Yes, I know what the answer is supposed to be. True Christianity is never irrelevant and shouldn’t be considered as such. It always has a place in society as the only hope for deliverance. That is the true answer, but that is the answer from the perspective of a Christian.
But while that is the answer from the perspective of a Christian, to deal with it fairly we need to also look at it from the perspective of the world. And from the world’s perspective Christianity (and I’m using this term in its broadest sense) has become irrelevant. It no longer has the influence in the world that it once had because it does not have the respect of the world as it once had.
Christianity has become a comedic laugh-line in today’s society. Just think, for instance, of how “Christians” have been portrayed in television. In the past television characters who were being portrayed as wholesome, good, kind, and beneficial to society were accompanied with some degree of “Christian” background. They were not demonized or belittled. They were the smart, rational role-models that we wanted as examples to our world. Today that is vastly different. Now if you want a token-idiot, a buffoon, or someone that the other cast members can easily mock you throw in a “Christian” and do everything you can to make them look as stupid, bigoted, and out of touch as you possibly can.
Now, yes, I understand that that is the minority view expressing its viewpoint into a nation that still mostly rejects it. But at the same time we cannot discount the impact it and other efforts like it are having on the overall impression of society.
But it’s really not just the world that’s doing what it can to make Christianity irrelevant. Some “Christians” are certainly not helping. Extremists “Christians” make every legitimate cause we work for result in us appearing like the boy who cried wolf. Hypocritical “Christians” take us ten steps back for every step we take forward. Uninformed “Christians” make the world assume that the rest of us are backwoods morons who refuse to accept the “facts” of the world. Scandal-ridden “Christians” give skeptics legitimate reason to publicly attack the validity of our values. All of these things and more are making Christianity more and more irrelevant to modern society with each passing day.
Ultimately the question we need to be finding the answer for is how we keep Christianity from becoming completely irrelevant to society so that we can maintain some degree of influence in a world otherwise in decay. I think much of the answer can go back to the three-fold thought contained in Barton W. Stone’s restoration plea. You remember that Stone, in his efforts to restore New Testament Christianity in the world overrun with denominationalism, simply said – “In matters of faith, unity. In matters of opinion, liberty. In all things, love.” That wasn’t just Stone’s opinion of how Christianity was supposed to work. That is Bible. And if Christianity truly functioned according to that motto I think it would see a vast resurgence of relevance among a world that is lost.
In matters of faith, unity. Christianity must refuse to bend when it comes to God’s irrefutable law. Even when there is disagreement, consistency will at least win a person the respect of their enemies. One reason Christianity is losing the attention of the world is because too many “Christians” have become inconsistent in what even skeptics understand are fundamental matters of faith. We must be willing to stand and stand together as a united front, consistent with one another and with the law of God in order to regain relevance in our world (Ephesians 4:1-6).
In matters of opinion, liberty. While Christianity must refuse to bend pertaining to God’s law, we must, too, stop being more stringent than God. There are some areas of life where God did not legislate. He gave certain parameters into which we must fit any decisions that we make, but from there He has left certain things up to our judgment. Yet some “Christians” have taken it upon themselves to legislate where God did not and such intrusion has turned many people away. If we are going to expect the people of the world to accept God’s word as is then it’s high time that we do as well (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8).
In all things, love. While we often claim that our words and actions are always in love, I have to admit that even as a Christian I don’t always see it. We have somehow come to assume that anytime we stand up for what is right that regardless of how we act that as long as we have the right intention then people should just understand our motive. But that simply is not how it works. Some of the meanest, most hate-filled words I have ever heard or read have come from “Christians” trying to stand up for what was right and assuming they were doing the right thing. But folks, if I am going to represent God I had better do it in a godly way (Matthew 11:29-30).
I’m not going to say that these things are all that are necessary for Christianity to stop losing relevance in our society. I’m certainly not going to say that all fault lies with Christians (the world obviously holds accountability in this as well). But we cannot discount the negative impact that stepping away from God’s plan is having on our ability to maintain a positive influence in this world. If we will simply be Christians and do so in God’s way (which is the only right way to do it) then we cannot go wrong.
-Andy Brewer
AMEN