True Relevance

I find this passage by CS Lewis extremely meaningful. He crisply articulates the need to be excellent in all that we do - because we are Christians. Otherwise we merely serve to show non-Christians that we are IRRELEVANT to what they believe in - and only merely serve to reinforce their existing prejudices and stereotypes of "culture" and "religion" as irrelevant to their actual lives.

I realised something else after thinking through the passage. Lewis is - at the essence of it all - simply saying that our faith will only make people sit up and take notice, IF we actually live out what we profess to believe in.

And that is what true relevance is - the ability to show people that the gospel of Jesus Christ really has the power to change lives and save all who believe.


Just a thought: Some of us had started playing DOTA back in school days, because we sincerely wanted to be relevant to those who were playing DOTA (all the craze a few years back). But it seems now to be more an inward-looking indulgence for us, rather than an effective means of reaching out. (I'm one of the fellow DOTA players btw...) Also, the trend towards pubbing, clubbing, etc. that we saw among some Christians who sincerely wanted to relate with more kinds of people.

And another friend wrote in her blog some time back.
Thank God for her. :) She was able to put into words what I was feeling, but didn't know what or how to say. What a relief it is to know that you're not the only one with this view. :)

And finally, when I wrote to one of the leaders to share this concern, he replied wisely, "How can one be a good testimony in the marketplace if he doesn't have good character?"

(Thanks bro!) :)

So, after thinking about all this, I think true relevance is not so much about being "culturally relevant", doing the same things that the non-Christians do: e.g. clubbing, power-dressing, networking, entrepreneurship, BGR or LAN gaming or community work or this or that.

Actually, what is "relevance" about? In a Godbit Project interview, one of the interviewees said:

Over the last decade or so, the buzz in Christian subculture was all about being relevant. More young adult programs, churches predominantly comprised of twenty somethings, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I think that is all good. However, somewhere along the way, I think that several other relational aspects became neglected. I find it more of a rarity these days for younger men to rub shoulders with older men in the church.

Heck, I am very active in my church and a socialite at the core. Yet, I find myself having infrequent to zero interaction with those that have “been there and done that” on this journey of faith. Not that we are setting out to accomplish this immediately with ROOV, but I would love to hear of some relationships like this forming between those that have done and want to do something.

I think he's talking about discipleship. Being relevant is only one aspect (essential though it is). A godly character, with much wisdom, is bound to be much more influential.

The Lord Jesus knew perfectly well what He meant when He told us to come follow Him, and He will make us fishers of men.