“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (John 17:15-18 NIV).

When the Bible talks about the “world,” it is almost always referring to human culture. And as we’ve been discussing these past weeks, the culture has been bent by human sin. The culture is crooked.

So, what in the world do we do in response to living in a crooked culture?

Almost half a century ago, H. Richard Niebuhr’s book, Christ and Culture, laid down a framework of five typical answers to the question. In the book, Niebuhr gave a history of how Christianity has responded to culture. He outlined five prevalent viewpoints:

• Christ against culture. Following Christ alone, we reject the culture. We become separatists from culture.
• Christ of culture. Affirming both Christ and culture, we become accomodationists of culture.
• Christ above culture. Believing that neither a blank rejection or acceptance of culture is in order, we attempt a synthesis of both.
• Christ and culture in paradox. Believing that we live in dual kingdoms, we attempt to live in both, while at the same time recognizing their differences. We become dualists.
• Christ transforming culture. While similar to the dualist’s view of two kingdoms, this view believes that culture can be improved and that a holy Christian community on earth is possible.

As I studied Niebuhr’s book in seminary, I saw things I could affirm in all five responses to culture. I know Christians throughout history have struggled with this question.

The church of my youth came closest to Niebuhr’s first category, Christ against culture. We heard sermons on the evils of TV and Rock and Roll. We were challenged to watch our hair styles (“The Bible says it’s a shame for a man to have long hair.”) and our dress code (“Women shouldn’t wear pants.”). Our church represented a cultural island within the larger American culture. I tried to live in both, but often felt schizophrenic in the attempt. There had to be a better way to live.

I want to live in the world the way Jesus did. I can think of at least three metaphors that Jesus taught that can shape our response to today’s culture.

• Be like salt. Jesus tells us that we are the “salt of the earth.” Salt does many things. It adds flavor. It has healing properties. It can be used as a preservative.  Like salt, we are to be influencers of the culture’s flavor. We are to be healers of the culture’s wounds and preservers of that which is good.
• Be like light. Jesus tell us that we are the “light of the world.” Light gives sight and exposes the darkness. We are to share the truth about the gospel and expose falsehood in the culture.
• Be fruitful.  Jesus tells us that we are to bear “much fruit.” We are to do good in the world just as He did. We are to bear the fruit of being God’s children, showing the world God’s goodness.

If we’re going to be salt, then we’ll have to mix it up with the world to affect its flavor. If we’re going to be light, then we’ll have to shine bright, so the world can see. If we’re going to be fruitful, then we’re going to have to devote ourselves to doing good in this world of need.

We’ll have to live in this world where Jesus sent us just like God sent Him.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13 NIV).

We had a special Ash Wednesday service last night. We had an extended time of “unplugged” worship, with public prayers and Scripture reading. We concluded with a challenge from the Word and a time of response that included receiving the sign of the Cross in ashes upon our foreheads.

We’re not a traditional church, so we don’t usually follow such practices. In fact, it’s the first Ash Wednesday service we’ve ever held. I actually had to look up the recipe for ashes on the internet (“Make sure to mix in a little olive oil with the ashes to make them stick.” – One minister suggested).

We’re serious about being a new culture of those called out from the world’s culture, a people marked by the Cross of Christ. We believe that this salvation in Christ that we have received is shaping us and making us a new people, a people that can say “No” to that in the world’s culture that is ungodly. But this salvation doesn’t just call us out of the world’s culture, it also sends us back in, showing us how to live godly lives in “this present age.” So, we become bearers of the Cross of Christ, pointing people to the blessed hope of His return.

The traditional words spoken by the minister while making the mark of ashes are, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This is taken from Genesis 3:9 and reminds the congregant of their own mortality and need for repentance and salvation. We certainly affirm this.

But we wanted to say something different. We wanted to say something about being the people of the Cross and carrying the message of the Cross. So, as I looked into the tear-filled eyes of person after person, coming forward to receive the sign of the Cross last night, I said,

“Remember the Cross.”

After the service, as we walked back out into the night, I prayed that the world wouldn’t quickly wipe it off. I prayed that the Oil would make it stick.

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7 NIV).

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

These past several weeks we’ve been teaching on how to follow godly principles for financial fitness. The response has been amazing. People have decided to live more simply, cut back on spending, save more, get out of debt, and even give more.

One family decided not to buy a new car, but instead put new tires on their old clunker. Another family decided against a new dining table. Another postponed a kitchen remodel. One family has even decided to sell their house and downsize in order to live more simply and also so that they can be free to give more.

As a result, our WCC families are getting free from financial bondage and learning the joy of simple living and generous giving. But at the same time, I suppose we owe the President an apology. After all, he and the congress have been spending lots of our tax money trying to stimulate consumer spending.

I guess we’re hurting the economy because we’re not stimulated to consume more. We’re repenting of being consumers, we want to become debt free, so we can be generous givers and radical “livers.”

According to a recent article, we’re not the only ones that are cutting back on our consumer spending. Author Kevin G. Hall reports that the age of the American consumer economy is dead. He describes how our spending based on easy credit created a world-wide economy that has now fallen into crisis.

“China became a manufacturing hub by selling attractively priced exports to U.S. consumers who were living beyond their means. China’s Asian neighbors sent it components for final assembly; Africa and Latin America sold China their raw materials. All fed off U.S. consumers’ bottomless appetite for more, bought on credit.” (By Kevin G. Hall, “A Year After Financial Crisis, Consumer Economy Dead,” McClatchy Newspapers).

It seems to me that the so-called consumer economy was always unsustainable. Not only do I think it would be a mistake to attempt to return to that mode, but I don’t believe we can. The days of easy credit  are over for a while.

I believe that Christians should live simply and stay free from debt, so that they can be free to follow God’s call and to give generously when they see a need. I believe that we can model a more faithful way of life to our fellow Americans during these challenging times.

Perhaps God has allowed this economic crisis to “stimulate” us to stop looking for meaning in our possessions and to turn to Him.

“Let no debt remain outstanding” (Romans 13:8 NIV).

This past week in our community group meeting we were discussing the importance of getting out of debt. I asked our group to answer the following question:

“What does our culture teach us about debt?”

Everyone agreed that the culture teaches us to charge now and pay later. We are brainwashed into buying things now on credit without having a clue of how we’re going to repay.

One person exclaimed, “Now they’re even teaching our little girls how to use credit cards! Fashion Fever Barbie comes with a cash register and a credit card!”

“No way!” I said.

“It’s true.” Another mom chimed in. “Our girls have one.”

A plastic doll teaching our little girls to buy things with plastic. Unbelievable!

But the Bible calls us to be a Kingdom culture, to offer a counter-culture to this world. We’re called to be salt and light. In this season of economic uncertainty, what better time to model biblical wisdom in money management?

So what does the Bible say about credit cards and Barbie dolls? Nothing. But it does have a lot to say about debt. The Bible tells us to avoid debt because it enslaves us to the lender. The Bible teaches us to get out of debt quickly and to live beneath our means, so that we can be free.

Free to do what? Free to live and give. Free to be a blessing and to answer God’s call.

Not in slavery because of a piece of plastic.