Vineyard Church | Weekly Update October 25, 2023

When I use the term Cultural Christianity, I do not use it as judgement or deprecation; rather, I use it to describe or define. Cultural Christianity is a religion that practices rituals without the submission to discipleship; it is the actions separated from faith. Cultural Christianity is the attempt to allow works to cover a lack of submission… If I go to church on holidays, listen to Christian music, be nice to people, I can be distracted by this good and never have to engage in the uncomfortable parts of following Jesus. I can hold onto things that are “mine.” I can create a paradigm for theological issues like sin and forgiveness that fits my life or my comfort and stay in a safe zone that will lead me to miss what freedom truly is.

This might be coming off rather harsh, and if so, I apologize, because it is not my intent. I am bringing this up today because this is a common occurrence in churches in the U.S., and unfortunately, some churches have fed Cultural Christianity in their seeking of nickels and noses. The parables of Jesus give us pericopes of teachings he used to call us out of cultural religion and into a faith relationship that would change the world. The process doesn’t always feel safe and comfortable, but the less safety and comfort are our goals, the safer and more comfortable it becomes!

The Greek word Meno, the word that launched our current study of the parables captured in the Gospels, has a depth that Cultural Christianity will miss. We are using Meno as “to draw life from,” so when we place this meaning to what Jesus teaches in John 15, he is inviting us to draw life from him in the same way as a branch draws life from the vine. When we draw life from the vine, we are feeding off of what feeds the vine. We become like the vine because we receive from the vine.

One of the most difficult hurdles to clear in my own discipleship is giving up the right to be offended, hurt, and sinned against. I have tended to want justice when others transgress against me while I want mercy for my own transgressions. This posture is a symptom of self-centeredness, and it has been the most difficult part of me to dislodge and give over to Jesus. When I have engaged in Cultural Christianity, it has been on this point… I am willing to be good, nice, and friendly (all of those defined by me, of course); I will listen to Christian music and participate in Christian rituals and allow all of that to “cover” an avoidance of discipleship. 

We all Meno something, and that is not Meno-ing Jesus. Finding the freedom that Jesus offers requires a walk through the rough stuff we hold onto, and for many of us, a posture of forgiveness is the roughest of stuffs… Allen Hodges, our Founding Pastor, used to say that our theology drives our practice. Often, our practice exposes our theology. In other words, what we do demonstrates what we believe. The grace offered to us from Jesus allows us to self-examine our practice, compare it against a theology of forgiveness, and ask Jesus for help in where we might fall short. Drawing on the metaphor of being fed by the vine, our practice of forgiveness is central to drawing life from Jesus.

The Apostle Peter calls us to Meno in Jesus this way:

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 

22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25 (NLT)

Often, a stumbling block for me seeking forgiveness from someone is that I want to see something from that person that will then make asking them to forgive me more palatable. Asking for forgiveness becomes less about what sin I committed against them and more about their worthiness to be forgiven. Thoughts like “they are guilty, too” or “remember what they did that time?” become excuses to not face my own sin. 

If only they would apologize, too… This trap is also a condition I can put on seeking forgiveness from someone.

What conditions are we applying to people we might have sinned against? Sit with the Lord today and ask for this revelation. Ask God to remove the need for conditions in order to seek the forgiveness of those we have sinned against and draw life from Jesus as we feel his forgiveness of us flow into our forgiveness of others. Let this be a testimony to the glory of God! 

Adam Greenwell
Pastor  |  Billings Vineyard Church
www.BillingsVineyard.org