I recently read the below quote on a blog written by a Christian brother named Arthur Sido:
The culture wars are over and the religious right lost. The casual immorality and confusion we see all around us speaks this truth loud and clear. Now is the time for the quiet way of the cross, a way that does not shout or seek power but also does not seek to hide or accommodate. Rather than seeking to blend in through capitulation or fighting for the last vestiges of political coercive power, we instead can follow a third way of quiet subversion via witness.
For some reason, these words really struck me.
If there were such things as “culture wars,” are they truly over? And if so, the other way he mentions… I will admit that I’ve thought along similar lines as well. In fact, this is the essence of what I was trying to say HERE.
A quiet way. A way that isn’t seeking power. A way that won’t compromise. A way that isn’t in any way hiding, but a way that knows it cannot coerce compliance to Scripture. A way that can be lived out regardless of what is happening around us.
Let’s see. A way that is rooted in the marching forward in the Gospel of Jesus; that recognizes that what we see in culture is a result of unconverted souls, uncommitted hearts, undiscipled children, and the loss of a biblical worldview.
Truthfully, I’ve gone back and forth between, in moments of zeal, “we must vote the right people into office and things will change” and in times of frustration, “maybe the extreme separatist movements have it right.” LOL! Yes, political change is needed, but that alone will not and cannot fix what is spiritually broken. Christian communities must be built...NOW!...and they must not hide that light under a bushel.
Brother Sido mentioned “the quiet way of the cross.” I really like this language. I will not presume to know what he means, but might this mean that we:
Preach the Gospel in our families, down the street and around world?
Reject worldliness and pursue biblical holiness?
Build godly families and disciple our children?
Use money for the glory of God?
Build churches that look more like the New Testament?
Help one another think biblically?
Do all these things in love?
Yes we MUST vote for godly leaders and yes we MUST cry aloud and spare not. But when we are finished in the voting booth and on the street corner, the work will continue.
Lest I am misunderstood, this isn’t an issue of loudness or volume. As I implied in my book, the church hasn’t lost her prophetic voice because we aren’t loud enough; we’ve lost our voice because we don’t preach and live the Bible and we haven’t taught our children to do the same. We lost the “culture wars” because we abandoned the authority of Scripture in every area of life. We have, without much of a fight, assimilated carnal and humanist philosophies and applied them to home and church.
Now admittedly, this “quiet way of the cross” doesn’t sound very sexy. It wouldn’t be rooted in big events and hoopla. I would think it would primarily manifest in day to day holiness, kindness, meekness, and faithfulness. It would find its power in simple, Spirit-driven living that is anchored in a heavenward perspective. It would not hop from new thing to new thing. It would just live, love, and last until Christ returns or He calls us home.
It's becoming clearer---> A simple life of love and faithfulness. Of refusing friendship with the world. Of modesty and propriety. Of good, hard work. Of speaking the truth in love. Of Spirit-filled living. Of fellowship and hospitality. Of good missions work. Of making our voices heard, but then trusting the Lord to change hearts. Of supporting the local church. Of teaching and training children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Of talks and walks and prayers and Gospel-preaching and discipleship and study and accountability and joy.
If this is what it is, I think I like it. :)
