Culture War' Casualties
Theme of the Week: Two Worlds, One Lord
Dean Merrill
Friday, July 9, 2004
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Key Bible Verse: This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:22, NIV). Bonus Reading:Romans 3:21—31
Larry Poland, a Christian who has labored more than 15 years inside Hollywood starting Bible studies and encouraging more responsible programming, says that years ago a certain Saturday Night Live actor needed to be disciplined for vulgarity. He was warned several times to stop his vulgarity, but he would not. Finally, the network decided to fire him.
But just then, thousands of cards and letters began arriving at NBC headquarters from Christian activists demanding that something be done. To NBC, the whole case now changed color. If they fired the actor, they would appear to be caving in to the religious right. The comedian got to keep his job.
Something went awry here—something that illustrates the shortcomings of headon confrontation. Powerful people don't like to be pushed to do something they didn't think of first. They'll find a way to save face and their independence. This is why a "culture war" model has its limitations. Headon confrontation is external; it doesn't make the opponents want to change. If they react, it's out of fear, which soon wears off. You can't shout people into holiness.
—Dean Merrill in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church
Adapted from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church (Zondervan, 1997) by permission.
My Response: What are constructive ways I can work for cultural change?
Thought to Apply: There will be no true freedom without virtue, no true science without religion, no true industry without the fear of God.
—Charles Kingsley (novelist)
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