In 935 BC, King Solomon wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes. He described a world that rarely looked like a sovereign God was running it. Evil thrived, and emptiness ruled. The world, or the culture in secular terms, chose to function apart from God since man’s first rebellion.

We could say the culture is unhinged. It is like a large door whose hinges have rusted and failed. The door is no longer anchored to a stable doorpost. It has lost the capacity to function with meaningful restraints. Anything can come and go. 

The boundaries, the perspectives, the values and the standards of the culture are marked by a refusal to bow the knee to a Sovereign God. Therefore, what the culture promises to deliver sounds good, feels good and even looks good. It just can’t deliver much. 

Some who study our changing culture label the pre-1994 years in America as a society that viewed Christianity in a positive light. Between 1994 and 2014, our culture shifted to regard Christianity as a neutral factor. Since 2014, Christianity has been viewed as a negative influence. In fact, biblical morality is labeled a threat to the public good. 

So how should Christ followers live in an unhinged culture? Christianity was held in a very negative light in New Testament times. Christians weren’t just canceled; they were martyred for their faith. So, the New Testament has much to say about living in negative times: 

Give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Wrangling about words ruins hearers (2 Timothy 2:14).

God’s servants cannot be quarrelsome, but kind, patient when wronged (2 Timothy 2:23-24).

Put away anger, slander, abusive speech. Put on the new self, renewed in Christ (Colossians 3:8-10).

God is in the process of turning our thin skin and hard hearts into thick skin and soft hearts. To love and serve those who hold Christianity in a negative light will require some wisdom and a good measure of grit.

Today’s devotional is one of five this week on “Living In An Unhinged Culture” by Tom Petersburg.