Church

I was wondering the other day, "When did church become an upper-middle class thing?" From mode of dress to politics to music to everything else, church in America has adopted an upper-middle class culture.

I wondered when this happened. It wasn't that way from the beginning. Christianity, from the beginning, was a movement among the poor, the outcast, the downtrodden, slaves, etc. As a matter of fact, Christianity was a radical movement that challenged the status quo at every turn and called its followers to radical commitment to Christ. I may be reaching, but I doubt that very many sociologists would consider an upper-middle class lifestyle to be radical. I think they would consider an upper-middle class lifestyle to be "comfortable."

I guess if Satan couldn't stamp out the church, he could tame it, pare its claws, castrate it, and turn it into something that would really not make much difference in communities in which they were. He was able to do this, not because he attacked the institution of the church, but by allowing the Christians to settle for less. Less surrender to Christ (because you are STILL going to heaven, right?), less concern for the poor (because you are STILL going to heaven, right?), less life change (because, you got it, you're STILL going to heaven, right?), less living by the power of the Spirit.

The true Christian isn't content with the prospect of simply going to heaven when he or she dies. That's great and all, but that's not the goal of the Christian life. The goal of the Christian life is absolute, 100% surrender to God. Heaven is just a nice perk.