Tag: Culture

Wal-Mart Theology

by Mike Avery, posted in All Articles, Church, Culture, Theology

–May of 2003

Wal-Mart Theology

I think it’s fair to say that the church has at times affected the prevailing political and economic philosophies of the day in a very positive way.  I also think it’s fair to say that the prevailing political and economic philosophies have at times adversely affected the church.  One such example is what I call the churches adoption of a “Wal-Mart theology”.

The late Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, changed the economic philosophy of the market place with his “Wal-Mart approach” to merchandising.  He built a multi-billion dollar business around three basic premises.  1. Give the customer what they want. 2. Give it to them cheaper than anybody else.  3. Build loyalty with feigned friendliness and surface relationships.

It is an approach that has clearly affected the church. The church now offers a menu of activities, worship styles, and preaching that has something for everyone.  Unsaved, carnal churchgoers can get their weekly fix of “spiritual life” without ever being made uncomfortable.  The talk show style preacher has ousted the thundering prophet.  His suave humor and well-honed ability to “almost say something” has made churchgoers all across America feel good about being in church.  Give them what they want is verse one of the new creed!

Pollsters are scratching their head over the fact that people are going back to church in record numbers, yet the morality of our country is still on the decline.  This is a direct result of churches that have discounted the price of what it means to be a Christian.  Instead of stressing a repentance from sin and a call to radical holiness, they offer a crown without a cross, faith without faithfulness, and a spiritual life that doesn’t have to be a separated life.  It’s no longer the narrow way but the cheapest way that is a part of today’s church.

How has the Church been affected by the third premise?  We’ve adopted the Wal-Mart greeter’s philosophy.  We smile, shake hands, and move on.  Churches are filled with people who have nothing but superficial relationships with their fellow attendees (if they know them at all). The whole concept of community and accountability that’s supposed to be a part of the church isn’t there.  The words of Jesus in Matthew 25 that, “I was a stranger and you took me in”, point out the fact that the Church must reach out in true love and friendship pulling others in to the inner circle of their own lives.  The Christian must build bridges to other human beings and offer themselves to a needy, hurting world.  You can’t do that with out being willing to get intimately involved in someone else’s life.

Isaac Watts had never heard of Wal-Mart Theology when he penned these words, “Am I a soldier of the Cross, a follower of the Lamb, and shall I fear to own His cause or blush to speak His name?   Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas?  Sure I must fight if I would reign, increase my courage, Lord.  I’ll bear the toil endure the pain, supported by Thy Word.”   No disrespect, Mr. Sam, but Isaac’s got it right!

Selling the Gospel Short

by Mike Avery, posted in All Articles, Church, Culture, Theology

–Summer of 2002

Selling the Gospel Short

Twenty years ago Francis Schaefer wrote about the Great Evangelical Disaster.  Recently Dr. Dennis Kinlaw addressed what could be called the Great Evangelical Reductionism.  The first sold the gospel out; the latter sells it short.  Both can bring about the same pitiful end.

At the turn of the 20th Century, the church was caught in the cross hairs of liberal theology.  Most of the large Protestant denominations were knocked down like a row of tenpins as liberal theology swept in like a flood.  The National Council of Churches reigned as the ecclesiastical power and liberal theologians held prominent positions as professors in the great seminaries.  The Bible was betrayed and the heart of the gospel was completely destroyed.  Within 30 years the sell-out was complete.  The gospel that was preached in most large protestant denominations was no gospel at all.

By mid century a despised marginal group of Bible believers known as evangelicals began to make their way to the forefront in America.  By the 1980’s the focus of power had clearly shifted from the mainstream denominations and liberal theologians to the more conservative evangelicals.  Today evangelicals have their own national association, speak on hundreds of radio and television programs, and control the theological positions of a large number of seminaries and Christian universities.  Evangelicals operate book enterprises that gross billions every year.  The president attends their annual prayer breakfast and prominent evangelical leaders weekend at the White House and council the president on religious matters.

Yet as the evangelical movement has grown in numbers and influence, the moral influence of the church has gotten weaken.  How could this be?  How could a church that has become more conservative theologically become less effected by that theology?

Dr. Dennis Kinlaw, in his book We Live as Christ, puts his finger on the problem.  He states, “I believe that part of the reason for the state of affairs is the way in which the evangelical church is presenting the gospel here in America.  We have engaged in a kind of reductionism of what we say Christ can do for us.  We have largely preached the gospel of Christ as a way to find freedom from the consequences of our sin rather than freedom from the sin that causes the consequences.”

The evangelical church in America has given the impression that the essence of the Christian message is forgiveness of sins and the assurance of Heaven.  They have failed to emphasis that the goal of the gospel is conformity to Christ.  This has produced an insidious easy believism that makes no moral demands and insists on no behavioral requirements.  It has separated faith from faithfulness and offered a brand of commitment with no cross.  Sadly the holiness movement has begun to parrot the same line.

Dr. John Oswalt speaks to this issue in his book Called to be Holy.  He says, “The Christian gospel is not primarily about having one’s sins forgiven and spending a blissful eternity with God after somehow getting through this life with one’s faith reasonably intact.  The purpose of the gospel is the same that God has had from Genesis 4 onward:  The transformation of human behavior in this world with a consequent possibility of living with God through all eternity.”

The New Testament gospel is inseparably linked to repentance, surrender, a supernatural eagerness to obey, and an inner hunger for moral goodness.  Anything less is not true biblical conversion and denies the message of the gospel.  But the gospel offers more.  The gospel offers freedom from the tyranny of sin and self.

The gospel does offer freedom from sin’s penalty and a home in heaven.  But it also offers freedom from sin’s tyranny and a life of holiness.  This is good news, indeed!

The Clothes I Wear–Does God Care?

by Mike Avery, posted in All Articles, Christian Living, Culture

–March of 2002

The Clothes I Wear – Does God Care?

Biblical Principles for Attire

Personal adornment is not one of the greatest issues of a godly life, but it is one of them.  With the rapid decline of Western culture and its abandonment of time-honored values and morals, the gap is widening between contemporary fashion and what is appropriate for a Christian.  The message that the fashion industry seeks to communicate through current fashion trends is often in direct conflict with what a Christian is comfortable in wearing.  For the Christian teenager, or for a new Christian, this conflicting viewpoint between the Word and the World may become the occasion of a temporary personal struggle which can distort the whole issue of dress entirely out of proportion to its true spiritual significance. To prevent this from happening, the church should faithfully teach each generation the Biblical guidelines for adornment.   Without this instruction, many will succumb to the pressure of a secular society’s imposing view or struggle with what may appear to be, and sometimes is, man-made rules.  Young people must know the difference between biblical principle and the traditions or convictions of the Church.  Knowing the difference will give them greater freedom to accept both.

At the beginning of this discussion it must be repeated that God’s Word and this present world present conflicting points of view about attire.  But it must also be noted that there is one thing that both the world and the Word agree on.

“THE CLOTHES YOU WEAR COMMUNICATE A MESSAGE!”

Fashion expert John T. Molloy said, “What you wear signals what you are.  Your clothes speak a body language.  You can elicit any effect you desire through the way you dress.  You can look successful or impoverished, honest or sinister, sexy or puritanical…all depending on what you wear”.   The business world uses this principle of dress to portray confidence, leadership, honesty and professionalism in its executives and sales staff.  The fallen world uses it to portray its message of lust and rebellion.  The Bible utilizes this principle as well.  When God wants to make a statement about the character, attitude or personality of an individual, He often uses a description of their attire to do it.

In today’s world, the message communicated is often a moral one. A person can convey the language of their soul through what they wear. They can make an outward statement about their inner-held values just by the way they adorn themselves

This explains why opinions are often formed about a person simply based on the way they dress.  More seriously, moral judgements are often made about people based on how they dress.  Clothing that overly accentuates or exposes the body can bring with it a moral judgement about a person’s character.  Teenagers with baggy, falling pants, heavy chains, studs in their ears and lips, brightly colored hair, with a cap perched on their head in the wrong direction, send out a message  they often gives them a low rating in areas of honesty, industry and morality.  Some styles of clothing are made deliberately to attest to the sexual perversion of the wearer.   Clothing styles that push the edge make anyone within mainstream civilization nervous or uncomfortable around the person that wears them.  Clothes communicate a message.

THE WORLD HAS A MESSAGE TO COMMUNICATE

Manufacturers of clothing must address the need for clothing in a way that makes the clothing both popular and profitable.  So, leading fashion designers are motivated by two things:  Money and message.  To insure that they succeed on both, they are guided by four principles.  First, the utility principle.  This principle addresses the need for various types of clothing.  For example: uniforms, athletic attire, seasonal clothing, etc. Second, the hierarchical principle.  This guides the designer to design clothing in such a way that appeals to human pride.  Designers seek to create styles and options that enable the wearer to feel proud and haughty when wearing them, giving him the feeling that he is better than others who do not wear this particular label.  Third, the autonomy principle.  The point here is to design clothing that gives the wearer the ability to feel free from all inhibitions; a sense of total self expression.  This allows the wearer to rebel against societal and Biblical norms, shocking his observer with the clothes that he wears.  Fourth, the seduction principle.  Sex appeal is the strongest motive of all in designing clothing, particularly women’s clothing. The point here is obvious.  Create clothing that accentuates the sexuality of the wearer. This principle is maintained from year to year by changing the area of exposure, called erotic zones.  Designers go from see-through clothes, to a tight wrap around, to mini skirts, to long skirts with long slits, or to a dress with serious cleavage exposure.

The last three of these principles are utilized to the extreme to communicate a message – the message of a fallen world.

GOD HAS A MESSAGE TO COMMUNICATE

God doesn’t make the issue of personal adornment one of the greatest issues in the Bible.  To elevate it to such a place is dangerous.  But He does raise the issue and lays down principles to govern the Christian’s adornment. To apply those principles in our lives is not legalism but love.

Before I offer this list of Biblical principles, let me preface them with some statements that are drawn from a logical study of God’s viewpoint on the subject.

  1. God speaks through basic principles rather than rules when it comes to our adornment.
  2. These principles are given in the context of Christian growth rather than as evidence of conversion.
  3. Individuals and Churches are responsible to take these principles and apply them to their lives through personal convictions (individual) or collective convictions (churches).
  4. The desire to look nice is legitimate and God-given.  An attractive and neat appearance is glorifying to God and an asset in all walks of life.
  5. The love of colors and variety is a God-given part of a person’s personality.
  6. Attention to current modes of dress is not necessarily wrong. (If so, we would have to adopt a uniform or settle on an antiquated style of attire.)  If current practices and Christian principle disagree, we must side with Christian principle.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR DRESS

  • The principle of covering the body rather than exposing it.  II Timothy 2:9.  Clothes should never be worn that expose (see through), or unduly accentuate body parts, or do not cover our nakedness (Biblically we are naked when we expose the torso or thigh).
  • The principle to dress so as to identify the sexes rather than confuse them.  Deuteronomy 22:5.
  • The principle of stressing the inward rather than the outward.  I Timothy 2:9, I Peter 3:3.  The Bible tells us our beauty should not depend on outward adornment, but should flow from within from our spirit.  This is not to minimize adornment but to rather give it a very special place.  Adornment becomes a servant to us, used to reflect the grace of God within.
  • The principle of moderation and simplicity rather than ostentation and showiness.  I Timothy 2:8-10, I Peter 3:3-4.  Christian should seek to dress modestly and in moderately.  They should avoid an ostentatious display of riches, either to show off their social standing or to call attention to their person.  All extremes should be avoided.  In these two passages, the Bible clearly prohibits the ornamentation of the body.  Christians should be careful that they do not invest an unreasonable amount in clothes.
  • The principle to be transformed by the Word rather than to be conformed to the world.  Romans 12:2, II Corinthians 6:11-71.  The Bible is quite clear about separation, and that call to separation will ultimately find its way into the way we dress.
  • The principle of propriety.  Romans 14:16.  As a matter of good culture, some forms of clothing should not be worn in certain places and at certain times that may be appropriate under other conditions.

As a Christian, we are guided by the leadership of the Holy Spirit and a sincere desire to please God and obey His Word.  All earnest Christians want to reflect God’s objectives and biblical values in both their inner and outer person.  We should be motivated at all times to communicate the message of godliness and holiness in our walk, talk and spirit.

In evaluating this matter of what we wear, we should ask ourselves these two questions: First, “What do I want to say with my life?”  Second, “Do the clothes I wear communicate the Biblical values that I seek to live by?”

Biblical Principles for Music

by Mike Avery, posted in All Articles, Christian Living, Culture

–March of 2002

Biblical Principles for Music

By Michael Avery and Rodney Sones

Music is one of the most powerful forces both in our culture and in our personal lives. Every kind of music that we choose to enjoy affects our lives in some way. Music has the power to inspire, encourage, and lift our souls to ecstasy. It can make us weep with sadness, passionate for romance or blind with anger. Such a powerful medium must be used with wisdom. Our choices regarding its use should be guided by good principles. We should choose music because we know it is good. For the Christian, the Bible is our guide and standard. What principles can a Christian use to discover good music?

Because music and the arts are inherently subjective, it is difficult at times to clearly identify what does or does not glorify God. But while the Bible does not describe the technical stylistic traits of good or bad music or give explicit rules on what music is acceptable, it does give us principles that we must apply to all of our lifestyle choices – choices such as the media we consume, the entertainment we enjoy, and the music we listen to.

In giving us principles, God has intentionally allowed a degree of freedom and variety in our musical expressions. This freedom gives us room to change and to grow. A wonderful variety of expression is seen between and within cultures. But with this freedom comes responsibility and opportunity.

Our responsibility is to honor the One who gave us these gifts and granted us these privileges of choice. It is to reflect His holiness in the choices we make. And the opportunity is to discover the joy that such choices bring, if we are willing to reach that level of living. This freedom allows us to grow as we orient our desires toward things that are of greatest value. The choice of our music reflects our inner values and mirrors our soul, just as the other outward expressions of our culture like clothing, language, and entertainment reflect our inner selves.

How, then, shall we discover and apply principles of godly living to our music? How shall we orient our lives toward pleasing God above all others? We must begin where God has spoken. We must saturate our soul with God’s Word. This will produce what we call a “Biblically-conditioned discernment” – a discernment that reflects God’s viewpoint, because it springs from Biblical principle. There is no substitute for Biblically-conditioned discernment if we desire the clear leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Without this discernment, Christians often make life choices that are harmful to them spiritually without sensing any wrong in doing so. Many feel free to choose whatever music they like, because the Bible doesn’t directly identify a particular style as sinful. This approach to making lifestyle choices will lead to spiritual decay, because it naturally fills one’s life with things of lesser value.

But while discipline in our lifestyle choices is necessary and foundational to a life of joy, the choice of a disciplined lifestyle does not relegate us to boredom and starch! One of the things that God has put into our very soul is the conviction that whatever is good should bring with it a deep sense of satisfaction. So making careful choices in music does not mean choosing distasteful music over what we like. Rather, it means choosing what satisfies us most deeply at the center of our being, while we reject illegitimate or less worthy music in favor of finding this deeper satisfaction. The music we choose should be godly, interesting, and enjoyable!

The Biblical principles that govern our freedom to choose, then, spring from two balancing concepts: exaltation, which is the need to make choices that honor God; and edification, which is the corresponding need to fill our lives with things that are inherently wholesome and good. Please examine the following brief list of principles we can reference when applying these concepts. You may be able to list more.

Principle 1: EXALTATION

If the music is Christian, do the music and lyrics exalt God? We begin with God, because He is first. While not all music will be objectively focused on God Himself, the music should not glorify people, their talents, and experiences, etc, above God.

If the music is secular, do the values expressed glorify God? Even music that is not about God or Christian living should be in harmony with what is right and true. (I Cor. 10:31; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.)

Supporting Principle: Harmonization

Do the lyrics express truth I believe is in harmony with God’s Word? (1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 3:15-17.)

Principle 2: EDIFICATION

Does the music edify me spiritually and mentally? We should choose value over immediate pleasure. We get satisfaction from choices made to simply gratify our fleshly desires. But this kind of satisfaction is shallow. It pales when compared to the deeper joy one can find in things of enough worth to be accepted by our Father. (Col. 3:1, Phil. 4:8, Col. 3:16.)

Supporting Principles: Transformation, Separation, and Sanctification

Can I take delight in this music and at the same time be conformed to the mind of Christ? Does the culture that surrounds this music conform to the mind of Christ? Does it reinforce the lifestyle that I believe best reflects principles of godly living?

The culture in which this music is born, packaged, and promoted should reflect Christian values and culture. (I Thess. 4:3, 7, 5:23; Col. 3:17; 2 Cor. 6:14; Psa. 139:21; 1 John 2:15-16; Eph. 5:11-12; Rom. 12:1; Col. 3:10; Matt. 7:17-18; 2 Cor. 6:14-15.)

What about CCM?

The very concept that anything is contemporary assumes that things have changed over time. All modes of culture are subject to change: styles of dress, styles of speech, and styles of musical and artistic expression. In each generation godly people must assess the new expressions of culture and apply the principles by which they live to the decisions these new expressions present.

Changes in musical style have often been a challenge for the Church. As a conservative institution, the Church is naturally wary of change, especially when new musical styles are influenced or created by those who are secular in their purposes or not trained Biblically or theologically. The danger is evident when changes are not driven by godly purposes but by the desire for innovation or personal pleasure.

Yet there is a natural need for refreshment in the expression of our worship to God. Development and change in music are good and wholesome, since our creativity reflects the image that God, our Creator, imprinted on us. Church music has reflected these changes over the centuries. Musical styles have progressed from Gregorian chant through metrical psalms and Wesley’s hymns to the amazing variety of choices at our disposal today. So there is a healthy tension between the need to preserve our heritage and the need to express ourselves in a new way.

Also the nature of music itself ensures there will be constant change in its forms and styles. Music is a cultural expression. Therefore it reflects the changes in values that are a part of its creators’ culture. And music is creative, so it is constantly being transformed by its creators as they seek new ways of expression. These natural forces ensure that there will always be – as there always has been – contemporary (or new) Christian music (CCM). All of what we sing today was new music in its own day. So new is not necessarily bad! We must be careful, in our enthusiasm, not to consider all new music to be worldly! God is not stuck in history.

There are at least three major criticisms leveled toward CCM:

(1) The evident influence of secular pop music in its musical style.

(2) The reflection of popular culture in that culture that surrounds the music (style of dress and speech, general atmosphere at concerts, etc.).

(3) The shallowness and theological emptiness of the lyrics in some CCM.

The first of these differences may be the one most evident to the uninitiated listener. The influence of secular popular music is evident in the restlessness of the musical style. This restlessness is produced by relentless rhythmic drive and harmonic stress. While there is great variety in pop musical styles, these traits are fairly consistent in the various styles we lump together as CCM. The question on which much philosophical debate hinges is whether or not that musical structure can carry a cultural message that conflicts with the message of the Gospel and the values of holiness. The definitive answer to that question is beyond the scope of this short article. But it is our opinion that all products of a culture reflect the values of that culture, and therefore carry its influence in some way.

The second of these criticisms – the reflection of popular culture in the culture that surrounds CCM – is of particular concern to people who have chosen careful disciplines of lifestyle.

The third of these criticisms is perhaps the one we have the most difficulty applying with equal honesty to our favorite styles. It is unfortunate that much of the criticism of CCM has been based on dislike of the unfamiliar, rather than on application of principles!

While there are obvious differences between today’s CCM and yesterday’s new music, the criticisms we level against it could often be leveled equally against some of the music styles of the recent past. Examples of shallowness and trite musical style are found within all styles of music, including the camp meeting music of the early nineteen hundreds, Southern gospel, and the “inspiration and praise” music of today. Some styles, however, seem to easily lend themselves to triteness.

Many people who are shocked by CCM readily accept other music marked by doctrinal carelessness, cheap grace, me-focused lyrics, and which is focused more on style or performance value than on godly values. It is hypocritical to apply a more severe standard to music we do not like than we apply to our favorite style.

What are some characteristics that may mark music as worldly?

(1) Music that seeks to conform me to this fallen world’s values. Music that expresses the attitudes and values of this fallen world’s music or that exhibits degenerate patterns, the rhythm and beat of a fallen world.

(2) Music that contains poor theology. Popular Christian music often emphasizes cheap-grace theology and fails to encourage holy, victorious living.

(3) Music that reflects packaging and marketing techniques that mirror a fallen secular music society. Today’s CCM often glamorizes a lifestyle contrary to Christian values. It is marked by secular, sensual marketing techniques like that of the music produced by a fallen world.

Fortunately, time has proven that most of yesterday’s froth and most of today’s CCM will fade away and be forgotten. The church has a way of purging itself of all but the best. The great hymns and other solid gospel songs have survived the test of time. The best of the new songs will surely find their place alongside the old.

The Royal Order of the Unbended Knee

by Mike Avery, posted in All Articles, Culture

–March of 2001

The Royal Order of the Unbended Knee

God comes to Washington was the title of a recent column by Tony Snow that reminded me again that God still has a faithful following, silently yet steadily, advancing His cause.  As a matter of fact, we all need to be reminded of this just every so often.  Even Elijah, the great prophet, needed such a reminder when he was hiding in a cave in the mountains of Horeb.  God came to him there and asked, “Elijah, what are you doing here?”  He groaned to God that he had been “zealous for the Lord God of Hosts” and that it would probably cost him his life.  In melancholy tones, he reminded God that “I alone am left.”

Elijah was suffering from physical exhaustion and emotional depression.  His present habitat (a dark cold cave) had afflicted him with a serious bout of tunnel vision.  He felt that God’s cause was dead and that he was the only mourner at the funeral.  God had to remind him that there was a silent army of 7,000 God-fearing men and women who had untarnished records of service in the royal order of the unbended knee.  Elijah needed to understand that God’s work was advancing despite how things looked.  He also let Elijah know that there was not only more work for him to do, but that a second generation prophet was waiting in the wings ready to pick up the torch and carry on the commission.

It is unquestionably true that sincere religious devotion has fallen out of vogue in the most visible circles.  It has been pretty easy in recent years to get spiritual tunnel vision if we allow ourselves to walk by sight.  Even Snow recognizes and reports in his column, “The common lot of religious activists, both liberal and conservative, embraces a Christianity that believes in the teaching of Jesus Christ insofar as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.”  We do have a political and academic environment that has accepted post-modernistic view and offers cultural protection and respectability while debunking the Christian faith.  Anyone who prays and believes the Bible with conviction is compared to an atavistic weirdo caught up in a dangerous cult, and for the good of society ought to be kept on a very short leash.

Nevertheless, God has to keep reminding us that you can’t set any of your spiritual gauges by the image makers, pollsters, and spin doctors that hold center stage in this present world.  If you do, you will head for the hills, find a nice dark cave, and end up with a perverted perspective on what God is doing in the world.

There are still tens of millions of Americans to whom religion is not merely a tonic, but is the essence of life and truth.  There are still millions who dare to lift up a standard in their community and sphere of influence.  The salt and light is still working.  God’s kingdom is still being advanced!  Though I’ve never banked revival in the church on what happens in Washington, it is refreshing to know that even there, in the capital of the Free World, we have a President who speaks the name of God with plain reverence rather than out of political calculation.

The unfolding days will give us plenty of things to get our head down about.  But for now, there is something that you can get your head up about.  There are still millions who belong to the royal order of the unbended knee.  Millions who pray daily, believe the Word of God, and dare to live out their convictions in the market place of this present world.  It might just be that you need to get out of your cave, stand shoulder to shoulder with those who haven’t “bowed the knee or kissed the image,” and let them know that you are there, too.  Who knows?  This may be the ripest hour we’ve ever known for revival.