Torch, Summer 1998

I Asserting the claims ofChristianity in lieu of accommodating ourselves to the culture around us By DR. JAMES SELLERS few years ago I was invited to speak to a group of mathematics students at a nearby university. I was treated to dinner beforehand and met some of the students and faculty. When dinner ended, we left the restaurant to drive to the campus. At this time, one of the female students volunteered to drive with me to the campus so I would not get lost. I thanked her and my faculty host for this gracious offer, but politely asked if a male student could accompany me instead. I explained that I have a policy that I do not drive in my car alone with a woman whenever possible. I believe this honors my wife and also avoids the "appearance of evil." My host looked shocked for a moment, and then one of the male 6 Torch students volunteered to go with me. I gave my talk, enjoyed the evening with the group, and went home. Little did I know what I had started. One year later I was again invited to speak at the same university. After my talk, my host walked me to my car. She told me of her surprise a year earlier regarding my policy on women in the car and shared how refreshing it was for someone to have such a policy and to stand by it. This opened the door for me to share my relationship with Jesus Christ and to discuss issues of lifestyle as a Christian. I pray that my example, while often flawed, will make an eternal difference in this person's life. This incident helped make one thing clear for me: the world is looking for something different. The thesis of this article is simple: we must strive to show the world a difference. We must make assertions about our faith rather than accommodations to the contemporary culture. Robert L. Wilken makes this point in an interview in a recent issue of Christian History. In discussing the similarities and common challenges of the ancient and modern churches, the following question is posed: Did the (early) church strive to be "user-friendly"? Wilken's response is quite interesting: Not at all- in fact, just the opposite. The early church made assertions about its faith, yet the Roman world was clearly affected on a large scale! This is in direct contrast to the present day, when the mood seems to be one of accommodation and compartmentalization. The church is not alone in this . Our whole culture seems willing to accommodate and compartmentalize. Accommodation, or attempts to