Some Good News from A Deep Well

For some time now I have been on a quest to separate out Christianity from Christian culture.  I have asked God to give me two things in my quest: first, lives worth imitating, both in person and from history. Second, I have prayed that God would lead me to books that would clarify things for me. 

Water from a Deep Well by Gerald L. Sittser is such a book. The sub-title of the book is Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries.  I am about a third of the way through, and I have already gotten some good insights. 

First of all, if you look at the pattern of history, Christianity falls in and out of favor with the larger culture.  One Roman emperor persecutes Christians and outlaws Christianity and the next becomes a Christian and endorses it. 

I grow weary of the ways that Christians are maligned and misrepresented in media. The other day I was watching a great movie, The Soloist. However, the only Christian character in the movie is the one who is the most insensitive to the homeless man's mental condition. I have seen the pattern before in films and books. Reading Water from a Deep Well has reminded me that being a Christian might not win me any popularity contests, and it hurts to be misrepresented and maligned. But there is good news.

The book points out how attractive Christianity became to people as the pagan culture became more and more corrupt.  Unsaved people were drawn to the stability of the Christian community and the early church grew quickly.  Sometimes I feel like I need to run around and be the PR department for all of Christianity explaining that Christians aren't like the ones you see on TV. This book reminds me that it would be far better to put my energy into being a part of a Christian community that practices integrity, love and charity. 

Finally, the book reminded me that when the Roman empire fell, the only thing to rise out of the rubble was Christianity. The monastaries had towns grow up around them because they were stable in a world that had become chaotic and unpredictable.

So much of what has happened politcally this year has depressed me. I feel like my voice is not being heard and that my values will be ignored by the powers that be. Well guess what? Not only is being Chirstian not about being popular, it's also not about always having power as the world defines it.

It may be that we are on a downward slope as far as the larger culture is concerned. Whatever happens, Christianity will be the thing that shines brightly when the chaos and corruption leads to destruction if history has anything to say about it.  

Sharon Dunn has a romantic suspense called Dead Ringer due for release in May 2010. You can read more about Sharon and her books at www.sharondunnbooks.com.

 

     

Comments

[Rachel Hauck]

Great post, Sharon!