Biblical Counterculturist (Lent 33–2013)
Pope Francis is a counterculturist and that’s a good thing. Given the dank depths to which the so-called mainstream culture has sunk, being countercultural is a breath of fresh air.
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Pope Francis greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
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Be a Biblical Counterculturist–that’s the message the Apostle Paul tells us in today’s passage:
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
In a culture that exalts hedonism, excess, self-gratification, sexual aberrance, license, tolerance–indeed celebration–of what God calls sin, and a selfish, godless human existence with few to no moral limits, Scripture tells us to be countercultural.
Don’t conform to that culture!
Take a stand against all that!
Well done, Pope Francis! Well done, Christian counterculturist!
By way of contrast to our modern culture, Biblical Counterculturalism calls us to self-sacrifice, holiness, worship of God, thanksgiving for His mercy, spiritual renewal, reformation of our minds and our churches, and by the power of the Gospel, it calls us to humility.
How are you doing with being a Biblical Counterculturist?
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Give it up for Lent: Conformity with an immoral world
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For further study:
- In what ways was Jesus countercultural? Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and identify ways in which Jesus preached a countercultural life for His disciples.
- What pressures are placed against Pope Francis and other Christians to conform to what the world wants?
- From where does a Christian derive his strength to stand tall and to resist conformity? Name a few ways Christians can find encouragement.
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