Being a Believer in the Bible Belt

Let's face it: the Bible Belt is an anomaly. Through some strange convergence of culture, history, and social development Christianity has managed to assert itself as the culture of the South, most specifically the area known as the Bible Belt. Much as Greece and Rome lived in a total and passive acceptance of the Greco-Roman gods as the object of their faith, those living in the Bible Belt have accepted the worship of Jesus as the culturally acceptable thing to do.

This is evident throughout the region. Finding a person on the street who doesn't know who Jesus is, or who even just doesn't attend a church regularly, is significantly more difficult than other areas of the United States. Everyone seems to have as their foundation of heritage this belief that church attendance is normal, and that those who have nothing to do with the church are more outcast than not, especially among the younger generations.

This does not match up with the history of the church, however, and creates an interesting paradox for those who truly believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of humanity. When Christianity is the culture of society, the culture begins to drive the Christianity. The church, when flooded with attendees and parishioners who do not ascribe to the belief system of the church, begins to see a shift of focus. Those who don't believe but are looking for a social club begin to take the reigns of programming and teaching. The Bible loses a bit of its potency in this environment, not because its words are any less true or powerful, but because those who are hearing it have deaf ears.

What then is the solution for the person who truly does believe in Jesus as Lord but who finds herself surrounded by those who do not, or who claim to but don't allow the truth to be worked out in their lives?

Hang on.

That's right, just hang on. Don't be surprised by the fact that you are surrounded by non-believers, because in that aspect you are no different from the rest of the world. What is different is that you may have to look a little harder to find the parts of the body who are going to help you live a godly life. Jesus never said this life would be easy, He said it would change you.

Remember too that you cannot judge the status of people's hearts the way that God can. Be discerning about your relationships, and test to see that you are developing relationships that will build you up and edify you, just as every believer should.

Also, remember that your relationship with Jesus is the primary focal point of your faith, NOT the organization that we call the church. Don't count on others to provide your faith to you, because your faith comes from and is directed toward Jesus, not the social gathering of people for each other's sake. Let your personal relationship with Jesus through prayer and reading the Bible guide you into wise decisions about relationships and selfless motives, so that your part in the church is your worship to God, despite the cultural attitude toward this group of people who are supposed to be counter-cultural, foreigners in this world.