The Church And Cultural Christianity

 A cultural Christian is someone who thinks Christianity is beneficial for society but is not necessarily committed to Jesus.  Christianity is indeed beneficial for society, but should the church promote cultural Christianity?  Let us take a deeper look into this matter.  

Is the church called to try to build a Christian nation or to make disciples of all nations?  Is America a battlefield or a mission field?  Cultural Christianity seeks to use Christianity for it's utilitarian value.  In cultural Christianity morality, politics and the culture wars are primary.  Theology and Biblical thinking are often minimized. 

When fighting the culture wars and making a America a "Christian" nation become the primary concern, the church is off track.  The church must proclaim true, Biblical Christianity not a watered down cultural Christianity.  The focus of the church must be sound doctrine, missions, evangelism, discipleship, theology, apologetics, and true worship, all for the glory of God.  

Of course making America a "Christian" nation is usually thought to be achieved through the political process.  This often involves the church tying itself to a politician or political party.  The church should never be tied to any politician or political party!  When this happens the witness of the church is compromised and damaged.  

Politics and the culture are important but they are not ultimate.  The church has to realize the battle is spiritual, not worldly.  It must stop trying to fight a spiritual battle with worldly weapons.  The Bible, prayer, and the gospel are the weapons of the church.  We need Biblical Christianity not cultural Christianity!   

 

Mark 1:1 (A Bible Translation Comparison)

 (ESV)"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 

(NIV)"The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God," 

(NRSV)"The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ." 

We notice a few differences with these translations at Mark 1:1.  The ESV has gospel while the NIV and NRSV have good news.  The NIV has Messiah while the ESV and NRSV have Christ.  Messiah and Christ both mean Anointed One.  

But the biggest difference is that the ESV and NIV include the phrase, "Son of God" while the NRSV omits it.  There is actually a textual variant in the manuscripts.  A few of the manuscripts do not have "Son of God" but most of the manuscripts do include the phrase.  

The omission of the phrase "Son of God" in a few ancient manuscripts is probably explained by a copyist error.  The words "Son of God" also appear toward the end of the Gospel at Mark 15:39.  So "Son of God" at 1:1 and 15:39 sort of serve as bookends.  It is likely that the words "Son of God" are part of the original text at Mark 1:1.  

(ESV) English Standard Version

(NIV) New International Version

(NRSV) New Revised Standard Version 

 

How Can A Good God Send People To Hell For Eternity?

 The assumption beneath this question is that if God was good he would not send people to hell for eternity.  But God himself is the standard, the ultimate authority who determines what is good and what is evil.  Good is what aligns with the character and law of God.  Evil is what opposes the character and law of God.  The unbeliever who poses this question has no basis for the categories of good and evil in the first place.  He has to assume God and the standards of God in order to even ask the question.  

The major problem we have is our view of God and our view of sin.  We do not take God or sin as seriously as we should.  God is infinitely holy and sin is an infinite offense against him.  Therefore an infinite punishment is required in this case.  Sin is an eternal matter that requires eternal punishment, not temporal punishment.  

The unbeliever has no right or basis on which to question the fairness or justice of God.  Because apart from God there is no basis for the categories of fairness and justice.  God is the only standard by which the concepts of fairness and justice can exist.  You do not judge God, he judges you.  God is the Creator, you are the creation.  God is God and you are not.  

So how can you avoid hell?  Salvation is found in Christ alone.  Those who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, will be saved from their sins and will not spend eternity in hell.  All true Christians will go to heaven for eternity.   

Bestselling Bible Translations (2025)

 Here is a list of the bestselling Bible translations for the year 2025 as compiled by the ECPA.  

1. NIV (New International Version)

2. ESV (English Standard Version) 

3. KJV (King James Version) 

4. NLT (New Living Translation)

5. NKJV (New King James Version) 

6. CSB (Christian Standard Bible) 

7. Reina Valera (Spanish) 

8. NIrV (New International Readers Version)

9. NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) 

10. NASB (New American Standard Bible) 

 

What About Those Jesus Figurines?

 In recent times Jesus figurines have become popular among Christians.  So is this a good thing or a bad thing?  

(Exodus 20:4-6)"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." (ESV) 

A Jesus figurine would seem to be a carved image, therefore violating the second commandment.  Jesus is God just as the Father and Holy Spirit are God, so the commandment would apply to him as well.  Any images or representations of Christ are forbidden, including figurines.  Although there may be good intentions with the Jesus figurines, they are ultimately problematic.  

The human mind is prone to think of visual images of Jesus as actually being him.  Whenever we view the image of Jesus as Jesus himself we are guilty of idolatry and have broken the second commandment.  An image or figurine cannot not truly represent Jesus.  They can only depict him as human.  In reality Jesus is fully God and fully man.  

It seems that many in the modern church do not really know who Jesus is.  He is a majestic, holy God, not a figurine!  Jesus figurines trivialize the Lord and cause people to commit idolatry.    

What Does The Word Christian Mean?

 The word Christian means someone who is associated with Christ or someone who is a follower of Christ.  A Christian is devoted and committed to Jesus who is the Christ, the only Son of God.  The term Christian is used in the New Testament only three times (Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16).  

(Acts 11:26)"And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." (ESV) 

(Acts 26:28)"And Agrippa said to Paul, In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" (ESV) 

(1 Peter 4:16)"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." (ESV)  

What Do The Names Jesus And Christ Mean?

 The name Jesus means the LORD saves, or Yahweh saves.  Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua.  Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus saves his people from their sins.  

(Matthew 1:21)"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (ESV) 

The name Christ means anointed one.  Christ and Messiah are actually the same thing.  Christ is the Greek term while Messiah is the Hebrew term.  Jesus the Christ was anointed or set apart to deliver his people from their sins.  

(John 20:31)"but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (ESV)