Against the Flow

In the past 30 years, America has moved from a nation where Christianity had a place of privilege in culture to a place on the margins. You might say the moral majority has become a minority, and the Pacific Northwest, particularly Seattle and Portland, are leaders in this shift. “Traditional values” are under attack and we all feel it.

What to do? Get more angry and resentful? Get more political? Nostalgic? And if we win a few legal battles, what about the gospel? After all, the end goal of the church is not a Christian America but the kingdom of Christ.

As we prepare to live in a very different world, how about we get more biblical? The early church was a minority who found ways to change the world by focusing on the main thing, the gospel. We have letters they wrote to help people live as “strangers and aliens” in this world. One of these letters was written by Peter – we call it “First Peter.” He instructs people how to live against the flow, with faith, hope, and courage. Just what we need today.