Counterculture: The Mindset of the Way of the Cross The Way of the Cross Series [5] Selected Scriptures October 13, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

CROSSWAY CHURCH’S VISION: “BE Christ’s transforming community that impacts ourselves, our neighbors, and our world for the glory of God and his kingdom.” Saltiness [quality] Congruence [integrity] Counterculture [mindset]

MISSIONAL COMMUNITY: LIVING AS CHRIST’S SENT-PEOPLE IN THE WORLD [JOHN 17] “...not of the world... not out of the world... but into the world.” – John 17:13-19 Implication #1: Christians are to be radically different from the world (“not of the world”).  Temptation: capitulation/compromise/rationalization. Implication #2: Christians are to stay engaged in the world (“not out of the world”).  Temptation: escapism/indifference/double-mindedness. Implication #3: Christians are to live as Christ’s sent-people in the world (“into the world”).  Temptation: denial/complacency/AWOL.

COUNTERCULTURE: OUR MISSIONAL MINDSET AS THE SALT AND LIGHT SaltLight  It preserves decay and seasons food.  It “bites” (salty not sweet).  It’s USELESS if saltiness is lost.  Focus: “Christian Character” in the world [Social Action]  It exposes darkness and illuminates space.  It “brightens” (the only way out of darkness).  It’s USELESS if light is hidden or brightness is lost.  Focus: “Christian Good Works” in the world [Evangelism]

THREE KEYS TO LIVING IN THE WORLD AS A MISSIONAL PEOPLE/COMMUNITY 1)We are to RETAIN SALTINESS/BRIGHTNESS as a missional people/community. [Radical Difference] “ 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ” John 17: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:13, 14  The first priority of a missional community is to have the “radical difference” as the people of Christ’s counterculture.  Why? We don’t belong to this the world; our citizenship is in heaven where Christ the King rules with his values.  As Christ’s church, we are to retain this distinctive Christian difference in values, characters, priorities, and goals.

I want the evangelical church to be the church. I want it to embody a vibrant spirituality. I want the church to be an alternative to post-modern culture, not a mere echo of it. I want a church that is bold to be different and unafraid to be faithful... a church that reflects an integral and undiminished confidence in the power of God’s word, a church that can find in the midst of our present cultural breakdown the opportunity to be God’s people in a world that has abandoned God. David Wells

THREE KEYS TO LIVING IN THE WORLD AS A MISSIONAL PEOPLE/COMMUNITY 2)We are to GO INTO THE SECULAR WORLD as a missional people/community. [Radical Involvement] “I do not ask that you take them out of the world...” John 17:15 22 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. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23  Rather than escaping from the secular world, we are to live among them, staying fully engaged in the world.  In so doing, we must carefully discern how to “contextualize” the gospel/our ways into the culture where we are entering.

To over-contextualize to a new generation means you can make an idol out of their culture, but to under-contextualize to a new generation means you can make an idol out of the culture you come from. So there’s no avoiding it.” Tim Keller

THREE KEYS TO LIVING IN THE WORLD AS A MISSIONAL PEOPLE/COMMUNITY 2)We are to GO INTO THE SECULAR WORLD as a missional people/community. [Radical Involvement] “I do not ask that you take them out of the world...” John 17:15 22 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. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23  Rather than escaping from the secular world, we are to live among them, staying fully engaged in the world.  In so doing, we must carefully discern how to “contextualize” the gospel/our ways into the culture that we are entering.  As Christ’s church, we are to go to the people who needs Christ and to the places/arenas that need salt and light.

THREE KEYS TO LIVING IN THE WORLD AS A MISSIONAL PEOPLE/COMMUNITY 3)We are to MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD BY LIVING COUNTERCULTURALLY as a missional people/community. [Radical Influence] “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:18 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9, 12  In making a difference in the world, we are to apply our Christian counterculture holistically and authentically.  In our own arena of our daily lives, we are to follow examples of many ordinary Christ-followers who changed the world.  As Christ’s church, we are to BE Christ’s counterculture, showing how Christ’s community transforms lives and values.

Making a Difference in the World by Being Different I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to play around with my life. I want to “leave it all out on the field” for Christ’s sake. I don’t want to be a mile wide and an inch deep, spiritually. I want to possess the backbone to dig in and be unfashionable... Christians who try to convince the world around them that they’re really no different at all, hoping they’ll be accepted on the world’s terms and on the world’s turf, should be embarrassed. It’s time for Christians to embrace the fact that we’re peculiar people. Because true followers of Jesus have been given a new heart and mind, we’re to operate according to a different standard, with different goals and motivations. Everything about us—our perspective on possessions, lifestyle, and relationships—will be foundationally different from the world around us: “We worship what we cannot see, love what we cannot hold, and live for what we cannot own.” To the world around us, this will seem out of place, uncool, and odd; it’s high time followers of Jesus learn to embrace that fact. ―Tullian Tchividjian

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.How can I retain saltiness (radical difference) as a Christ- sent person in the world? What about CrossWay as a missional church? 2.Where can I go or to whom can I go to stay engaged [radical involvement] as a Christ-sent person in the world? What about CrossWay as a missional church? 3.How can I make a difference by being different (radical influence) as a Christ-sent person in the world? What about CrossWay as a missional church?