When I was in high school the “straight” kids could not be part of the “in-group.” The kids who drank, or partied or did drugs were popular. Off-color jokes and cutting others down also helped. But obviously this was just kids trying to be cool and popular and willing to compromise their conscience. In their view, Christians are not popular. The good kids just had to accept being outsiders. But when the “in-group” kids became adults it seemed that many of them matured and recognized what it meant to live a healthy life. They married and had kids and changed their ways. They became more responsible and less dependent on approval won through foolish immorality.
But now it seems the whole country is like a high school. Few actually grow up anymore. Hedonism and boastfulness are the popular virtues. Honest reflection on meaning and values is rare. When the “good kids” in society speak up they just get shoved to the side. They seem so uptight and judgmental to the in-group. Christians are not popular. It seems like they are just trying to ruin everyone’s fun. Even though they try to protect the young and the weak, they are rejected for being moralistic or religious. Even though families are disintegrating, hearts are dying and children are crying, the “in-group” doesn’t want to hear it. Even though divorce, pornography, violent video games, and sexual confusion are destroying children, the “in-group” won’t act because they believe everyone creates their own morality and there is no universal morality. Parents shouldn’t even teach morality to their children; children should create their own moral system. No principles transcend the individual. So, we let everyone destroy themselves with their own fun.
The “in-group” is very accepting as long as you don’t mention morality. So the “in-group” keeps growing and gets to enjoy the limelight and laugh at the “straight” kids. The popular teachers, actors and musicians lead the way. Yet even though the “in the group” acts like they are happy, inside they are lost, lonely, and sad. But they have to hide it because they don’t want to give up on their self-centered ideologies.
Consider some Scripture on this topic. The nature of this age is evil: “[He] gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age” (Gal. 1:4, ESV). “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19, NIV). “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matt. 7:13-14, NIV). Christ-followers will be rejected, and we will live “outside the camp” in Christlike disgrace (Heb. 13:13). Our “city” (Heb. 12:22) and citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14, NIV). So we should not be surprised that Christians are not popular.
So how do followers of Jesus respond? As always we respond in the Spirit with the fruits of the Spirit: love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and humility. Whether we are involved in politics, schools, or our hobbies, the fruits of the Spirit, which are the virtues of Christ, are always top priority.
Secondly, we accept reality without anger. Of course, we may have a short time of denial, but if we don’t accept reality we won’t be able to make a difference. Pretending that we are still part of the “in-group” keeps us from acting effectively. We must accept the reality that Christians are not popular in many places. Moreover, we must be able to accept this without anger. It hurts that we are losing something very precious to us – a society that respects Christian living. It is easy to be angry but we can’t afford to be angry because it poisons our attitude. We must “love our enemies”. Anger and fighting only block the kingdom of God from coming into our situation.
Which leads to the final point. If we can embrace reality and the fruits of the Spirit then we are ready to engage the lost. We can learn how to talk to our un-Christian neighbors. We can remind ourselves that no matter how they appear their hearts are empty and really do need Jesus. We can remind ourselves that many have been devastated by our destructive culture and they are just replaying what they’ve been taught. Everyone wants to be respected and valued. When we give them that the door is almost always open.
How much have you accepted the reality that Christians are not popular in many places in our society? That our morality is only embraced by a small minority? What is your attitude about this? What emotions do you embrace? How will you be a light where you are? How can you talk about what is good without antagonizing others?
