What does it mean when we say, “counter culture”? The dictionary defines it as, “a way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm.” As I think about it, in today’s society if we are going to truly be Christ-like we WILL be counter-cultural. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Cor 1:18 (NIV) The truth is that Jesus was about as counter-cultural as it gets.

     As Ghandi once said: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Ouch! But how often is that true? We marvel at the growth of the early church, the explosion of faith in Christ in such numbers and speed that in only a blink of history, the Roman Empire had officially turned from paganism to Christianity. How did it happen?

     We look for formulas and programs, services and processes. The simple truth is just that they were very much like Jesus, so much so that the name “Christian” (meaning “little Christ”) came into existence (Acts 11).

     One author noted, “they shared the gospel like it was gossip over the backyard fence.” It was/He was just a normal part of their everyday life. They didn’t plan or train or have special services. They just lived and breathed Jesus. What did people see? Tertullian noted, the awed pagan reaction to the Christian communal life was, “See how they love one another.”

     I recently read a line that caught my attention. One person said of another, “God looks good on you.” The context made it clear that it wasn’t meant to say that God looked on them in a favorable way, as in God’s attitude or spirit toward them, but that when people looked on their life, it made God look good. God should look good on us to others.

     God looked good on Jesus. I’ve always been amazed at how Jesus could proclaim absolute truth without compromise to those far from God, and then have those very same people invite Him to their parties.

     Unfortunately, in the minds of many, modern day Christianity no longer seems very Christ-like. And much of that image has been earned. We’ve acted in ways, talked in ways, lived in ways, that have stolen from God’s reputation. Yet, the church remains the hope of the world. The problem is that many in the Church are not really free, so we can’t reflect that “Counter-Cultural Freedom” that Christ gives.

     If we choose, WHEN we CHOOSE to do so... to embrace the “Foolishness” of the Cross and the true Freedom that it represents... then God will begin to look good on us again.

     I challenge you to be counter-cultural... in all the right ways and for all the right reasons. We ARE Free! We are!! Let’s live it together... for God’s glory!