Backwards Kingdom: Rejecting Culture

Part of living in a broken world while representing a backwards kingdom means that we are called to more than just not living like the world. Instead, we are to completely reject the culture of sin that surrounds us and be a brighter light than the darkness all around us, and this is what I want to focus on next.

You see, it is easy as a believer to make idle comparisons with the world and say “I’m not doing what they’re doing, so it’s okay”. For example, I can claim that I don’t get wasted on the weekends, and therefore I am living in the way that the Lord wants me to. While this is a good step, allowing that to be your only thoughts towards sin is a dangerous game to play. Jesus didn’t free us so we wouldn’t sin, He freed us so we could live in the light. Because of this, it is not enough for us to simply say that we are not doing the same things that the world is doing. Truly being a light means altogether turning from the culture of our world and creating an entirely different culture that mirrors the message of Jesus. In fact, this is where the whole idea of a “backwards kingdom” comes from. So, I want to look into what it truly means to reject the world’s culture, instead of simply allowing it to happen around us.

The danger of desensitization

One word that I see used often in this context of Christians living in a broken world is “desensitization”, which is the process of becoming less and less sensitive to something around you. It is no surprise that we live in a broken world, and sometimes it feels like we are surrounded on all sides by acts of wickedness and sin. While it seems jarring and disgusting at first, as our exposure to it increases, we slowly allow ourselves to become more and more accustomed to seeing it around us. What was once shocking and unexpected becomes normal as we allow the existence of sin in our lives to go unnoticed. Whether you see this in your own sin patterns or by being around sinful lifestyles, we stop recognizing it for what it is and start accepting that it is a part of your routine living in this sinful world.

In my own life, I experienced this all too often while I went to a public high school. While I knew a few people in my classes that were believers, the majority of my classmates were not, which meant that there was no real accountability for these students other than the rules set for us while we were on school property. Whether I saw things happen in school, or heard stories from classmates of what happened the night before, I allowed myself to get used to it all, never realizing how dangerous it truly was for my spiritual health. One thing that I got especially desensitized to is the foul language that was all around me. While I didn’t love what others often chose to say, I started accepting it as a normal part of my culture that I was going to have to get used to. I had created a mindset of accepting the sin that was around me, instead of choosing to speak out against it.

In addition, we see this play out in the media, as we allow ourselves to be filled with things that aren’t good for our souls, often claiming that we are “mature enough” to watch it or “have already seen worse”. Whether it is music with unholy themes, movies with immodest scenes and language, or other such pieces of media, I know too many believers that make excuses for what they watch, myself included. One thing that I am struggling to surrender is my music, especially when a song’s beat is so good it tempts me to put less of a focus on the words that I am singing along to.

No matter where you are experiencing this desensitization, the reality is that the more we become used to sin, the less we understand the weight of it. Sin should shock us every time we see it, and should be a constant reminder of the broken world we live in. This is the only way that we can be pushed and challenged to shine bright as Matthew 5 commands us to do.

Jesus’ example

One instance in the New Testament that immediately comes to mind is Jesus’ tendency to break the norms that the culture around him had set and instead did what brought His Father glory. For example, instead of only letting others see Him alongside those with high social status, He sought out those that were poor, weak, or seemed “unworthy” by societal standards at the time. In Mark 2:15-17, we see that “as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, how is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” People expected a righteous man like Jesus to sit with those that society deemed as “good”, so when He did the complete opposite, heads turned as people watched in shock. Not only was He not following what culture told Him to do, but He completely rejected it in a bold act of love and sacrifice. Jesus’ love for these people was greater than His love for His reputation. He knew that the world wouldn’t love Him, but Jesus’ concern wasn’t getting the world to love Him. And, in fact, the same is told to us: “if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:18-19) The example that Jesus has given us is crystal clear: our goal should not be to fit into culture, but instead counter it with a truth so shocking that it dares people to ask why.

What now?

The solution to this problem is found in the book of Romans, where we are instructed to  “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2). We need to stop letting the world change us or change our view of sin, and instead allow our minds to be awoken by the will of God. Our minds have a massive impact on our lives, and the viewpoint that we have of sin is going to influence what we do, as well as why we do it. This scripture says that when our mind is transformed in a way that is towards Christ, instead of allowing sin to slowly creep in through making it “normal”, we will be able to see what the will of God is. We cannot be focused on what God’s will for our life is if our gaze is focused on sin, and allowing things that “aren’t that bad” to get a foothold in our hearts. After all, it says that God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect, so our minds must be completely focused on such things.

Like many things, though, this is easier said than done. How can we live in the world without being of it? The trouble with being the light in darkness is that you are surrounded by darkness, yet still encouraged to be different. In this, it is crucial to focus on the fruit that your life is producing. If your actions are pointing straight to a God that is loving, merciful, just, and kind, that is proof of shining despite the darkness. However, if your actions are self-seeking and instantly gratifying, this will reveal that you have become ensnared by the world and are living in that same darkness. The only way to be a part of the light is to immerse yourself daily in the Lord, and any time you feel yourself slipping away because of the little things that you have allowed in, anchor yourself instead to Christ, our rock. For example, if the language around you is foul and unkind, speak truth in your own heart through prayer and meditation on Scripture. If you catch yourself with music that is glorifying anything or anyone other than Christ, switch it to worship and remember who the focus is really on. If you are surrounded by voices telling you to “do what makes you happy” or “focus on yourself”, find new voices of people that are chasing the Lord fervently and ask them to help speak life into you. It isn’t easy, but the more you anchor yourself to truth instead of letting sin become a “new normal” in your life and around you, the more your mind will be transformed for God’s glory.