The task of making Jesus relevant to the world is a tricky matter. Even Jesus found it to be tricky. In John 6 we read that Jesus fed a multitude and then taught them. He taught them that they should make him and his teachings foremost in their lives. His teaching was difficult and many of them left. Apparently he was relevant as long as he met their felt needs.
Churches struggle to be relevant to the needs of people in their communities. How is it that we can encourage people who are self-seeking to take an interest in following Jesus and dying to themselves? Maybe we could appeal to some things that they desire, as Jesus did. However, rather than feeding them some bread we could offer classes on “How to have a good marriage” or “Parenting 101”.
What we discover in this process is that our experience is much like that of Jesus. People come for bread and leave when we talk about making Jesus first and foremost in life. Since what makes us successful in America is having larger numbers, we feel compelled to make the Gospel more relevant so that we will have increased crowds on Sunday morning and thus feel like we are being successful in God’s work.
Thus we may choose to focus on the “Relevant” aspects of the faith over the teaching of the kingdom of God. This relevant aspect might focus on marriage matters, finances, relationships, or parenting. Of course all these are significant in the kingdom of God. All of these things should be discussed within the church. If one should live by kingdom values then one will be faithful to one’s spouse and have a fulfilled relationship. One will be prudent with finances.
But it does not follow that if one focuses on one’s marriage or finances that one will have allegiance to the kingdom of God. After all, you can find a great many people who have nothing to do with Christianity who have been married for over 50 years, who have raised kids who don’t do drugs, and who know how to manage their money.
If the only draw to our community is to “Come to church to improve your marriage”, people are likely to look around and realize that they can have a good marriage without giving up their Sunday morning tee time. Part of what needs to be communicated is not simply that the kingdom of God is relevant, but that it is true.
I will use the movie the Matrix as an example (not the best example, I know). In The Matrix, Morpheus offers Neo an opportunity to see “The Real World”. He offers him nothing but the truth. The matrix, while attractive and enjoyable, is not real. The Christian version of “The Matrix” is what is simply known in the Bible as “The World”. It is attractive and enjoyable. It is relevant. The kingdom of God is what is known as “The Real World”. However, a significant difference is that the real world in The Matrix is not a great place. The kingdom of God, on the other hand, is offered up as the best possible life.
Maybe the way that the church can be most relevant is, like Morphues, to offer the truth. That is, the church can offer up the real world which provides the best way of life (albeit not best by the standards of the matrix). This real world is a reflection of God because it is found only in the presence of God. It will not give in and operate by the standards of the matrix because the matrix is not real. Instead it offers the truth of God. While this truth will have some “Relevant” results within the matrix (such as strong marriages or children who don’t use drugs), it will only provide such as a side effect of people who live on earth as if they were in heaven.
When the church offers the truth, she offer something that is not only relevant, but something that cannot be obtained in the world. The truth is not a very popular concept in our postmodern world. Which is precisely why it needs to be offered. It is only the truth that will set a person free. It is only the truth that speaks to real meaning in life. In the end, the truth is the most relevant thing in the world.
