When I ask the question, “How well is my life being my ministry?” I have to grapple with the question of culture. How do I view the culture? Is the culture something totally evil that I must confront and stand against? Or, is the culture something totally good that I must embrace and engage?
Trust me on this, how one answers that question makes a huge different in the way they choose to live the Christian life.
Historically, many Christians have seen themselves (and Christ) as against the culture. The Amish are an extreme example of this. They believe that the best way to represent Christ to the culture is to “stand against it” by looking and thinking differently.
On the opposite extreme is the modern Prosperity Movement. They have literally baptized the American Dream and said that materialism is good. Don’t worry about what impact all these things may have on you. Christ wants you to have them and they are a sign of His blessing.
Most of us find ourselves somewhere in between.
I believe to represent Jesus well, we need to be in the culture but not of it. I see Christ not against the culture, not for the culture, but Christ transforming culture. Think of that! We are His ambassadors to transform the culture. But that means we have to be immersed in it while not taking on its values.
Welcome to the struggle!
I’m convinced that learning how to represent Jesus well is a life-long endeavor. That means throughout our lifetime there will always be an uneasy tension between us and the surrounding culture. Just as Jesus said the wheat and tares must grow up together until judgment, so we exist in a culture that often stands opposed to us, and we to it.
If we only stand against the culture, we are likely to alienate it. If we uncritically embrace the culture we are compromising our message and character. The key is to embrace what we can from the culture that is not evil, and to engage the other parts in order to bring the transforming message of Christ.
Insight for the Journey 
Thanks for this post Rex, well said:
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
It’s about the will of God in our lives, isn’t it ? Your message today resonated this thought. Worry vs Concern, one leading to inaction, the other action… One revealing consumption by the cares of this world, the other action in doing His will…. but what about the third component….. Lamentation. I don’t think what Jesus felt in the garden was either worry or concern. It was deeper than that, much deeper. I think He was in a state of intense lamentation. Lamentation over the prospect of leaving His bride to fend in the world without Him…. (See how later His concern involved moving the focus off the others, John 18:8). As you suggested with overcoming worry, it’s about Gods sovereign will, after His struggle within, it is what Jesus surrendered to. (“Luke 22:42 – Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”). Lamentation, may be the toughest of all to deal with in our lives as believers. We long for His return, but we long for the lost before His return comes. The conflict within is deep, especially in these troubled times. The solution though is the same, surrender to God’s will.