Righteousness and Relevance

There is a push in many churches today to be more "relevant."  In an attempt to be relevant by allowing culture to dictate belief or emphasis above the Word of God, the church becomes more irrelevant than ever.  A church is only as relevant as it is righteous.  A church pandering to humanism and traditions of men has nothing of eternal value to offer anyone.  The church does not suddenly become relevant because the pastor is a hipster, the media department produces eye-popping videos, services are well-attended, or hosts weekly outreaches in pubs along with Scotch-tasting.  The church is not relevant because of what it does, but because of what it is:  the living Body of Jesus Christ comprised of individuals united in One Spirit.

Some who profess Christ as Saviour seem concerned that if the church does not mirror the culture, it cannot effectively reach people for Christ.  Jesus went into the world, but He did not become like the world.  It is true the church was never meant for isolation, and through Christ we will overcome the world.  But we cannot overcome the world if we deny the teachings of scripture because the world does not agree - and it cannot.  An altered Gospel is stripped of all power to save.  If we lay aside the biblical truths of God's goodness, man's rebellion and sinfulness, the fact all men have sinned and rightly deserve eternal punishment in hell, the love of Jesus demonstrated on Calvary's cross, and only the blood of Jesus can cleanse a sinner by grace through faith, the church becomes a self-glorified social club controlled by the whims of hypocrites and deluded fools.  The church has never been called to acquiesce to culture, but to agree with God according to the truth revealed in the Bible.  Culture changes, but God's righteousness endures forever.  An unrighteous church is an irrelevant church.

The church will always be relevant because it is the living Body of Jesus Christ, regardless of the world's opinions.  Jesus has what the entire world needs - not cures for illnesses, money for those in poverty, support for homeless or widows, influence through politics or social reforms, or life enhancement - but the way of eternal life through His righteousness by faith.  The life and love of Jesus Christ is what should be attractive about the church.  It is a light in the darkness of this confused, divided, lost, hopeless world in which we live.  It is not about providing a healthier alternative:  the everlasting Gospel is the only way anyone can be saved.  People are dead in their sins and going to hell!  They don't need the church to change its stance on scripture to find common ground.  People need a church who will hold fast in faith and lovingly, compassionately preach the Word - without apology.  The pressures of society to conform the church as a product of the culture are seemingly stronger than ever.  But God and His Word are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Instead of dismissing parts of the Bible we don't agree with, how much better and stronger our witness is when we hold unwaveringly to God's truth!  Our faith is one that works.  Good works for God's glory in the world ought to mark Christ's Body.  Do you believe that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness?  God is a righteous God, and righteousness is what we need to be saved from our sins and to pass from death to life.  There is not a good or righteous person who walks on this earth today according to God's standard.  Should we reduce God's Word to our unrighteous concepts of fairness or relevance, picking and choosing what we will believe or throw out?  Then we have foolishly chosen to adopt a flawed, powerless, irrelevant belief system incapable of saving or changing people at all.  Our righteousness is not our own, but Christ's received by faith.  Should we foolishly adopt the views of this world and culture under Satan's sway to try to impact the world for God?  There is no life in this world!  Trying to be like the world to reach the world is like a surgeon cutting out the heart of one dead cadaver and placing it in another dead corpse:  activity without life, profit, or purpose.

People need righteousness.  They need forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation.  They need Jesus Christ and the power of the resurrection through the Holy Spirit within them.  There is absolutely no hope in this world apart from faith in Christ.  Jesus is always relevant, for He knows our deepest needs and is able to meet them all.  You do not need a building, programs, or ordination certificates on your wall to make an impact in this world for God.  You do not need a new sound system, a bank of TVs, or rock-concert lighting to worship God and bring glory to His name.  Take to heart this exhortation found in Titus 2:11-15:  "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. ¹⁵ Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you."  We live in an ungodly world which seeks to distract, distort the truth, and destroy the foundations of our faith by undermining scripture.  Refuse to fall for the lie that to be relevant the church must adopt worldly views or practices.  Christians are to be different because we have been born again by the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  Our aim must be to follow Jesus and live righteously as we abide in His light and love.  In doing so we will be relevant because we know and love the One the whole world needs:  Jesus Christ.