The Cross & Culture, Pt. 2 July 22, 2013
“Hi, I’mPaul. I’ve been sent to tell you that you’re a sinner but God loves you andJesus died for your sins. Good news, huh? Wanna pray with me?”
Not quitehow Paul’s typical sermon went, is it? Especially not in Athens (Acts 17:22-31). Instead of presentinga “Four Spiritual Laws”-type summary of the gospel, Paul worked at the level oftheir whole story. He affirmed where their story and the gospel story merged,and he confronted them where their worldview told a different story from thegospel’s. That shouldn’t surprise us, because the gospel never fits perfectlyinto any culture. Yes, it affirms some things, but it always confronts others.Our gospel presentations should follow this model. Let me offer some quickexamples for how the gospel both affirms and confronts contemporary culturalvalues:
The gospelaffirms the longing in every human heart to get around true greatness; but itconfronts the idea that greatness is found within. The gospel says, “It’s notall about you. It’s about God.”
The gospelaffirms the pursuit of meaning in life and the desire to make a difference; butit denies the notion that personal power and fame will do it. The gospel says,“Forget your pitiful attempts at empire building, and come live for a causethat even hell can’t stop and even eternity won’t erase.”
The gospelconfirms that haunting sense that we are not what we should be; but it deniesthat we can fix the problem ourselves or just ignore it until it goes away. Thegospel says, “Those whispers you hear inside are correct; you are guilty.”
The gospelaffirms our longing for mercy, but it confronts the arrogant sense that Godowes it to us. The gospel says, “Full forgiveness, a clean conscience, andpeace with your King can be yours… for free. Repent of your sins, fly to Him infaith, and learn what real love is.”
The gospelaffirms our culture’s longing for justice, for Someone to get it right. Itexplains how the laws of the universe have not been violated by this stunningoffer of forgiveness, but instead God’s justice was satisfied in the death ofHis Son so that His mercy can flow to His blood-bought children. The gospelsays, “God’s wrath against you was fully spent, not withheld, but on His Soninstead of upon you.”