Cultural Relevance or Biblical Relevance?

Cultural Relevance is a term that is bandied about much in church circles today.  It basically means that we who are leaders should do all we can to make our message and our ministry "relevant' for the people we minister to. 

I found out recently  that one way we can do that is to really shorten the length of our sermons.  The reason, I am told, is because the attention span of the masses has decreased dramatically.  Also, people are really busy and have a lot going on in their lives.  Some of my pastor friends have informed me that a "17 to 20 minute" Sunday morning message is all people today can really handle.

However DASS (Decreased Attention Span Syndrome) does not explain how those same folk who can't handle more than a 20 minute sermon, can intently watch a 2 1/2 hour movie, or cheer their hearts out at a three hour football game.  It must be a similar malady-- SDASS (Selective Decreased Attention Span Syndrome).

Evidently these terrible afflictions were not present in the world when Jesus preached His sermons.  He spoke so long that He had to bring in lunch (The Feeding of the Five Thousand).  In the Book of Acts, Apostle Paul really forgot the clock and taught so long that a young man by the name of Euticheus, fell asleep and fell out of the window.   On the great Day of Atonement, the children of Israel had to "stand" and worship the Lord under the desert sun while an entire 2000 pound bull was reduced to ashes on the brazen altar.  I wonder how long that took?  Ever try and burn a hot dog to ashes on your barbeque?

 I am wondering if maybe instead of reducing the Scriptures to the level of our culture, perhaps we should be elevating our culture to the level of the Scripture. I know that doesn't seem very relevant, but it does seem very Biblical. 

In any event, I can't wait for the day that  people can only stand 4 minute sermons.  I won't have to study very hard at all!

--Tony