Cultural Strength Or Gospel Strength?

According to N.T. Wright, Paul is commenting on national Israel's abject failure to be a light to the nations because as long as some Jews behave hypocritically, all do in the eyes of the pagan world. Thus, the Jews need a Messiah that can perform an inward work of transformation.

This is reminiscent of the modern American church, especially the one in the south, in which we place too much confidence in the church's strong cultural presence rather than the transforming presence of Christ in the individual believer's life, which had led to the world blaspheming the church.

Created over 1 year ago