What I will attempt to put into words is my definition of “counter-culture”. Without doing research or scholastic studies on the topic, here is what I am able to say about what the term “counter-culture” really means:
First, our culture is what takes place where we live and what we live with all day, every day – the people, places, way of thinking and events that influence us. It seems that our immediate focus should be on those around us. We should have enough love in our hearts to be willing to touch our neighbors.
Most times, born again Christians talk about two distinct groups of people, (1) Christians and (2) The World (meaning non believers). This is a Biblically correct definition of “the world”, but what many Christians use as the term “The World” instantly leads them to a generic and unconcerned opinion of people outside of their immediate circle. In my approach, we need to focus on our immediate surroundings, because we spend 99% of our life right here, unless we are missionaries or taken overseas by our occupation. It is easy for us to talk about “The World” and confuse it to mean our literal world. We therefore neglect our responsibilities, by passing the buck and blaming everyone and everything else for the way our culture is today. We are responsible as Christians and as citizens of this country to effect and affect our culture. We need to begin referring to our world more simply as the USA, or Texas or Houston. You may not feel that you are able to change “the world”, but you can change your neighborhood, your school and your home. It has been done before, and you can do it now.
As far as our behavior, in order to live “Counter-Culturally” we can and should be one sided, saying either “YES” or “NO” all of the time. “NO” to movies that have disrespectful content. “NO” to video games that portray cold blooded killing, evil and darkness and barely dressed girls. “NO” to the clothing we choose to wear that exposes parts of our bodies that were not meant to be exposed to the public. “NO” to dirty jokes. “NO” to poking fun at helpless individuals. “NO” to going with the wrong crowd. “NO” to surfing the internet for inappropriate reasons. “NO” to building “relationships” online, while neglecting those close to you……….. ”NO”,”NO”,”NO”!!!
Now don’t think all is lost, there are countless things to say yes to. For example, we need to say “YES” to a pure heart, mind and body. “YES” to be Christ-centered. “YES” to reading and following God’s word. “YES” to a real, personal relationship with God, not just a fluffy-feel good relationship. “YES” to everything good, full of virtue, praise and Godliness. “YES”,”YES”,”YES”!!!
This is OUR culture, yes; WE are a part of it. We have seen a moral degradation of our society. We and other Christians before us have caused it and shaped it and have brought it to where it is today. It is time to stop allowing the “world” to influence us and go against the flow by influencing the “world”. Our job as Christians is to not look like the rest of the world, which is where the term “counter-culture” comes in.
This idea of living counter culturally takes work, God never promised us an easy life and he said the rain will fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). You cannot simply go through life and expect to make a positive impact of your culture. You must attack life, knowing that you are living the truth being led and directed by God and His Word in order to make a difference and let others realize that you are not like the rest of your “world”.
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