The Crossroads of Christianity and Culture

An old Calvin and Hobbs cartoon shows Calvin with his homemade storefront. His sign offers “swift kicks in the butt” for a dollar. Hobbs asks him about business. Calvins’ reply, "Terrible considering I’m offering something everyone needs."  I’ll put up my dollar. Because have you, my United Methodist friends, noticed something?  With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic we  have virtually ceased our battle over LGBTQ marriage and ordination.   Yes, I know that in subterranean back rooms of some churches and annual conferences groups on both the left and the right are plotting their exit strategies and playing their Richelieuian power games. Under cover of Covid they are making their plans to seize as much power as they can.  But that really isn’t the story.   The story is that in the clear light of day we United Methodists have adapted quickly to the reality of cultural, social, and technological change that we so long ignored, but which frames any Christian response to the COVI

And reach for grace. It is only for those of us temporarily (we hope) cut off from physical fellowship this whole “what is real church” thing is quite new. In missionary circles it goes back decades. The possibility of literature evangelism, and more importantly radio evangelism (and now internet based evangelism) has led for decades to the phenomenon of individuals declaring their faith in Christ, maintaining Christian fellowship through mail or email, and yet having no access to a believing community. There are many places in the world where there are no Christian churches, or where they meet furtively for fear of their lives and are therefore invisible to seekers.  In missiological circles the debate about the status of and ministry to these believer has been intense. It is just that almost all US churches, particularly the mainline, have become so withdrawn or even disdainful of such evangelistic ministry and its fruit that they are hardly aware of the problem. But it is real, and