Should Christianity change with the times?
The world today looks a lot different than it did when Christianity first emerged two thousand years ago. Since the time of the apostles, church has evolved from small home gatherings to worship services attended by millions in sanctuaries around the world.
Modern society comes with a lot of helpful conveniences that early Christians didn’t have-- mass-produced food, medicine, technology. But sometimes it can be hard to separate the benefits of modernity from its pitfalls. Technology means less in-person interaction. Convenience means that we rely on each other less.
Our attitudes about change shape how we engage politically because they determine what types of change we view as “progress” versus a step in the wrong direction. How should Christians navigate the world of social media, AI, and changing cultural norms while remaining true to the essence of our faith? How can we tell which modern advances are helpful and which are harmful? Should Christianity change with the times?
It depends on how you “test the spirits.”
How Christians across the political spectrum have answered this question
“Yes, embracing change allows us to show love as Jesus intended.”
“God is love,” so as long as we show and spread love to everyone, we can adapt to changing times. Modernizing allows us to engage with more people so that we can love them well.
To “walk in the way [Christ] walked,” we need to engage with the people around us. Modernizing is the only realistic way to do that.
The best way to “test the spirits” is to ask whether they adhere to the “new commandment” to love another. Anyone who denies love is a false teacher.
We are called to not show partiality and to tame our tongues. This means we should refrain from judging others for engaging with modern culture.
“No, modern culture distances us from God, and we’re called to resist it.”
Modern culture is “from the world,” but as Christians, we are called to love God, not the world. Modernizing distances us from God.
To “walk in the way [Christ] walked,” we need to separate ourselves from the worldly sins and temptations of modern life.
The best way to “test the spirits” is to ask whether they believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Anyone who denies Jesus is a false teacher.
“Friendship with the world means enmity against God.” That means that we are called to prophetically challenge modern culture and those who engage with it.
The General Epistles
After Paul’s letters, the New Testament moves on to seven letters from other Apostles that were mostly written after his. Addressed to Christian communities and individuals, these “General Epistles” allude to some of the issues that plagued the early church. At the time they were written, the Bible didn’t exist yet and there wasn’t a consensus around what Christians believed. The authors were concerned about the number of “false teachers” going around preaching different messages under the banner of Christianity. Some of these teachers claimed that Christ wasn’t fully divine. Others didn’t believe in Jesus’ resurrection. Many disagreed about the role of grace, righteousness, and the law.
The authors of the General Epistles attempted to give early Christians instructions for how to decipher what and who to believe. The author of 1 John instructs believers to love one another and to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” James warns against the dangers of judging others, of speaking with hubris, and of “friendship with the world.” Meanwhile, the authors of 2 Peter and Jude give explicit instructions for how to handle false prophets and teachers.
The General Epistles speak to challenges that Christians continue to face today. How should we discern who and what to believe as the world changes around us? As you read these apostles’ guidance for early Christians, consider how believers knew then who and what to trust and how we might know who and what to trust now.
Read the Bible passages
Now that you’ve read the scripture…
Reflect
What are you thinking and feeling right now?
Request
Ask God to open your heart and your mind to a different perspective. Challenge yourself to see another point of view— even if you don’t agree with it.
Respond
Thank God for working through scripture and through the people around you. If you’re about to discuss this section with other people, pray for them and for your time together.
Questions for reflection & discussion
Do you think it’s important for Christians to be wary of false teachers? Why or why not?
How would you identify a false teacher? Do you have a method for “testing the spirits”?
What is the “new commandment” that 1 John talks about? How is it the same as or different from what came before?
Think back to the section about Jesus’ birth. How do these passage contribute to your understanding what is “of the world” and what is “of God”?
What are your thoughts on “modern culture”? In what ways is modern culture a force for good in the world? In what ways is it harmful?
How do you think Christians should engage with modern culture? To what extent should we attempt to separate ourselves from culture and to what extent should we attempt to immerse ourselves in it?
In what ways does your Christian faith make it easier or harder for you to engage with the world? Do you ever feel alienated from the world as a Christian? Why or why not?
What do these passages tell us about navigating change? Is it possible to preserve what’s important about our faith while still evolving with the times? If so, how?
What parts of our faith should remain “timeless”? What parts of it should never change?
Do you think that modern churches should aim to keep the doctrines of the early church? In what circumstances do you think change is warranted? What are the dangers that come with change and what are the dangers that come with refusal to change?
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