Many years ago I subscribed to a relatively new magazine called ‘Relevant’. Though I haven’t subscribed in years, its purpose was – and still is – to examine the intersection of faith and popular culture, with the underlying vibe that faith needs to stay in step with the culture. (The original tag line of the magazine was  ‘God. Life. Progressive Culture.”). To be sure, the primary task of the gospel is to take God’s truth (as revealed through His word) into the world. But the more I’ve observed the trajectory of “progressive culture”, the more I’ve become convinced that the church’s greatest witness is to – lovingly – stand in sharp contrast to that culture.

And yet I see churches desperately trying to appear “relevant”, seeking affirmation and acceptance and a nod of approval from the culture. And in that process I see a deliberate excision of that which makes the bride of Christ unique from the culture at large. I see church-based after-school programs that dare not mention Jesus out of a concern for “sensitivity” of other beliefs (or lack of belief). I see church-based book clubs that focus on the New York Times best-seller list rather than books to help form and grow disciples. In study groups I see a diminution of scripture in favor of personal stories and perspectives. And in preaching and teaching I see God’s word being deconstructed and criticized, to the point that the gospel as presented in the Bible “just doesn’t make much sense” (a quote I read from a pastor in a church newsletter earlier this year).

Certainly, “progressive culture” would agree with that pastor.

Through that deconstruction and diminution of the Word, the position of an increasing number of pastors, and denominations, is that scripture should answer to us. I would argue the exact opposite. As the inspired Word of God, we need to answer to scripture. To argue otherwise is to set ourselves up as God. (That is, of course, the original sin, which plays itself out over and over again).

There’s one thing I believe more strongly than ever: the culture needs the church desperately. And in that interaction, the church doesn’t need to be “relevant” (at least in terms of what the culture is preoccupied with). We need to be faithful. We need to reject the values and “wisdom” of the culture. The Kingdom of God turns the culture on its head, and has ever since Jesus originally proclaimed it. And Jesus Himself tells us we should expect that the cultural “powers that be” will almost certainly despise and oppose us when we work to introduce people to the Kingdom of God.

Australian pastor Mark Sayers, in his book ‘The Road Trip that Changed the World’, describes the culture as “superflat”, where any serious discussions about the big, spiritual, and existential issues of life are off the agenda in the public sphere, and where institutions – including religious institutions – are viewed through a lens of suspicion. In that superflat environment, many of us end up trying to satisfy our longing for meaning and purpose through more shallow, temporal issues and diversions like politics, sports, social media, and streaming video. Yet none of that stuff ever really fulfills those deeper longings – we always end up recognizing that there’s still something we lack. We’re wired for something more.

Our postmodern culture looks down on privilege. But we are a privileged people. We have the privilege of knowing our Creator. Any person who casts that privilege in negative terms doesn’t yet understand the gospel. Any pastor who casts that privilege in negative terms is, quite frankly, working in opposition to the gospel, and should be rejected.

We need a resurgence in “the priesthood of the believer”, especially given the increasing number of pastors who have lost the plot. We have a great story to tell, and it’s not a story of capitulation to the culture. Nor is it a story of securing worldly political power, as some in the church have mistaken it for. All of that stuff – popular culture, politics – has an expiration date. We have a message that latches onto eternity.

To paraphrase Professor Darrell Bock, the gospel is a profound story, with the promise that God supplies what we lack. The bridge to Him can be rebuilt, because He rebuilds it by His grace. It’s a positive message, not a negative one. It’s not just a momentary decision, or simply about avoiding eternal punishment. It’s about reconnecting to the living God. It’s about gaining everything.

In our postmodern times, one thing that most people are still open to is narrative. And we have an awesome one. So let’s jump on that opportunity.

The stories are true. Let us – each of us – tell them through our words and our lives.