Brokenhearted joy

THE FACT THAT CHRISTIANS ARE EXILES ON THE earth (1 Peter 2:11) does not mean we don't care what becomes of culture. But it does mean that we exert influence as happy, brokenhearted outsiders.

We are exiles. "Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). "Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" (Hebrews 13:14).

We are happy sojourners, though, because we have been commanded by our bloody Champion to rejoice in our exile miseries. "Blessed are you when others ... persecute you ... on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven" (Matthew 5:11-12).

We are happy because the Apostle Paul showed us that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).

We are happy because there are merciful foretastes everywhere in this fallen world, and God is glad for us to enjoy them (1 Timothy 4:3; 6:17).

And we are happy because we know that the exiles will one day inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Christ died for sinners so that "all things" might one day belong to his people (Romans 8:32).

But our joy is a brokenhearted joy because Christ is worthy of so much better obedience than we Christians render.

Our joy is a brokenhearted joy because so many people around the world have not heard the good news that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

And our joy is a brokenhearted joy because human culture—in every society—dishonors Christ, glories in its shame, and is bent on self-destruction....(snip)

And yet, Christian exiles are not passive. We do not smirk at the misery or the merrymaking of immoral culture. We weep. Or we should.

This is my main point: Being exiles does not mean being cynical. It does not mean being indifferent or uninvolved. The salt of the earth does not mock rotting meat. Where it can, it saves and seasons. And where it can't, it weeps.

And the light of the world does not withdraw, saying "good riddance" to godless darkness. It labors to illuminate. But not dominate.

Being Christian exiles in American culture does not end our influence, it takes the swagger out of it.

We don't get cranky that our country has been taken away. We don't whine about the triumphs of evil. We are not hardened with anger. We understand. This is not new.

This was the way it was in the beginning—Antioch, Corinth, Athens, Rome. The Empire was not just degenerate, it was deadly. For three explosive centuries Christians paid for their Christ-exalting joy with blood. Many still do. More will.

It never occurred to those early exiles that they should rant about the ubiquity of secular humanism. The imperial words of Christ were still ringing in their ears: "You will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Mark 13:13). This was a time for indomitable joy and unwavering ministries of mercy....(snip)

Taking the swagger out of Christian cultural influence

Or, as Paul told the Corinthians (I Cor 5:9-13):

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

Boycotters for Jesus should take note of this and put their efforts into making their own congregations shape up to what God expects of them. Too many of these people are trying to legislate or extort (by boycotts) the Kingdom of God onto the world because they're too chicken and spiritually lazy to do it where they're commanded to, as Paul said above: in the church. God will take care of everyone else outside the church. It's really easy to boycott Disney and then feel self-righteous and persecuted when people complain about it, as though they're being persecuted for the sake of righteousness: "I courageously took a stand for Jesus for refusing to buy Finding Nemo for a Christmas present."

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