There are many reasons why the church is not growing in modern times as it did in earlier times. Some of those factors are external and we have little control over them, such as an increasingly antinomian culture. Some of those factors are internal; we lack the “fire in the belly” for the lost as perhaps we once did.
Greg Forster has written a book with the title of this Daily Droplets in which he argues that Christianity has lost its influence in our society because we do not live a life of joy around our non-Christian friends. Building on Paul’s interaction with the philosophers in Athens in Acts 17, Forster writes: “we are as believers to both listen to and also challenge dominant cultural ideas, respectfully yet pointedly, in both our speech and our example” (pg 15).
Through his book, Forster wants to challenge and encourage Christians to engage our society with the joy that comes from being a Christian. “The centerpiece of my answers,” he writes, “is the joy of God. …Christianity… needs to rely on what truly makes it distinct – the work of the Spirit in our minds, hearts, and lives” (pg 18). The joy that comes from being a Christian, the joy brought into our minds and hearts through the Holy Spirit’s word in our lives (Rom. 14:17) should make us “happier, but also wiser, humbler, more patient, and so forth” (pg 19).
Forster was actually trained in political science and has been a political activist since he was a teenager. It is from that perspective that he writes, “Christians should show the world (in the right way) that Christianity makes life work better. …I call this holistic Christian life, ‘the joy of God.’ When I say joy, I don’t mean an emotion. I mean the flourishing of the whole person in mind, heart, and life” (pg. 58).
Reminding the reader that Jesus was/is prophet, priest, and king, Forster suggests that Christians, by our personalities, can fit into one or more of those “categories.” A prophet shares God’s message. The priest brings reconciliation. The king is steward over another’s resources. He then dedicates one chapter to each category in an effort to inspire Christians with abilities in those areas to use them joyfully for the service of the community and our broader country.
In the final three chapters, Forster focuses on three areas in which Christians can particularly exercise a joyful influence in our spheres of influence, particularly by showing others that these areas are spiritual areas, not just physical. Those areas are the sexual relationship, work, and citizenship.
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In “Sex and Family,” Forster writes: “What we really need is for Christians coast to coast to become models of marital blessing, starting with their own homes but reaching out and blessing marriages around them as well” (pg 209).
In “Work and the Economy,” he says, “Treating people with dignity causes them to do better work and produce more value. But at the same time, setting high expectations for productivity is essential to treating people with dignity” (pg 221). In that chapter, Forster argues that work is a spiritual discipline, which makes it ideal for being susceptible to Christian influence. At the same time, Christians need to strike a balance between being generous and being focused on productivity.
In the chapter on citizenship, Forster calls on Christians to involve ourselves in our communities at all levels – nation, state, region, county, city, and neighborhood. It is certainly a relevant question to ask: If the church where you worship were to close its doors, would your neighborhood notice? Would they care?
Frequently, elders will ask their preachers to do something that involves them in the community, such as being a member of the Lions Club, for example. That is a good idea. But not just for the preachers. The more involvement Christians have in our society, the more opportunities we all will have to share the joy of Christ with the world.
–Paul Holland
