For nearly nine years I have pursued a calling to awaken, encourage, and equip the church to more effectively engage the culture with the redemptive mission of Christ. When I began this work, it was often a real challenge to even convince Christians that there might be a problem within the church in America and its faithfulness to the biblical mission—that the church's weakness was the necessary precondition of our culture's descent into immorality and secular schemes. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. By God's grace, more and more Christians are awakening to the realities of a church that has seemingly lost its way. Increasingly, I encounter serious-minded Christians who, in light of this revelation, are seeking to restore a faithful (and full-orbed) expression of the Christian life and witness.

The church, it seems, is being made ready to assume its missional role in the world and to acquire the understanding necessary for its faithful participation in the larger redemptive mission of Christ. As most observers are aware there is a dearth of consciously Christian worldview knowledge within the church—meaning: How does the biblical revelation serve to inform every aspect of life and culture? A Barna survey in 2004 showed "just 9% of all born again adults and just 7% of Protestants possess a biblical worldview." The same study also revealed, "only half of the country's Protestant pastors—51%—have a biblical worldview" (Barna Update, 2004). More recently, figures demonstrate some slight improvement. In 2009, Barna reported, "less than one out of every five born again adults (19%) has a biblical worldview."

Of course, it must be said that the criteria (seven questions) used to define "Biblical worldview" were so rudimentary as to represent nothing more than the most basic tenets of the Christian faith, so the need for education remains enormous. Fortunately, there has been some progress on this front. There are today numerous ministries and resources available to equip the church with a consciously Christian understanding of reality. For example, The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, of which I am a part, is an incredible resource. Nonetheless, there does remain a practical disconnect between worldview theory and application. Because the church is so deficient in this area, we're often still addressing the foundations of the Christian life and worldview, unable to advance toward application. This condition has led me to launch the Kingdom Project™, a boots-on-the-ground discipleship/training program for applying the Christian worldview, producing tangible cultural transformation through the advance of the kingdom.

While there is, indeed, much more emphasis today on "Christian worldview" than there was fifteen or twenty years ago, I would argue that most of these programs remain academic. In other words, most worldview education—due to the aforementioned deficiency—remains at a 50,000-foot level, centered largely on the historic role of Christianity in shaping Western civilization. Other approaches serve to illuminate the contrast between the secular and biblical views of morality and life issues. While this knowledge is certainly important, and provides an essential foundation, it is often unable to proceed toward ground-level application.

After more than eight years of writing, teaching, and speaking on the subject of Christian worldview from a similar academic level, I now feel it is time to roll up my sleeves and personally begin to help others apply these principles so they can both experience personal transformation and become transforming agents themselves. The specific goal of the Kingdom Project™ is to help Christian business/institutional leaders discover how their vocational gifts and their enterprises can tangibly advance the kingdom of God.

Why the emphasis on business, you may ask?

Because the corporate culture in America is perhaps one of the most challenging arenas for modern Christians to effectively live out and apply their faith. Is it also one of the most influential contributors to the creation of culture in twenty-first century America and therefore should be claimed under the lordship of Christ.

Historically, it was distinctly Christian ideas and principles that gave birth to free-market capitalism, established work as a noble calling, created the means of finance, and encouraged the concept of capital investment. Christianity—believing human beings were made in the image of God—prioritized the development of human potential as expressed in one's vocation and ignited unparalleled entrepreneurialism, creating the largest economy in the history of the world. These consciously Christian economic principles have fostered more human flourishing—lifting more people out of poverty—and proven more beneficial to humanity than any other political or economic enterprise in all of human history. What may be surprising to note by many Christians today is that this historic activity was not seen as collateral to the Christian faith but actually an integral part of God's redemptive, liberating kingdom come into the world.

In the post industrial-revolution era, there is perhaps no more important sphere of American life and culture than business to transform with the gospel of the kingdom. For most of human history, predominantly agrarian societies were the cultural context into which the church carried its mission. Commercial enterprises existed on a smaller scale, touching far fewer people. Survival was a much more pressing concern than "career development." This is clearly no longer the case. We now live in a culture shaped, in large part, by global corporations and powerful business interests. Therefore, the church must seriously consider this new context in light of the mission of God (missio Dei). Despite more than a century of experience, the church has yet to develop a successful response to modernity. I am convinced that the Christianization of corporate America offers one of the most effective solutions for pressing the kingdom of God in the modern era.

As a side note, does anyone believe that the American business culture is not in need of reformation? The only real question is who will do the reforming—the government or the church?

I will be sharing much more about the Kingdom Project in the weeks ahead. If you are interested in starting your kingdom project, visit www.MyKingdomProject.org to learn more and apply for this one-of-a-kind, no-cost program.

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S. Michael Craven is the President of the Center for Christ & Culture and the author of Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity (Navpress, 2009). Michael's ministry is dedicated to equipping the church to engage the culture with the redemptive mission of Christ. For more information on the Center for Christ & Culture and the teaching ministry of S. Michael Craven, visit: www.battlefortruth.org

 

A poll by the Pew Research Center reveals that "eighty-one percent of 18- to 25-year-olds…said getting rich is their generation's most important life goal." The second most important, according to the survey: being famous." Described as the "millennial" generation, 51 percent listed being famous as the second most important life goal!

A Gallup Panel survey of 18- to 29-year-olds found that 55 percent agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "You dream about getting rich."

Most telling are the results of an annual survey of college freshmen by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, in which 2005 data show that "the percentage who say it is ‘essential' or ‘very important' to be ‘very well off financially' grew from 41.9% in 1967 to 74.5% in 2005." Ironically, "developing a meaningful philosophy of life" dropped in importance from 85.8% in 1967 to 45% in 2005."

Anecdotally, one only has to watch the latest season of the hit series American Idol, which began last week, to realize that many in this generation are obsessed with fame and fortune to the point of radical self-delusion. I'm not criticizing the show; I actually like it. I delight in seeing those who actually do have talent realize their dreams. However, many of these wannabe stars—convinced of their ability—seem oblivious to the fact that they have absolutely no singing talent whatsoever. None! In fact, their outrageous assumptions to the contrary and subsequent humiliation (of which only we and the judges seem to be aware of) are made to be part of the show's entertainment.

This should not be unexpected among a generation raised in the "self-esteem at all cost" era, in which everyone is encouraged, cajoled, and celebrated regardless of their performance. It seems as if the worst thing a person could be told today is that he has failed in any endeavor. The harm in all of this is a false sense of self coupled with a distorted view of reality. The self is elevated to the place of supremacy. In doing so, theologian Lesslie Newbigin points out that, "Who am I? becomes an absorbing question, one that would never occur to a person who takes for granted the existence of a real world by which one can orient oneself" (Newbigin, Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt, and Certainty in Christian Discipleship, [ Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,1995] 34).

Newbigin is making a profound point here. In the absence of any comprehensive and coherent view of reality (i.e., a worldview), there naturally follows a sense of isolation, which limits one's view of the world to only its relation to the self. The autonomous self becomes the sole arbiter of truth; that is, "What's true for me" becomes the only and final basis for determining truth, while the authentication of the self is reduced to one's own experience, lifestyle, and feelings. Thus, there is no overarching authority outside oneself by which one can analyze, understand, and determine how one should interact with the real world. Our story becomes the story of the world.

In other words, "It's all about me!"—and these self-delusional perspectives have become common. Such people basically construct their own reality, utilizing the superficial means of fashion and style, creating a "star-like" view of themselves.

Why should we care, you may ask? For one, such superficial value is far less than God intends. Human value does not derive from how we look or what we can do. Human beings are valuable because we bear the image of God. We are valuable because God has intentionally created each one of us, and value always derives from the creator, not the created thing. Secondly, we should care because we want to reach this generation with the gospel view of reality—a view in which I am not the central character in the story of the world. That story is bigger than me and centers on a loving Creator who desires to draw me back into His story of the world. It is this fact that gives me real value and purpose, not the superficial trappings of the world—God loves me!

Furthermore, a culture that encourages people to authenticate or give meaning to themselves can only offer the trivial means of experience, lifestyle, and feelings. Inevitably these cultures will gravitate to more extreme "experiences" such as illicit drugs and sexual profligacy. Additionally, these cultures inevitably reduce the aim of life to the acquisition of things, and separate passion from reason.

In such a culture, "life is for now" and there is little interest in the larger questions of life and its meaning. This is hedonism and a hedonistic culture presents a formidable set of false pretensions that keep people from knowing God. The preeminent interest becomes one's own personal peace, pleasure, and prosperity. These values hold strong appeal to fallen man and the lusts of the flesh.

Historically speaking, at this point civilizations that have fallen into this state almost always secure their demise. There is diminished interest in those activities that serve the greater good—activities that are foundational to building and maintaining productive societies. Instead, what social energy remains is poured, more and more, into activities that satisfy selfish appetites: sex, materialism, amusement, self-medication though drugs and alcohol, and so on.

As Christ-followers living in the real world, we are to care about the conditions of society and be vigilant bearers of the Truth at every point. When we recognize those patterns that indicate a destructive course, the church should be first to sound the alarm in an effort to urge people toward a true understanding of reality—as understood from the point of Jesus and His kingdom come into the world. This is the all-encompassing gospel of the kingdom.

Finally, by challenging the myriad me-centered stories with the one Christ-centered story of the world, we may aid the lost in receiving the good news of Jesus. As for Christians, we, too, must be encouraged to recognize and abandon this narcissistic tendency. Contrary to what many may believe, the gospel cannot be understood as an addendum to an already well-lived life. Becoming a follower of Christ demands a whole new orientation in one's life, away from the self and toward a completely new understanding of reality. This is the role of discipleship; its conspicuous absence in so many churches only accommodates our self-delusions.  

© 2010 S. Michael Craven

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S. Michael Craven is the President of the Center for Christ & Culture and the author of Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity (Navpress, 2009). Michael's ministry is dedicated to equipping the church to engage the culture with the redemptive mission of Christ. For more information on the Center for Christ & Culture and the teaching ministry of S. Michael Craven, visit: www.battlefortruth.org

 

The Christmas season is once again upon us and with it, overwhelming encouragement from Madison Avenue to spend what we have not earned to buy what we cannot afford. The day after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," indicating the period in which retailers are in the black (or at least hope to be) signaled the start of the "holiday shopping season." That phrase in and of itself reveals the commercialized emphasis that has unfortunately come to define Christmas for many Americans.

The thrust of this consumerist message is that the holiday is best enjoyed or most fully realized through the acquisition of "things." Advertisements bombard you with images of bountiful Christmas scenes where beautiful packages surround the tree, filling the room and "happiness" is realized upon the receipt of this or that consumer product. Credit card issuers alone (those most interested in seeing you spend what you don't have) spend more than $150 million on holiday advertising and promotions. Evidence that these messages work is found in the fact that, according to financial advisor, Dave Ramsey "Over 50% of Christmas shoppers will spend well over what they planned to and will go further into debt."

As to the severity of this debt, Ramsey points out that "more than $70 billion, over half of what was charged last year, ended up as revolving debt and the interest on last year's gifts are still being paid today." On average, "two-thirds (65%) of shoppers overspent their budget by $100-$500 and 75% overspent by $50 - $100."

Of course this consumerist philosophy, rooted in the notion that making more money, enabling you to buy more things, will necessarily result in greater life satisfaction and happiness, is a pervasive message year-round in America. Recent studies show that most Americans believe they would be "perfectly happy" with just 20 percent more income. And according to Boston College sociologist Juliet Schor's 1998 bestseller The Overspent American, "one-quarter of Americans making $100,000 believe they don't have enough cash. (In 2008, the U.S. median income was $50,303.)

However, the evidence demonstrates that "once a society's basic needs—food, shelter, employment—are satisfied, the accumulation of greater and greater wealth does not generate greater collective or personal happiness over the long run." This is known as the Easterlin Paradox, named for renowned economist and USC professor, Richard Easterlin.

In the early seventies "Easterlin sifted through numerous surveys asking Americans how happy they were. The explosion in wealth created by the postwar boom had not made a dent, he discovered. Although the average family was 60 percent richer in 1974, levels of contentment remained unchanged from 1945." (USC Trojan Family Magazine) These findings "flew in the face of the assumption held by most economists and politicians that populations get happier as national wealth increases." According to the article "today, no one disputes the truth of the Easterlin Paradox." 

The United States is far richer in 2009 than it was 1974 and yet our levels of life satisfaction and personal contentment haven't improved one iota. In fact, every measurement of personal well being—psychological, emotional, and spiritual—demonstrates that despite our increased abundance we are less satisfied and more depressed than ever.

A joint study recently conducted by the World Health Organization and Harvard Medical School revealed that the U.S. has the highest rate of depression among a survey group of 14 countries. Conversely the poorest nations reported the lowest levels of depression. Researchers suggest that this may be due to differing expectations. Precisely! Americans—saturated with consumerism—have been conditioned to expect that happiness and satisfaction naturally flow from prosperity and the acquisition of things. That is the whole point of consumer advertising: to make you discontent with what you have by offering the expectation of an improved life through the purchase of the latest product—an expectation that very quickly evaporates after we have purchased said product.

Of course, consciously we know this promise is ridiculous, however, subconsciously we frequently find ourselves seduced by the lords of consumerism into believing this silliest of propositions. As Easterlin has confirmed, as we acquire possessions, our aspirations rise in proportion to the gains, leaving us no happier than before. Indeed the more we earn the more we want! This misguided expectation sets us up for perpetual disappointment because as the evidence demonstrates, prosperity always fails as a source of lasting contentment and life satisfaction.

The first remedy is to simply recognize the false and frankly illogical "gospel" offered by consumerism.  This in and of itself offers some degree of immunity from the insidious and seductive voice of consumerism. Secondly, from a purely financial perspective Dave Ramsey offers some practical advice relative to Christmas:

 • Make a list of everyone you are buying a gift for and put a dollar amount by every name. Total it at the bottom. This is your Christmas budget. The people in the mall have a plan to get your money - get a game plan for your shopping so you can keep some money. There is no excuse for financing Christmas.

• PAY CASH - put the total from your budget in an envelope and when the cash is gone, stop spending. This will help keep you on budget because if you overspend on Aunt Sue, Uncle Harry won't get a gift.

 • 69% of Americans bought a gift for themselves last year. DON'T BUY YOURSELF A GIFT! This is the season to give not to receive…from yourself.

If you find yourself swept up in the rush of consumerism, stop! Remember that Christmas is about God's gracious and abundant gifts to humanity; the gift of life, family and friends, good food, music, worship; the virtues of peace, charity and mercy, and the greatest of all: His Son, Jesus. Savor these things. Ponder the truth so beautifully expressed in the words of my favorite Christmas carol:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

Christmas reminds us that we who were without hope, weary and discontent, slaves to sin and sorrow now have real and present hope. We can be saved from this dreadful condition and finally discover satisfaction and contentment not because we received the latest iPhone but because "God so loved the word that he sent His only begotten Son!" We can be reconciled with God! So this Christmas let us not be swept away by the illusory claims of consumerism; instead, let us revel in God's gracious gifts, to drink deeply the wonder of relationships and life and every moment of this season—these will leave you truly satisfied and debt free!

© 2009 by S. Michael Craven

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S. Michael Craven is the President of the Center for Christ & Culture and the author of Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity (Navpress, 2009). Michael's ministry is dedicated to equipping the church to engage the culture with the redemptive mission of Christ. For more information on the Center for Christ & Culture and the teaching ministry of S. Michael Craven, visit: www.battlefortruth.org

In Corpus Christi, Texas, where my parents live and worship, the Christian community was rocked two years ago by the shocking conviction of Hannah Overton. In an outrageous series of events, this gentle thirty-year-old Christ-follower, wife, and homeschooling mother of five was sentenced to life without parole in the death of Andrew Burd, the four-year-old child that she and her husband were adopting from the foster-care system.

Andrew was born to a mother who admitted to abusing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, crank, acid, and alcohol while pregnant. Andrew suffered speech and coordination issues. He also had five markers for diabetes, which were undiagnosed. Nonetheless, Hannah's heart was to work through all these things and see Andrew have the best life he possibly could. Tragically Andrew died on October 3, 2006. Prosecutors charged that Mrs. Overton created a toxic brew of spices, put it in Andrew's sippy cup and forced him to drink it, causing lethal salt poisoning (hypernatremia).

However, the Overtons' story is quite different. The fact is, Andrew had an eating disorder that left him hungry all the time—even immediately after a meal. If he didn't get more food, he would become agitated. Hannah's practice was to give him a spoonful of Zatarain's seasoning dissolved in water to satiate his voracious appetite. Following one such incident, Andrew became ill, getting cold and vomiting. However, Andrew chronically overate, sometimes from the trash can, and threw up frequently. When Andrew's symptoms worsened, Hannah rushed him to the emergency room. The hospital staff also failed to properly diagnose Andrew's symptoms and administered saline intravenously, unaware that he was dying of too much salt. An expert witness testified that it would have taken up to twenty-three tablespoons of Zatarain's consumed in a period of no more than fifteen minutes to reach the sodium levels one doctor said were the "highest ever recorded."

By every account, the local justice system not only failed but also may have actually crossed the line into willful misconduct, resulting in an unimaginable nightmare for the Overtons.

As details of the case emerged, an anti-Christian bias within the prosecutor's office became clear. "For all the Christians out there, understand this, Hannah's simple faith was used against her as the prosecution incessantly sought to make her out to be a religious sociopath," according to Rod Carver, the pastor of Calvary Chapel in Corpus Christi where the Overton's are members.

One effect of this inconceivable injustice has been the unification of the body of Christ—ironically in the city of the same name. Churches and pastors have come together in unprecedented ways to rally for justice on Hannah's behalf. They have raised money for her defense, paid for her appeals, and taken her case before numerous state officials. National media has covered the story but, despite growing pressure from the community and clear evidence exonerating Hannah (see www.FreeHannah.com), she remains in a Texas state prison with little hope of ever being with her family again. This is what makes her story so compelling.

In the shadow of such injustice and despite unimaginable suffering, Hannah remains steadfast—strengthened in her faith—even "excited" to see how the Lord is "pleased" to use her in prison for His sake. In her most recent letter, following the heartbreak of her latest appeal's denial, she writes, "I'm amazed at all He's done and is doing through my case. Who am I to say my desire to be home is more important than whatever God calls me to do? I know the time will come when His promises are fulfilled. So now I wait upon waiting, running the race with the endurance He gives as He pours the oil of Joy over my family and sustains us for the journey."

Hannah's life and story reveals the disturbing paradox of the kingdom that our Lord revealed to Paul, "For My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV). Clearly, God's strength is being manifested in Hannah's circumstances as she is being used to deliver and demonstrate the good news to multitudes of women in her prison. Her letters are full of prayers and pleadings on behalf of the many women she has encountered and begun to disciple. Despite her own suffering and the horror of her circumstances, she remains more concerned about those for whom God has given her a burden. She has suffered countless persecutions for her faith, having had the cords to her appliances—these precious conveniences—cut by her opponents; she has received numerous threats. And yet, she "rejoices" that the Lord uses these trials to testify of Himself in this dark and desperate place. 

At one point in a recent letter she quotes Spurgeon, who wrote, "So surely as the stars were fashioned by His hands and their orbits fixed by Him so surely are our trials allotted to us. He has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have on us." She then goes on to say:

I've been reading this book called "The Heavenly Man," the story of a persecuted Christian in China. This book has been challenging for me, in a good way. His story reminded me that many Christians are so spoiled that in a way we forget we need God, when everything is going wrong in our earthly life; we have no hope, but God! Multitudes of church members are satisfied with giving their minimum to God not their all. Every house church pastor in China is willing to lay down his life for the gospel. What are we willing to give up? Do we hold on to our rights, desires, positions, loved ones as if they are not gifts from God in the first place? Rom. 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore brethren, in the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service." Did you notice the last phrase? This is your reasonable service. When we consider who God is and what He's done is it not reasonable for Him to do as He pleases with us? I know I've been guilty of getting caught up in self-pity instead of being honored to be used by God.

The question that confronts me is this: Would I be so "honored" to suffer in this way for Christ's sake? Am I really committed to being a "living sacrifice" and do I so deeply comprehend the depth of God's mercy and grace that I would consider such sacrifice "reasonable?" I pray, by God's grace, that I do.

I encourage you to learn more about Hannah Overton and her case. Pray for her and her family. Answer this sister's call when she writes:

Please pray consistently for me and my family. Pray for strength, healing, peace, and restoration, as this really hurts a lot and we need your prayers. Pray for the ministry God has called us to at this time that we will be found worthy of our calling (1 Timothy 1:12). And I thank Jesus Christ, Our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful putting me into ministry.

You can learn much more about Hannah's case at www.FreeHannah.com, including suggestions on how you can help. Make no mistake, what happened to Hannah portends of a growing bias against Christians that threatens our most basic rights. It is no longer safe to assume that justice is blind when one professes faith in Jesus Christ.

© 2009 by S. Michael Craven

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S. Michael Craven is the President of the Center for Christ & Culture and the author of Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity (Navpress, 2009). Michael's ministry is dedicated to equipping the church to engage the culture with the redemptive mission of Christ. For more information on the Center for Christ & Culture and the teaching ministry of S. Michael Craven, visit: www.battlefortruth.org