Pop Culture Christianity

"Pop Culture Christianity" is a term I use a lot, because I think it is the perfect term for what Christianity is today.  It is a hyper-contextualized demographic that has bought into a mainline, non-Christian specific, ideology.  Seriously.  When you hear how Christians describe their faith and practice, it is very different than how any other person of a different faith would describe their belief system.

Examples:
- I'm not perfect, I'm a sinner.
(May, or may not, include "saved by grace," but that doesn't matter.  The point is simply that they are justifying their 'normal' flaws and mistakes without distinction.)
- I'm not religious. 
(In other words, "Don't count me in with those people who follow rules and identify with other groups.  I want to be identified with all of "you.")
- I believe in "love." 
(This sounds so good, but so does everyone else.  There is nothing distinguishing about this statement.  In fact, it doesn't even attempt to define this 'love' as Divine, or as coming from God.  To simply believe in 'love' is to believe in the world's demonstration and practice of love, which has little in common with the Biblical example and proclamation.)


Listen, Christianity has, and will, always be contextualized in its current culture and language.  There is nothing wrong with this.  In fact, it's necessary and ensures the faith will continue!  The problem is that rather than distinguish, or proclaim, its message and identity to the world, today's Christianity is seeking the world's approval.  Rather than calling people "out," Christians are trying to run "into" the identity of the world.  It's really pathetic.


Christianity is about being different - completely different.  It's not about defensiveness and cowering for easy acceptance.  Historically, Christianity has been about triumphant declaration of a 'better' way of living than what the world has to offer!  (Now, truthfully, this has also led to radical moments of 'triumphant-ism' that has played out in empiricism and the 'Prosperity Gospel.' That's not what we are shooting for either.)  We are a faith that believes in the redemption of man, both eternally and instantaneously.  Yes, we will sin, but we will NOT make excuses for it and we give our every efforts to cease from it (including appealing to the residing Holy Spirit)!  We do believe in a living relationship with God, rather than rote functions and empty words; but, we are a RELIGION, and a really good one at that!  We proudly identify with over 2,000years of people following Jesus the Messiah and believing in the message and practice of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  If we are not a religion, then we are nothing!  And, Yes, we believe in 'Love,' but our love is divine and holy.  It does not compromise because it is pure and sacred.  It clings to what is good and hates what is evil.  It is not neutral, because real love and can never be neutral. Christianity is distinct.  It is real.  It is better.  And, it is transcendent and permeable to every culture.


Please stop selling out.  Pop-culture always has an expiration date.  Don't let your faith expire, too.