Every once in a while I find a book that seems to bring together many of the ideas that roll around in my head and it gives terms and categories for these thoughts. "The Next Christians" is one such book. The premise of the book is that there are a group of Christ followers that believe the picture of the redemption we find in Christ is to be multiplied and leveraged to bring redemption and restoration to the world. When this group explains the salvation in Jesus Christ that is theirs they understand it not only in terms of being saved from our sin, but the picture of Christ's redemption is greater than even that. When we experience his salvation and we follow him with all we are it is part of our job to bring the beauty of God's presence into every area of life working to bring "the greatest good to all people."
This definition is at the heart of what I have understood and what I believe the call of Christ is to look like in my life. The part of this that I was never able to verbalize or give definition to was the reality that this kind of life seems to be the exception rather than the norm. And not only is it not the norm, but it is often described as being "weak" or "non-Christian." Thankfully Gabe Lyons goes on to explain that the tension that I have felt is indeed real because the people who claim to follow Christ probably fall into one of three categories as to how they view their relationship to Christ and what that relationship looks like when lived out.
The first group is the group he has termed "Separatist." And within this group there are three different types: 1) Insiders: This group of Christians believe that it is their job to stay away from and be protected from anything that smells of evil. They want their family to be absorbed in the "Christian" world: Christian school, christian radio, christian friends only, etc. To the best of their ability they create a life that protects them from encountering people and situations that are not "Christian."
2) His second group within this category are the "Cultural Warriors." This group believes that America is a Christian nation and we must fight to keep it this way. This group believes in boycotting those things which threaten the Christian morality of the country. "These devoted followers regularly consume newsletters, radio shows, and magazines by Christian patriots, pastors, and pundits. If you happen across a culture warrior, you might be solicited to fight against the secularization of our nation and subjected to passionate pleas about moral decline." (p. 34)
3) The third in this group are "evangelizers." This group of separatists believe the only worthy work on a Christian is to make sure they get other people "saved." They use every opportunity to ask people "if you were to die today will you go to heaven or hell." They don't perceive entering into relationship important, they just want people to "make a decision."
On a whole this group of "separatists" are very concerned with establishing a line between Christian and non-Christian. They want to protect themselves and those they love from having to encounter the evil and sin of the world.
On the other side of the spectrum, Lyons has termed a group of Christians as the "culturals." This group has 2 subgroups. 1) The first, "blenders" is the group that claims a relationship with God on the spiritual level, but on the cultural level they want to "blend" with the culture so as not to stick out. They see the spiritual part of life to be completely individual and private, a topic that should not be discussed in public and certainly not something to try to stand up for and protect.
The second group of "culturals" is the group termed "philanthropists." This group believes very much in doing good works within the society. They will volunteer at the drop of a hat to do something good. And while this is a positive they view their good works as a means to knowing God rather than a consequence of knowing him.
And so on the surface these two groups which are at very different places and understandings of faith seem to offer what most of us have know faith to look like in America. But, there is a third group called the "restorers." This is the group I began to explain in the beginning. This group of believers believe very much in the orthodoxy of Christianity, they desire to follow Christ and they believe it is their responsibility to be a part of setting the world "right" to restore justice where ever they can, and to do good and bring about beauty for all the world. They view being a light as being called to a place where the light is needed, to go into the dark places and shine God's glory by working for the good of those around them.
Lyons uses many examples of how people are doing this and the impact they are making in the world. It is a beautiful thing to see the believers doing what they are called to do, to make a difference in the world in which we live. It gives purpose and a place for everyone of us, no matter what vocation or place of life we are involved.
As I have processed through this book I have also noted that the point of great contention within the church is that people from all three camps are sold out that their way of living is the only God honoring way to live. The "separatists" see themselves as champions of the holy and good and can't understand why someone would go into the dark places of society unless they were not really "holy." There are many shots fired over the bow claiming "heresy" by those who do not understand the way of the "restorer." I read blog after blog where one pastor calls out another or one group calls out another because they aren't doing "church" like the one throwing the shots thinks it should be done.
I've been deeply challenged to look back to scripture to see how Jesus lived and what his life looked like in comparison to these categories. As I've looked and read I do notice that the Pharisees were much like the separatists. Having nothing to do with that deemed "unclean" or dirty. And then you had the Sadducees who were more religious in disguise like the "cultural" group. But then you had Jesus who went to where there was darkness bringing light and hope. His work was not watered down or weak, in fact because of the power lives were changed, people followed and good was a result.
I would encourage everyone, where ever you may have placed yourself in the different groups to pick this book up and give it a spin. If nothing else it will make you ask yourselves some questions as to what you're living for and if your picture of what being a Christian is matches the life of Jesus. And those questions are questions that we should always be asking!
Thanks for sharing:)
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