On Being Counter-Cultural

One thing about family reformation specifically, and conservative evangelicalism generally, is that they're strikingly counter-cultural. When you think about it, in a world that seems to be increasingly embracing a hedonistic, individualistic, materialistic culture, the very notion of "holiness" starts becoming so foreign, that it's almost a curiosity. "Holier than thou" has become a major insult, even though the very definition of holiness has all but disappeared from common societal understanding.

Think of all of the ways that family reformation and conservative evangelicalism are counter-cultural.

- Traditional gender roles, in a world that worships "equality" so long as that so-called equality drags down both genders equally into the pit of sin.

- Heterosexuality, in a world that is so concerned about "tolerance" that it is willing to accept just about anything, no matter how contrary to nature.

- Large families, in a world that constantly frets about overpopulation and overindulgence for the couple as two individuals, rather than as parents, or as a family unit.

- Pre-marital purity and modesty, in a world that is so sex-obsessed that risque "fashion" and pornography are multi-BILLION dollar industries.

I'm sure you can think of many more.

Being counter-cultural in the above ways can be like a badge of honor. We are making a stand, darn it, and not even the gates of Hades will overpower us! And it is right to make that stand, and it is important to make that stand, and we expect hardship and oppression and resistance as a result of making that stand. Indeed, that pressure from the world is promised all throughout Scripture.

The thought I had, which sparked this post, is that we always need to remember WHY we're making that stand. It's not about being counter-cultural simply for the sake of being... counter-cultural. We're making that stand for CHRIST. Because our Savior, our perfect Lord who is precious beyond all measure, died on the Cross for our sins. We can never forget that. "Preach the Gospel to yourself every day," a number of wise men have said, and I whole-heartedly agree.

Perhaps this is already basic and elementary to you. In a way, it's basic and elementary to me, too.

So why is it that I STILL forget, sometimes? That on occasion, when I'm all caught up in the middle of a storm, when I'm so busy making a stand, being counter-cultural, I tend to focus on that, instead of Jesus?

I pray we will always strive to be like Mary, who sat lovingly at the feet of her Lord to receive His teaching, rather than Martha, who despite all of her haste and diligence and frenetic activity somehow managed to let the most important thing of all slip out of her mind.