The Anti-Me Generation

People describe the folks in the 1980's as the "Me" generation. There was such a focus upon self, getting more stuff, driving the right car, etc. Though that hasn't totally gone away, there is a ideological backlash going on in our culture. Much of it is an extremely positive thing. People are more conscious about other people, cultures, ideas, etc. People are concerned about the environment and are not just acting like a bunch of mad consumers with no thought for the repercussions. Whether it is more recently because of the terrible economy or a product of this backlash I don't know, but people are driving more sensible cars. There are a lot of positive things about this.
There are also some negative things. In the grwoing awareness of global cultures, values and religions, people in our culture are afraid to make any right/wrong choices. I hear more and more people refusing a personal faith in Jesus because they have questions like, "what about the child on the Sarengeti who needs water?" "What about all the injustice?" Good questions, but wrong application. (Just finished a series called "Where is God When..." dealing with some of these tough issues). Because of this people are refusing personal commitment and making a choice because...someone might be offended by what I believe...what makes this truth right and the others wrong?...
Bottom line...while there are many positive things resulting from this ideological shift, there are some negative things as well. Faith by the very nature of what it is requires an element of self-centeredness. "What do I belive and why?" Yes, you are responsible for more than just yourself...but you are responsible for yourself. On the most foundational level we will be judged not for "what we do" but for "who we know." Did we place personal saving faith in Person of Jesus Christ as our Savior? Apart from that, your works, you attitudes your feelings about everything are irrelevant.

John 15:1-8 (TNIV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

To proclaim God's truth about Himself and our personal belief in Him and this truth is not bigotry, intolerance or arrogance. In fact it is one of the most servant-hearted things that we could do. After all if God is real, if Jesus really died for all, then ours is not simply one choice among many options. If you really are in relationship with Jesus Christ, then the only thing holding you back from sharing His truth really would be "me" centered.

Live the answer.