When Under Attack (Part 2)

I began last week by observing that we live in an age of outrage—an age when the art of dialoguing over disagreements has been lost and instead we find ourselves polarised, taking sides and yelling abuse. In the face of this, even when we are the abused, Christians are are not commissioned to retreat into our buildings to form holy huddles and talk about the good old days. We live in a broken and fragmented world in need of the Gospel; and the God who did not spare his own Son for us has given us a mission focussed on the outraged. 

Neither outraging against outrage nor retreating from outrage are Gospel options. Proclaiming the Gospel is what is needed. But how do we do this?

I am convinced that the first thing you need to do is actually know what you believe and live what you believe. You are never going to be a blessing to an outraged world or promote change in it, if you are actually becoming more and more like it.  

Ed Stetzer writes that while many people claim to have a certain worldview, their habits and reactions paint a different story. 

Philip Ryken says, 

The way people respond to stress and pressure reveals their worldview... Whenever we bump into the world, our worldview has a way of spilling out. It comes out in what we think and love, say and do, praise and choose. 

Most people reading this trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, therefore you want to have your worldview shaped by his Word. But is it? Take a moment to reflect. Is your faith fundamental to who you are or do you only engage with God on Sundays and at Growth Group? Do you work on your faith? 

One way of answering this is to look at your progress with the ancient disciplines.

Regular Bible reading provides a daily reorientation for your life and helps you form a gospel shaped identity. 

Regular praying enables us to cast our concerns on God and to trust him with our insecurities. The discipline of prayer prevents us from venting, flaming or savaging others, either in person or online.

Regular pursuit of godliness enables us to keep in step with the Spirit who is guiding us in the way of truth and love for all people.

Regular gathering, giving and rest help you keep Jesus at the front and centre of all you do.  

So what do you think? Is faith fundamental or incidental to who you are?

As followers of Jesus, we have decided to live in light of the truth. We believe he is the true King of the world. We know he offers the right way to live in our world. So now is the time to live as people shaped by a gospel centred worldview so when you face the outrage you can remain connected to the world but not be like the world. More on that next week.