Critiquing culture versus making culture

Many Christians feel that it is their spiritual mandate to critique the culture we live in.

"Why are they doing this?"  "What about that?"

"That is disgusting."  "That is perverse."

"How can you participate in that?"

I really get that.

We as Christians have a responsibility to be aware of the culture that we live in and stand for righteousness.

We have a responsibility to lift our voices and quell the downward spiral of American morals, ethics all wrapped up in this one word, "culture".

But here is what I am learning, and please don't misunderstand me.

The most effective way of stemming the tide of evil and immorality in our culture is not just by critiquing it - it is by making it.

The best method of changing our culture is not by continually articulating, "don't do this and don't do that," but by saying, "this is what you can do, this is what we need to do."

Hear me well:  We as Christians must give just as much energy in promoting and offering hope and compassion as we do in lifting up the banner of righteousness and truth.

We can critique all we want - but what are we offering in return?

People around me hear me say many, many times, "if  you take something away, replace it with something else."

Andy Crouch writes, "So if we seek to change culture, we will have to create something new, something that will persuade our neighbors to set aside some exiting set of cultural good for our new proposal."

Maybe we as Christians need to spend more time loving those around us - rather than pointing out their faults.

Just a thought for a Wednesday.