I have to admit I’ve never been excited about the idea of “Christian” music, “Christian” movies, or even the “Christian” Yellow Pages. I don’t listen to Christian radio stations, I rarely go to Christian movies, and the last time I found the Christian Yellow Pages on the front door stoop I threw it away without even removing the plastic wrapper. It’s not because I don’t like Christians. I do. I am one. And, I think Christians have more to offer in the way of culture than any other worldview, philosophy or religion.
The problem is instead of infiltrating the prevailing culture and transforming it, Christians seek to create a counter-culture. They create music only Christians will like and movies with religious language only Christians will understand and a phone book so Christians will only have to do business with Christians. As a result, Christians end up intellectually ingrown, relationally incestuous and culturally irrelevant.
Jesus said the kingdom of God was like yeast which a woman took and worked into dough until it permeated the dough. (Matt. 13:33). Yeast doesn’t work unless it is worked into the dough. Jesus also said Christians are to be the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:13). Salt doesn’t do any good unless it is in food. Christians are called to be ethically separate from the world, not separated from the world. In fact, Jesus prayed for Christians saying, “I’m not asking that you take them out of the world.” (John 17:15). Too many Christians are trying to get out of the world; Jesus is trying to get them into the world.
The game is in the world, not in an insulated cultural cloister. If you are a Christian, King Jesus wants you in the game, engaging the culture, changing the world.