Samson and the Evangelical Community

I saw something about the life of Samson this past Saturday in some personal study that I'd never noticed before. Give me a minute to tease this out...

The land of Canaan that God gave to Israel was not a backwoods hicktown. It was, arguably, the premier world trade route, as people traveling around the Mediterranean would have to go right through the plains of Canaan to get from the prosperous North to Egypt.

However, scholars say that during the time of the "Judges" Israel was living in the mountains of Canaan rather than in the trade-route plains, which the Canaanites and Philistines still possessed. Israel was simply too lazy and unbelieving to go and take what God had promised to give them. They settled for a 'ghettoed' existence rather than engaging in battle with the Philistines.

Samson was one of the many champions God raised up to deliver Israel and lead them to their Canaanite domination. However, rather than leading Israel to conquer the Philistine cities, Samson began to live in the Philistine cities. There, he began to absorb Philistine values. The ultimate expression of this was his living with the prostitute Delilah.

Scholars agree that Samson was intended to be a picture of the entire Israeli nation. Rather than engaging the culture, they retreated from it; rather than confronting the culture, they absorbed it. In other words, they were OF the world but not IN it.

Sadly, I think this describes our American Evangelical Christian community. We are separated from the world, living in Christian enclaves reading Christian literature, watching Christian TV, listening to Christian music and talking with only Christian friends. We are separated from the world.

Yet, when you look closely, it's easy to see that we have absorbed our culture's values. St. Augustine said that our attitude toward money and power should be what distinguishes us from the world. The world uses its money to possess; the disciple of Jesus uses his money to give. The world uses power to control; the disciple of Jesus uses her power to bless. However, we crave money and power and position for the same reason the world does--self-benefit. Even, and perhaps especially, among us pastors. Just look at how some pastors crave money and power! In the words of Puritan John Owen, we "separate from the world, but live wholly to ourselves."

For Samson, this compromise cost him all his spiritual power. It was not the cutting of Samson's hair that "lost" it for him--his hair was not a magic talisman that subpoenaed God's power. The cutting of his hair was simply indicative of the fact that Samson had compromised those things that were supposed to make him distinct from the surrounding culture. It was the last element of the Nazirite vow he hadn't broken. He had so lost touch by that point that the "didn't even realize the Spirit of God was no longer on him."

In the same way, Christian leaders today have no shortage of magic horcruxes they point to that will supposedly bring back God's power: more relevant preaching; more expository preaching; trendier worship; ancient liturgy; more direct preaching; more conversational preaching; more prayer; exercise of spiritual gifts; etc etc.

Those things are great and often necessary. But perhaps the answer is simpler...and more difficult at the same time. Perhaps the power of God will return when we forsake the values of our culture and love Jesus rather than the world. Perhaps the fact that we have given away our souls to idols means we cannot ascend to the hill of the Lord (Ps. 24:3); perhaps our love for the world crowds out our love for God (1 John 2:15); perhaps our adulterous love affair with money and power means that He won't hear our prayers (James 4:3-4). If we would love only Jesus, perhaps His power would reign through us again.

In the words of Robert Murray McCheyenne, "I know that what my people most need from me are not great sermons but my personal holiness."

Comments

[Jim Upchurch]

Great thinking JD. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I'd like to read more about how we can confront, engage, and think critically about the culture without simply absorbing it. Any suggestions or maybe I just gave you several more posts on the topic.

[Jeff]

JD,
Your post made me think of this article. Perfect example.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/01/the-gospel-of-m.html

[jpattisall]

JD - I hope your doing well! This was a 'stinger', but conviction is so sweet. Thanks for the insights.

[Terrace Crawford]

Good stuff, JD. Love reading your blog.

/TC/