Most Christians agree that we should be concerned about the culture that surrounds them. We should care about how we are influenced by it and how we might bring about positive change. And I completely agree that we should not be overly influenced while at the same time be getting our hands dirty. But lately I have been wondering about our motives. Do we have a God-Centered, Gospel-Centered approach? Or are we looking to keep our lives prosperous and safe? Do we long for a Christian centric nation simply for safety and a better life for our kids? Does are concern for our culture come chiefly from a desire to protect ourselves and the way of life we love? Or does our concern come chiefly from a desire to see the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus made great? Do we pray for the souls of men and women in authority that they would be transformed by the power of God’s glorious grace and be saved or simply pray that they would make good moral judgments? And I’m not against having people in office who have good character and make good moral decisions! I just wonder sometimes if we get too worked up about who will win the next presidential election while at the same time neglecting the poor, neglecting our own personal holiness and most importantly the glorious name of Jesus. Where does most of our intellectual and emotional energy go? Is it about Jesus and for His glory or are we wrapped up in protecting our Christianized version of the American dream? My prayer for myself and Christian church in America is that we place our eyes firmly and constantly on who Jesus is and what he has done, and out of this will flow a loving heart of concern for our culture that keeps Christ at the center of everything.