Loud and Clear

What was once a whisper has turned into a blaring roar. Start flipping your dial on the radio or tune into what some of the influential lyricists of the next generation are saying about the church and you get the message loud and clear: We want authenticity!

Shaggy, the popular reggae artist, has a song called "Church Heathen" on his latest album that calls out the hypocrisy in church. He tells the story of sitting next to "Sister Pam," who divulges the church gossip—and it's ugly. Deacons are stealing. Congregation members sleeping with one another.

Then there's recent Rolling Stones cover artists Panic! at the Disco, a quasi-punk band that is known for its in-your-face lyrics. Their popularity stems from the fact that they address real life issues without poetry, just raw emotion. In their song, "I Thank God for Esteban," Panic talks about the "gunslinger extraordinaire walking contradictions" and pleads this powerful line—"gentlemen, if you're gonna preach, for God sakes preach with conviction!" Their message can sometimes be dark and devoid of hope, but Panic preaches their message with raw conviction—and their masses of adoring fans resonate with them.

In my conversations with friends who haven't yet made overtures toward following Jesus, I try to be real. I want to paint an accurate picture of my faith, not one I think I'm supposed to have. Trying to be something that I'm not has always frustrated my generation and me, yet many Gen Xers live in the tension comfortably. But the generation behind us has said, "Enough!" They aren't interested in being anything but who they are, which applies to young people who have decided to follow Jesus and those who haven't.

Proverbs 24:26 says, "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips." Our culture is in love with true honesty. We love reality TV shows no matter how unreal they may seem to us. The idea of people being captured unscripted on television appeals to the masses.

However, the church cannot sell an unattainable Gospel nor should it attempt to do so. The Good News is simply that Jesus came to redeem us from the muck and mire of this world with His life and give us an intimate relationship with God. But far too often we make it about becoming something—and becoming something quickly. However, we all know that just because our sins are forgiven doesn't mean we never sin again. That's what the culture today wants to hear; it's what they need to hear. That makes the Gospel real to me, and it's what makes the Gospel real to others. That's what "Just as I am" implies—God wants me just like I am right now.

The church is at a crossroads with our culture. We can give them lip service or a kiss on the lips. Which will you give? IO