Beyond the Times

“The Church always seems to be behind the times, when it is really beyond the times; it is waiting till the last fad shall have seen its last summer.” G.K. Chesterton

In this passage from “The Ball and The Cross” G.K. Chesterton expresses an ideal that rings true to this day. In my walk in ministry and in guiding others to the path of righteousness I have often heard the lament that the church is no longer relevant. It is believed by many that the tradition and the ways of Christianity simply do not fit in today’s age.

There seems to be a misconception in this thought process. We look at Calvary from a wrong perspective. One cannot begin at the point in which they stand and look backward to the cross. Instead, one must look out from the cross to the point in which they now stand. It is from this position that we can see that not only is Christ still relevant, but He has increased in necessity with every passing summer.

Christ, however, is not always the church. Notice the little “c” in that last statement. There are many churches that teach Christ, but due to false teaching will never be part of the Church (big “C”). As this trend grows alongside the fad of immoral attitudes in the people, saved and lost alike, we begin to notice that the sacrifice made on the cross is even more necessary than before. The more sin, acts that oppose God, there are, the more need there is for His perfect intervention.

The Church was created through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It was created for a time like ours, a time like our forefathers, and a time like our future generations. Regardless of what fad we follow in our time, or summer if you will, Christ and His Church will always be with us and beyond us. It was certainly created for a time just like today.