1Tm3

In a world where "right & wrong" are constantly challenged, God's truth rings clear! The church has lost her place in culture because the church no longer holds to God's standards of leadership.

We say "character counts", yet we actually don't hold leaders accountable to standards established by God. Take for example, hospitable. The word actually means, "lover of strangers". It implies someone who cares not only about people they know, but also about people they don't know. Maybe even especially people they don't know.

Our culture teaches "stranger danger"! In other words, someone who you don't know is likely a predator of some sort. Avoid any interaction with strangers. We have let the abuse of a few rule the pattern of relating to everyone. Even basic eye contact and simple greetings are being lost in our culture! Not to mention opening our homes. When was the last time you invited someone to dinner?

The church should have a prominent place in culture. It should be shaping culture! Church leaders are to be setting the example for others to follow. Don't let culture shape your values. Be shaped by God's word.