These days, there’s lots to dislike about American culture. Consider the absurd conversations happening in the gender wars. But that’s just the beginning.
In our culture, we long ago lost any sense of concern for what is appropriate or decent.
In our culture, we seem to embrace the proliferation of extreme violence and gore on streaming TV.
In our culture, it’s now taboo for news reporters to attach the word “Islam” to any act of violence, even when overwhelming evidence says otherwise.
Sneered At
In our culture, virtues like morality, humility, and purity are sneered at as “has- beens” that never were.
In our culture, we dismiss or deny peer-reviewed studies from organizations like the Peabody Journal of Education, which show home-educated students often score 15 to 25 percentile points higher on standardized achievement tests than public school peers.
In our culture, a weary TV trend dictates that every pastor or priest must be portrayed on screen as the sicko criminal.
Truly, there’s a lot to dislike about American culture. And frankly, it’s okay to dislike parts of it. The Bible says, “Woe to those who call good evil and evil good” (Isaiah 5:20).
Open Arms vs. Clenched Fists
Again, it is okay to dislike the sinful elements of our culture, but it is not okay to dislike the sinful people of our culture. And that’s where many believers get it wrong. Increasingly, I fear we come across as hating the people of our culture, not just disliking their evil ideals. We’re known for clenched fists rather than open arms.
How in the world can we expect to draw them to the Christ who loves them—if we come across as hating them? We can and must have healthy debates about the issues. But it is never okay to dismiss, degrade, or decimate people with whom we disagree.
When the Bible says, love your enemies, surely—surely— it must mean that we treat them with kindness, courtesy, and respect.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” -Jesus (Matthew 5:43,44)
