But Paul was speaking about the church....not the country. Our country has become and is becoming more diverse....yet, politically active Christian Conservatives often vote on laws that rescind protection for vulnerable populations and attempt to insert religious doctrine into government and schools - it is like they are trying to be provocative when they demand the Ten Commandments placed in secular courts or school lead prayer....or restricting the teaching of evolution in schools, and teaching the creation story in its place....Amish are also exclusive, but they do not demand that the country restrict formal schooling to the eighth grade.
I suppose I'd have two things to say about this: firstly...the courts and schools that Christians are attempting to have 'God in', did not start out secular. The laws and values we have as nations, are founded upon the Christian faith. It was the Christians, in large part, that pushed for schooling of the people in general, rather than just the wealthy. God, at least in passing mention, has always been in the Courts and schools, it has only been a relatively recent thing to toss him out. Therefore, I would say it is not unreasonable or provocative for Christians to lament this passing or worry about what might be the outcome of it....or even push for a reversal of it.
Secondly, yes, I agree, as Christians we should only have the outright expectation to control Church culture directly. However, to think that we should withdraw completely from our community or nation is not biblical or realistic. Do we declare a crusade or jihad against a society we see as post-Christian? Of course not! But the bible says we are salt and light, and that is our expectation when we go out into the world. We stand on what we see as inalienable truth, and were we to withdraw that truth from everyone else, and how that truth affects our lives and the lives of those around us, that would be a great evil. As I pointed out before, how much good has come from Christian's pushing against the dark in this world? Missionaries, schools, charities...you could go on and on. All these things were done because people loved Christ and wanted to share his good news to others.
This is why people push out with Christianity, because of Christ's love for others, and because he tells us to love others as well. Christianity is not about navel gazing as people die in their sins for lack of hearing the truth. Yes, if people hear and reject, we accept, but our task is to go, to preach, and to love. And that is not done by staying silent because we don't want to offend.
I have no problem admitting that liberals can be restrictive and hypocritical when it comes to language and the expression of ideas they find to be unacceptable - yes, extremists can be overbearing. However, both sides have extremists. Even if the process of inclusivity is clunky and unfair at times...it is the way forward for this country.
We as Christians should be working to preserve our culture and the right to practice and live it rather than try to promote it in the public arena - it feels so plastic and dishonest when I see “Christianity” bought and sold on Wall Street and prostituted by politicians....ugh. Making the sacred profane should be a horrible sin not some thing we strive for, just to win political points.
I agree that there are plenty who misrepresent Christianity, and there are times I wish they had stayed silent. But...I cannot agree that withdrawing and preserving as a tactic is what God wants. Indeed, the bible would suggest otherwise to me.