Culture Charcuterie
It's been a minute since I've posted. Honestly, I have the worst time fitting writing into my schedule these days, which is a shame. I need to update all of you on some amazing things that the Lord has been doing across the country through Precept, what He started in the lives of a group of students at Transform's Encounter Conference, and an update on my role at Sojourn Chattanooga. I need to and want to, but I can't right now.
Instead, I wanted to get your eyes on these meaty culture items. We call it Culture Charcuterie because there is nothing we love more getting a few friends together and filling up a wooden cutting board filled with various meats and cheeses to be sampled and paired together.
Waking Up To "Is He Worthy?": An Apology
Last week, one song by Andrew Peterson was on repeat. Then, The Gospel Coalition dropped a fantastic video. Then, Andrew Peterson posted THIS beautiful apology. Christian, there is a lot to be learned here.
So, as a white American singer/songwriter whose only hope is Jesus, I’m asking forgiveness of the friends and listeners to whom this video brought any measure of grief. I’m also asking the good people who have come to my defense to refrain from using social media to do so. Be silent long enough to really listen. And then, if the Spirit leads, engage with love and patience and humility. As I said, the only way to learn something is to screw up. What was only a small voice in my head a few weeks ago will, I assure you, be a loud, clear voice of wisdom in the future. I’m sure I’m going to make a mountain of mistakes in the days to come, but, Lord willing, this won’t be one of them.
A Quiet Exodus | Why Black Worshipers Are Leaving White Evangelical Churches
Related to the above, THIS is a telling piece in the New York Times that deserves your time.
"We were willing to give up our preferred worship style for the chance to really try to live this vision of beloved community with a diverse group of people," she said. "That didn't work." It has been a scattered exodus - a few here, a few there - and mostly quiet, more in fatigue and heartbreak than outrage."
White Evangelical Women, Core Supporters of Trump, Begin Tiptoeing Away
Now, before I get more hate mail from people, let me say that I wholeheartedly agree with God's Word when it says that we are to submit to the authority that God has placed over us. Yes, both Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 are great pieces for all Christians to study in their context. Yes, we are to honor and yes we are to pray. While all of those things are true, we can also note that the ties between some evangelical leaders within the church with the President and his character have been somewhat confusing to the world around us. Check out THIS article, also from the New York Times, that helps explain the confusion a little bit further.
The Last Temptation
While the last post was an article, The Atlantic devoted a whole issue to the topic of Evangelicals and Trump. Check THIS one out. The subtitle got my attention - "How evangelicals, once culturally confident, became an anxious minority seeking political protection from the least traditionally religious president in living memory." Yes, you may not agree with everything, but it is worth thinking through what the people around you where you live, work, and play are wrestling in the culture. People are wrestling with, "What does it really mean to be a Christian?" and "What is the difference does being a Christian make today?"
There you have it - the Charcuterie of Culture for this week - a sample pairing of what is happening in the world to be shared in open dialogue among friends. Some of it might make you mad - those are the spicy ones. Other articles might get a hearty, "Yop!" out of you. Either way, they're here for you to cause us to think. In the Old Testament, there were a group of people like this called the men of Issachar - men who had an understanding of the times and what Israel ought to do. Might we be those men and women!
Have you found any news pieces or posts that have made you think this week?
