Snares of the Modern Church - Part II: Cultural Accommodation and Moral Relativism

In Part I of our Snares of the Modern Church series, we dissected the issues of the modern church aligning with the prosperity gospel and an overemphasis on speculative interpretations about the unknown, drawing upon the wisdom of Colossians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 11:3, and 1 Timothy 6:9-10. We discovered how these challenges, much like the snares of Paul's time, risk diverting the focus from the core tenets of the Christian faith.

Now, transitioning into Part II, we extend our exploration to two additional snares facing today's church—cultural accommodation and moral relativism. Anchoring ourselves in the timeless truths of Romans 12:2 and 1 Peter 1:14-16, we'll discern how these challenges might be subtly affecting the professing Church and unveil the enduring wisdom of Scripture in navigating these issues.

Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, admonished the early believers, saying, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2, ESV). His primary readers of this epistle, early Christians living in the heart of the Roman Empire, were constantly confronted with the seduction of cultural norms that often stood in stark contrast to their faith.

Today's church indeed finds itself grappling with the challenges of cultural engagement. It is undeniable that the church should and must engage with its surrounding culture, for we are not called to be an isolated fortress, unresponsive to societal contexts. Yet, the snare lies in uncritical cultural accommodation, where the lines between engagement and assimilation become blurred.

Consider, for instance, the realm of worship music which has seen dramatic shifts in recent years. While it is certainly appropriate and indeed desirable to have worship music that resonates with the contemporary audience, a discernible trend is the adoption of a style that mirrors secular and irreverent music. The focus often shifts to catchy tunes and showy performances, and most of the time at the expense of sound doctrine, not to mention the reverence and awe that are due to God in worship. This kind of accommodation tends to lead people astray by obscuring the primary purpose of worship—to exalt and honor God.