Chameleon Christianity

by Dick Keyes

Chameleon Christianity confronts two great temptations before God's people - to either accommodate and blend into society as chameleons change colors, or to tribalize out of society in quarantined ghettoes. The first removes conflict with the world by compromise, the second eliminates contact with it by isolation. Both are forms of worldliness and are challenged by Jesus' images of Christian identity as salt of the earth and light of the world. A practical and culturally aware sense of apologetics and a recovery of Christian community will be key pressure points for the health of the church into the future. Dick Keyes and his wife Mardi, have worked with L'Abri Fellowship for over forty years in Switzerland, England and now in Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Harvard University and Westminster Theological Seminary. He is also the author of: Heroism, Beyond Identity and Seeing Through Cynicism

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christian Living

98 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1999

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This powerful little book brings concrete answers to the question: how can a Christian be salt and light in the world? Keyes has multiple answers to this question. He begins his work by arguing that a Christian cannot be salt and light in the world simply as a chameleon, which just blends in with what is around it. This sort of Christian is near to the world, but has lost its radical edge to confront the world and to bring Gospel-change; however, Keyes identifies for the reader a second sort of Christian who fails to be salt and light. This Christian is the “musk ox” which circles around its own, warding off the outsiders. While the chameleon is so much like the culture that he loses his salt-like edge, the musk ox is so separate from and antagonistic to culture that he loses his necessary relevance.

Keyes suggests four methods of recovering the proper relation of the Christian to the culture. First, every believer must come to a deeper understanding of apologetics. The writer explains that there are many roadblocks for the lost to understand and accept Christianity and that these roadblocks must be carefully navigated if the believer wants to fulfill the expectation of being the salt and light which the Savior has called them to be. Second, the reader is called to logically reject relativism. Relativism is the moral code of modern society, but this moral code is flawed. Only in Christ does one find the solution to the problem of relativism. Third, the writer calls for an embrace of the church as a community. In the face of an individualistic society, Christianity offers true community. This reality confronts and challenges the lost because they have nothing to compare with it, because it appeals to something transcendent – something different and better. Keyes offers a number of challenges to churches and explains what a salt and light community in today’s culture really looks like. Finally, Christians are called to recover their foundations. In this last chapter, believers are called to look back to their hope in the Gospel and the final apologetic of love, and to live in those. In these four ways, modern believers can move away from polarized extremes and towards a true outreach to the community outside the faith.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful application of the famous salt & light text from Matthew with particular emphasis on the recovery of apologetics and true community.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful review of two tendencies among Christians: either to retreat into a tribal enclave or to be diluted as a chameleon blends into an environment. Dick Keys does not yield pressure to either side, but suggests we live out the reality of the Truth in connection with the world around us.

Keys touches on: legalism, tribalism, diluting the truth, consumerism, polarization, the need for community and the power of the truth.

I have read this book twice and found it to be tremendously helpful for the Christian Fundamentalist who is just beginning to discover questions about his tribe. It is not the kind of book to create bitterness, but will certainly help uncover personal inconsistencies in an analytical way.

This is a good read.

[Nogeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book looking at Christians Blending in society and the opposite of becoming a tribe separate from the society it is called to be light to. The book examines the problem and also possible ways of combating both since they are rooted in the same thing.

[Joseph Pensak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremiah 29 explained. One of the best books you can give to an entering college freshman. What it looks like to be salt and light as Christians.

[Miss Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living out the Christian life and building a real Christian community requires true dependence on God and rooted in the truth.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good though brief assessment of the two impulses governing the church and culture.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book on how to live in the world and share your faith with non-believers.