Relevance or Irreverence

I have a question for you to ponder. However before I ask the question let me quote the Apostle Paul:

"To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)

Now for the Question: In our desire to be relevant are we slipping into irreverence?

I believe we should reach out with the love of Christ in a way that will actively reach this generation. I believe there is technology available that can be used to reach the hearts of men and women for God. I don't have a problem in going where the people are, to reach those people for Christ.

I do have a problem when our attempts at relevance becomes forays into irreverence. I came across a book this week that was a "snarky" attempt at being real with God. Now I am all for being real with God and others. However this book promoted it's irreverence in my opinion. I could not even make it through the introduction.

The main problem was the language used and the message conveyed. When we talk and act like we have no morals how are people in the world supposed to know we are Christ-followers? When people look at our excessive PDA's how are they to know we have Biblical standards when it comes to sex? When we use vulgar language in everyday conversation how are people to know we love the Lord and revere Him? Are we not called to be in the world but not of it?

Can we not have fun and hang with the world in a way that will still bring glory to God? I believe we can. There are 2 Scriptures I am thinking of at this point. One is in John 17:14 where Jesus says "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." (John 17:14)

Another Scripture is: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

I believe we can be relevant and reverent. I believe we can have fun with those living in active sin while still honoring God in our words and deeds. I believe our lives should be a testimony, in words and deeds.

Lord let me honor you not only in private, but also while living in the world around me. I want to reflect the Son!