Today’s Devotional - April 2, 2020
This is a series of messages from the time of isolation during the COVID19 Response in Oregon, United States.
A different paradigm shift has been shaping our culture and the Church before coronavirus arrived on the scene. Besides my own observations and personal conversations, I’ve run across descriptions of this in the writings of Phyllis Tickle, the recorded conversations between John Mark Comer and Mark Sayers, and recently as I’ve re-visited a little book called, “A Creative Minority” by Jon Tyson & Heather Grizzle. Tyson is lead pastor and Grizzle attends at Church of the City New York, in New York.
What’s the paradigm shift? - It is this; the Christian worldview is no longer dominant in the Western World today.
You might respond with a, “Yeah - that’s obvious!” and I’d agree that it’s especially clear in Oregon. However, I’ll also ask, have you changed to match this reality? Are you living the role of a minority in this culture?
The dominant position in a culture is marked by a drive to preserve what we’ve got and great concern when the status quo is challenged…. because the status quo is us. Members of the dominant position navigate freely through society and loose-knit networks are fine because you are confident you can fit in almost anywhere. It doesn’t matter too much whether you’re right in what you say or think because your perspective will not be truly challenged.
The minority position in a culture is a different experience. The minority offers an alternative way of interpreting just about everything and a unique way of walking out every day life. The minority is a challenge to the status quo simply by existing. You must be able to defend and backup what you believe to be true. You must be able to give an answer for your faith. As a minority, you are not free to “be yourself” wherever you go without expecting serious pushback. Consequently, as a minority, you depend on a close network of friends that share your values. These are friends that know your sorrows, share your victories as their own, and lean on each other daily.
There’s a lot to digest around this topic, but I’ll pause here and invite you to ruminate on this. Are you ready to accept the role of the minority?
“Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.” - 1 Peter 2:11
“All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” - Hebrews 11:13
“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.” Philippians 3:20 (NLT)
Today’s Song: Our God - By Chris Tomlin
Our God by Chris Tomlin (Reyer Remix) featuring William Wixley
Lyrics for “Our God”
Water you turned into wine. Opened the eyes of the blind.
There’s no one like You, none like You
Into the darkness You shine, out of the ashes we rise.
There’s no one like You, none like You
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is healer, awesome in power
Our God, our God
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is for us, then what could stand against
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is for us, then what could stand against
What could stand against
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