Counter Cultural

I can't believe its been Tuesday from when I last posted a blog - whoops, where has time gone! Its been a full on week that is for certain. Full of delight from talking to love ones both here and afar, endless photos of niece, sister, dear friend who got married, new babies and friendships starting to blossom. Full of moments of reality, moments of tears, news of loved ones struggling, news of society turning against each other, images flash before me like 'doom and gloom' show. (Sr. taught me that her sister used to call the news the doom and gloom show, love it - so accurate) 

Moments of recommitment, more stripping of the layers within myself and more light shinning all around me. 

Its been a wonderful week ; praise God. 

So much I could write my blog about yet today two words are full of weight -

COUNTER CULTURAL

Two little words that hold so much meaning and depth. I would never have thought two worlds would provoke a stirring within me. I was at a retreat day with Sr. it was for religious women from small congregations who gather together every few months. I was very fortunate to tag along with Sr, just thinking it was a retreat day not knowing this was for religious, so a surprise on the day! 

Sr, made the statement that "been merciful is counter-cultural" which lingered in the air!

What truth she speaks, what almighty weight her words carry. It was one of those moments that I just want to bath in, moment of realization, moment of the light bulb above my head turns on and breaks releasing lots of little cute fire flies to shine their magical light everywhere! 

Been in lent I have noticed the similar message, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21) Hearing this message on Ash Wednesday, the start of lent, set this beautiful and powerful beginning of what Jesus is asking, showing, calling. Jesus is challenging all his listeners to a countercultural way of living, however it goes deeper than the things commonly heard time and time again - Don't be obvious in your charity; give in secret; Don't be grandiose in your prayer, pray quietly and alone; don't be dour in fasting; be joyful in your sacrifice; or one I treasure, don't trust in material wealth, trust the riches of heaven. OH how it is not easy to go against the grain, yet Jesus is calling or rather inviting us all to give up trusting ourselves and trust the Lord alone! 

Leading up to lent leaves on me edge a little, with a lot of talk about what are you giving up! Making it seem the season is equated with penitence and offering; don't get me wrong these kinds of disciplines can be great BUT the words from Jesus I hear time and time again is rather giving up the reliance on ourselves and rely on Him. What a gift the heart delights in; what a pure gift we are given repeatedly; if we don't unwrap, it just sits waiting for us, waiting with love until our heart is at one. Only by the Lords grace can we live counter-cultural; through the Lords almighty gracious ways we are able to let go from the actions the want to hold onto wealth giving a false sense of power and control, releasing and embracing grace and faith to let go and let the Lord give us His gift. 

Everywhere we turn in todays society battle lines are being drawn not just in church yet in society - 

traditional marriage vs same sex marriage,

pro-life vs pro-choice,

personal freedom vs governmental protection …. and the list goes on and on! 

If YOU listen there is a compassionate call been cried through out the world, a cry from men, women and children weeping from the clouds pouring out into the all the land. Words of poverty, racism, sex slavery, immigration, abortion, persecution, orphans, widows… the words keep flowing from all around the world the call presents an unapologetic yet winsome call for Christians to faithfully follow Christ into the cultural battlefield in ways that will prove both costly and rewarding. The line has been drawn!! The moment has come for Christians to rise up and deliver a gospel message that's more radical then even the most controversial issues of our day!! Pope Francis is a leading example of this!

At times recently I have been surrounded by a "world" that is on the edge of been lost. It feels like I look around to faces of grieving women, faces of hearts feeling heavy at the blindness that is before them. My voice wants to rise, wants to rejoice in the present blessings been poured upon the church, upon the people, upon all who is willing to accept, see and embrace. The church - meaning people - possibly need to conceive itself as in a period of counter-cultural formation; so it takes up the invitation to develop an intentional worldview of witnessing and been mould by the Lord. Formatting itself by practice among a community of believers to help the next generation navigate this brave new world. 

What does counter-cultural look like? Some days I would say just open up and look at me yet this is very narrow view; go beyond, open your back doors and seek the light in the changing landscape that is representing a new chapter in the story God is telling through His people. Its a welcome change from the out-of-control manipulations that is intertwined too closely leaving a shadow of darkness to fall upon peoples hearts. The new opportunities to send the Gospel out in fresh and compelling ways is laying at our feet. Every generation has to face quandary of how to maintain cultural influence and in our changing world. Let the conversation has been resurrected again, let us be salt, preserving agents actively working for restoration in the middle of a 'decaying' culture. Been disciples of understanding the importance of being restorers as fight against the cultural norms and often flow counter to the cultural tide, just like Jesus with the invitation in partnership with the Lord to restore and renew everything we see falling apart. 

Commitment to being countercultural rather than being removed or 'relevant' isn't always easy! Living differently is often hard, going against the flow of culture creates friction and provokes hostile reaction to the good that is trying to be created. Countercultural communities restore the should of the world, winning the skeptics and revitalizing our faith!! Jesus call was clear for the Christian community to be salt on a rotting world and light in the dimmest place. Through maintaining this cultural orientation that the world can experience the Lords restoration power and people will convinced that faith is all we claim, all that Jesus commissioned his followers to. Our beloved Peter encourages us all - 

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, 

they may see your deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (1Peter 2:12)