This is a broad subject with many facets that may not be covered by the scope of this article. I may write a small series on this subject because it is an important subject to talk about. Cultural Christianity has affected the American church in many ways. It is my personal opinion that it started with a departure from the Word of God. I was raised Southern Baptist and I have served for the last 21 years in the SBC denomination. So when I write on this topic understand that it is from the SBC perspective. This is my personal experience as a church member growing up, a staff member, and eventually a pastor.
Growing up my mother was faithful in taking my sister and I to church every Sunday and Wednesday night. It was something that “good people” did. I did not know anything else of why we went to church. Sure, we learned about God and Jesus but the aspect of church attendance impressed upon me was that we went to church because that is what God expected. I was never taught what the “church” was or what we were supposed to be. I sadly took that experience with me into ministry and I never taught what the church was/is to my students in youth ministry. I think there is a notion across the church that we are just “supposed” to know. And it shows, it has taken 8 years of pastoring for me to realize that “church” is more than just showing up on a Sunday morning, sing a few songs, hear a message, give an offering and then go home. As believer’s in Jesus Christ we should be invested in each others lives, we are the family of God and we should live like it and act like it. We should be important to one another out of love for Christ and of love for each other. I’m reminded here of Paul’s words to the Galatian church:
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. - Galatians 6:10 NIV
We are to do good to all especially to the family of believers. This is but one truth of Scripture pertaining to how we are to interact with one another.
Sadly though that is not the case in our churches today and I know this from my own personal experience but also from the testimony of other pastors and other church members that I have heard over the years. As I noted earlier I believe it is because we have deviated from God’s Word.
Cultural Christianity focuses on:
Self - the church is about you/us. (What happened to Jesus?)
The Rock Star/popular pastor.
The Rock Star/popular worship leader.
The congregation is consumed with felt needs.
Social issues become the primary focus.
Politics become the primary focus.
My way becomes the only way - because this is “my” church.
We are more concerned with people’s feelings than the truth of Scripture. We ignore sin for the sake of “unity”. Divisive people are allowed to rule.
These are just 8 problems of Cultural Christianity, where the culture dictates to the church what is preached and taught on a Sunday morning or Wednesday night. I’m sure that there are more than 8, these are the ones that spring to my mind because I have experienced them and heard them from others. In future articles I will examine the 8 issues I have typed above. Do you see any of these 8 in your church? Maybe you have another that I have not mentioned. Again, the list is not limited to these.
I think the foundation for Cultural Christianity is fear, fear of a society that hates God’s Word so we then respond accordingly with what we preach and teach. We do not want persecution, instead we want popularity, we want people’s love and acceptance, we want a “big church” instead of wanting to hear “Well done my good and faithful servant.”.
This will always be a present fight and it has been fought since Christ’s ascension.
I’ll wrap this up with how the church is supposed to be from Acts 2:42-47 NIV:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.