Cultural Relevance & Faith

Why does faith seem to miss the mark, when it come "cultural surges.”  

First things first, let’s discover what a “cultural surge” is.  

According to Wikipedia the term “cultural” is, 

1. relating to the ideas, customs, and/or social behavior of a society

and the word “surge” would be defined as,

1. a sudden powerful forward or upward movement by a crowd or by a natural force such as the waves, or,
2. a sudden large increase, typically a brief one that happens during an otherwise stable or quiescent period.

This defining the term “cultural surge” as the idea, custom, and/or social behavior seen within a power forward or upward movement by a crowd.

From an early age triathlons captured my attention.  Why?  Why not?!? The sport embraces the ongoing element of change positively; while, breaking through physical, mental, and emotional limits!  Have you not seen the Ford Ironman Triathlon Championship and not been inspired?  It’s not just about how hard I can hit something, how fast I can do, or if I can handle it - the world of a triathlon embraces a variety of aspects.  Changing disciplines, transitions, and environments.  It is multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall course completion time, including timed "transitions" between the individual swim, bike, and run components.  

I remember my first Sprint Distance Triathlon. I had been inspired and encouraged by my brother “Rock,” a friend Jordan Schick, and the Ironman Championship to pursue a dream.  I showed up and was intimidated by the environment—two elite Ironman athlete's were recognized, about a dozen professionals stepped forward (all riding top of the line time trial bikes), and then in the midst of my feeling small I found comfort in seeing other “weekend warriors” alongside me.  Yes, I had completed my training, but had very little concept of what the triathlon race culture was all about.  After several hours, three triathlons, and continuing to engage within the triathlon community my eyes began to see other’s overwhelmed, fearful, and hesitant as they joined this “cultural surge.”

Lance Armstrong said, “If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to adapt and hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or Fight Like Hell.”

Change and growth create life; while, mediocrity and complacency eventually bring death.

John Dickson from Sydney, Australia spoke at the 2011 Willow Creek Leadership Summit.  He academically touched on two historical aspects of the church: 1) Change. 2) Cultural Surges.  His discussion was based around the principle that “a leadership’s strongest tool is humility,” he continues to say, “it intensifies credibility.” Although change and cultural surges were sub-points of Mr. Dickson discussion, it got me thinking though the implications of those elements.

Why not capture both: Cultural surges / current style; while, embrace tradition and authenticity?

Okay.  What did Jesus do?

Jesus broke all kinds of traditions while embracing individuals right where they were at through-out Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  We see Jesus embracing cultural surges (social philosophy within diverse groups) and challenging tradition in order to make God known.

I will admit that some of my own personal decisions have been in reaction to cultural influences - what’s wrong with that - and honestly who hasn’t made a decision based on a cultural influence?  Have you ever consumed a bottled product? 

What if Jesus cared so much about people that He was willing to reach them right where they are (couch, clubs, movies, business, media, internet, classroom, etc...)? 

Was Jesus focus more about building a big church or building big people?  

People sometimes assume that I’m a progressive 30-year-old who enjoys to push back just for the reaction, that I must want a super-hip church—which boasts “an awesome worship experience,” a fair-trade coffee bar, its own iPhone app, and I look like a Jonas brother.  Ya, some of that maybe true; however, it all underlined by a desire for people to genuinely know & follow Jesus. 

While none of these features are inherently wrong (and can of course be used by good people to do good things), these days I find myself longing for a church with a social relevant factor of about 7.

That’s right.

I want a church desire to be apart of a church where the term, “come as you are” is truth.  I desire to be apart of a church that’s socially relevant where individuals are transformed as they cultivate a genuine relationship with God. 

Does that mean the Gospel story is always accompanied by a fog machine and light show.  No, but it can be.  

Why do so many church desire to be part of an “uncool” / “socially un-relevant” disconnected church?  

Some reply that, “they want to be part of a community that shares the reputation of Jesus. To not be of the world.” Like it or not, Jesus’ invested his time and energy into people.  Meaning he went after people: CEO’s and unemployed - misfits and scholars - broken and healthy.

Why not follow in the footsteps of Jesus verses swing to one side of the pendulum or the other.  Let’s be like Jesus relevantly - connecting with people right where they are within their culture and stop the friendly fire.  Honestly, one person maybe distracted while another is engaged - one maybe inspired while another is overwhelmed - at my first triathlon their was probably both in the crowd.

Some of us wear our brokenness on the inside, others on the outside and Jesus see’s our heart.

We’re all in need of Him.

We’re all in need of a Savior.

So let’s be people who are the church - outside and inside a building - where the good new is proclaimed in such a way that those who are far from God draw near and those that are mature followers of Christ are being transformed through a genuine relationship with Jesus.  Why?  Because cultural relevance and faith go hand in hand.

Cultural Relevance & Faith by Trevor L Drinen