Counter-Cultural Christianity

Next week, I'll be leading an adult bible study called CounterCultural Christianity by Chuck Colson.  Although Colson and I do not agree on many of the spiritual issues that he raises, I think this series should still create some fine and engaging conversations.  I look forward to posting some of the ideas that I discover with this study next week.

In advance thought and consideration of what counter-cultural Christianity might look like, here are some of my early thoughts.  We will see how they change after I lead this study and discuss these ideas with other people.

A counter-cultural Christian opposes the idea of eye-for-an-eye justice that pervades much North American foreign policy these days.  He/she does not say, "You hurt me, therefore you must die."  He or she says, "I may/may not understand why you hurt me, but I will not do the same as you and cause an equal amount of hurt."

A counter-cultural Christian opposes the North American consumer ethos of status through purchased possessions.  My possessions and appearance do not make me a good person; God makes me a good person through His grace and through the concept that He loves me regardless of anything that I might do.  God creates my sense of self-worth. As a result of this approach, the counter-cultural Christian is more apt to see wrongdoing through consumer choices and may abstain from certain company products that are produced through improper business practices.

A counter-cultural Christian says, "Just because my superiors tell me to do something, does not mean that I will necessarily go out and do it.  I will evaluate it for its efficacy as a Scriptural or Christ-like representation, and then ask God to show me whether or not it is worth doing.  I will still respect the wisdom and experience of my superiors, but not to the point where I do something I know to be wrong simply because my superiors told me to."

These are just a couple of ways in how I see a Christian can be counter-cultural in North America today.  We'll see what happens after my study...