cor. 4:2-4).

© 2022 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

What's Your Choice?

Last week’s “You’re Not Crazy” podcast reflected on Galatians 2:11-21, where the Apostle Paul says that he had to confront Peter for hypocritically drawing back from the Gentiles when Jews came to visit. The podcast leaders commented:

Ray Ortlund- “What if thousands of our churches across the country right now are nullifying the grace of God as Peter did without even realizing?”

Sam Allberry- “Let’s face it, he did it by who he ate with and who he didn’t eat with. Something as seemingly innocuous as that can actually contradict the gospel.”

That is convicting enough on its own. What daily choices are we making that nullify the gospel by implying that certain people are beyond the reach of God’s grace and that certain sins are unforgiveable? Who have we chosen not to associate with out of fear, prejudice, lack of love, or some other motivation? What misperceptions are we creating among those who are watching us?

Then if anyone needs more to think about, TGP posted this article, Should Christians Relocate to Conservative Areas? As Christians are vacating California and other blue states in droves, what does that do to the witness of the Church in those areas? As citizens of the heavenly Kingdom we are already exiles in a foreign land, so how appropriate is it for us to seek out like-minded people as our neighbors? What’s driving our choices?

A related choice is schooling. Even though I’m not a parent, I hear quite a few debates about Christians sending their kids to private school vs. public school vs. homeschooling. As a child, I wanted to go to a private school (mostly because of bullying) but was not allowed to. Looking back, I can see how I was challenged to live out my faith in public schools in ways that ultimately (though painfully) made me stronger and hopefully influenced other students as well. I don’t know what I would choose if I had kids, because the world is increasingly hostile to the public exercise of Christian beliefs.

We all have hard choices to make for ourselves, our families, and our churches. The question is, are we prayerfully weighing those decisions against Scripture? Are we choosing what’s easiest or what’s best? Are our choices based on worldly wisdom or God’s wisdom? Are we serving God’s Kingdom or our own agenda?

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days, that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (Deut. 30:19-20).

Faithful Christians may come to different conclusions on a variety of life choices, because there are different people and circumstances to consider. But whatever we choose, we need to be sure we’ve sought God’s perspective and not just that of our friends and family. God is the only one who knows every detail of our lives perfectly.

“Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15b).

© 2021 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Christ and Culture

In 1951 Richard Niebuhr published Christ and Culture, a book that has influenced theological conversations for generations now. You can read a brief summary and critique here and here. Though I don’t plan to address his specific categories of the ways Christians tend to relate to the culture, he does provide food for thought.

Every time an election rolls around, I wonder what Christian voters are expecting to receive from their preferred candidates. All too often, it seems like many are thinking “If my guy gets elected he’ll finally fix all our problems.” They probably know that they can’t pin all their hopes on a politician, but you’d never know that from the rhetoric swirling around on social media. At times like this, I find myself leaning more toward a “Christ against culture” framework, and wishing I could withdraw from the mess altogether. At the very least, I see the tension between Christ and culture.

There are several things we ought to keep in mind regardless of what country we live in, what political party we support, or what church we belong to.

1) Scripture never promises us a comfortable or supportive culture. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword… And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:34, 36 ESV). If we never find ourselves at odds with our culture, chances are good we’re placing our faith somewhere other than in Christ.

2) We are not awaiting a reformation of this sin-broken world, but a redemption from it. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). The whole creation will continue to struggle and groan as we wait for that day (see Romans 8:22-25).

3) The end of time will not come as a gradual, peaceful transition from this world to the next. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matt. 24:7-8). We should not be surprised when conflict comes even within our own nation. No human institution can bring about the utopia we desire.

4) Our allegiance is first and foremost to God. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). He is not only our Savior and Lord who has all authority over us, but He should also be the One we most glorify and praise with our words and deeds— “to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 25).

5) We are called to love one another even when we disagree. “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:13-15). People may be able to tell your political party by your posts, but can they tell you are Christian by your love (John 13:35)?

If, like me, you are tired of sin, disease, disasters, strife, and turmoil, remember that our ultimate hope is in the God who created this world and sent His Son as a redeeming sacrifice. Let the brokenness of this life drive you to His Word and prayer. Find encouragement in His promises, and look for ways in which the Body of Christ is united and working together for His Kingdom.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world… For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

© 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.