Countercultural
Imagine writing a letter to a loved one, someone who is beloved to you. The purpose of your letter is to encourage them to stay true to their goodness and be guided by their God-given virtue. You have seen this person wander from the straight path of the Lord. Maybe it is the choices they are making within their relationships. Maybe they are falling prey to the pressures of society to succeed and possess certain material things. Maybe it is the actions they take in their free time. This letter is not a letter of attack or judgment; it’s a letter written out of love and concern.
Saint Paul’s letter to Colossians was this letter. This book of the Bible, written two thousand years ago, was written because the church at Colossae was wandering from the path of staying true to its beliefs due to a culture that was hostile to Christianity. Roman culture was full of oppression, slavery, and unjust domination of others. The Colossians were trying to follow Jesus, but external pressures that “justified” sinful and heretical practices were closing in on them. The Colossians were being offered ways that were not Jesus’ ways. Saint Paul responded to this situation (from prison!) by rooting the Colossians in a deep and immovable understanding of the person of Jesus Christ.
The solution was Jesus.
Following Jesus was even a little bit countercultural 2,000 years ago. I think it’s safe to say that it’s a bit more countercultural today.
Being Christian can be countercultural in a world with norms of comfort, instant gratification, and fulfillment built on pleasure. But I would much rather have a constant source of love and confirmed path to eternity than a fleeting promise of what today’s culture says will make me happy. Are we willing to be faithful to Jesus? Faithful amidst the culture? Whether we recognize it or not, we are frequently tested in our culture.
As a result, and on a positive note, these frequent tests mean we have constant opportunities to grow closer to Jesus, to be a witness to others, to write a letter with our words or with our actions, just as Saint Paul courageously did.
We may not think of our day-to-day words and actions as countercultural. By recognizing external pressures or temptations in our life that pull us away from Jesus, we become aware of the battle. Whether it’s our own battle or someone else’s, there is a hopeful constant - Jesus.
Lord, help me to be countercultural. Give me something everlasting. Grant me an immovable, unshakeable, and powerful foundation - time after time, it’s You.