'The time of Christendom as we know it is waning.  We may soon find ourselves as lost people in a lost land."

These words really caused me to sit up straight in my chair this week, as I attended a mid-week discussion on Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.  (Simply put, Christendom is the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history.)  Yes, I know that much of the moral fiber of our society has declined; that we are Godless in many ways; that even our own United States has become a mission field for Christian missionaries from other countries. But, I guess I never really stopped to think about how this affects my claim to Christ. 

It used to be that stating I am a Christian is all that was needed to be said to the world.  The statement tied me to the long-standing tradition of believers in Christ: Christendom.  But scandals in the Catholic church, religious wars, political divisiveness over hot button issues like abortion and marriage and death penalty and homosexuality - these things have caused a shift in our world view of Christianity.  Folks ask me questions now - why do I believe what I believe? can I prove it? why is Christ the only way? what about the assertions in The Da Vinci Code? how do I know that Christianity isn't a hoax? are Christians anti-Semitic?

It seems to me that we, as believers in this day, may be more aligned with the original twelve disciples than we may have stopped to realize.  It's imperative for us to courageously live out our lives in faith; to spread the Word and the Truth; to teach others to know Christ; to pay attention to those things in our popular culture - like The Da Vinci Code and The Passion of the Christ - and to use them as opportunities to have discussions with those who are seeking and those who are lost.  We can no longer assume that the weight and breadth of Christendom will carry the day.  Let us boldly disciple and love one another.

Blessings and peace to you as you journey.

Yours in Christ,  

~~Jennifer

03/19/04

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