Jesus warned us that we should not go to a public place and put ourselves forward to take the seats of honor, but rather to choose the rear seats and wait to be asked to come forward to the honor seats. He warned us that when we are asked to be removed from the seat of honor it will be very embarrassing. In America Christians have enjoyed the seat of honor in the public arena for the first 200 years and we have come to expect the honor. In recent history we have lost our honor status and we don't like it, it's embarrassing and frustrating.
Christians enjoyed a place of honor because they were servants who modeled the behaviour and service of The Lord, and because they were a positive influence on the culture. However, Jesus also warned that when the salt has lost its savor it will be good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot. It's interesting that many Christians in our culture feel like the church is being walked on. Jesus also asked 'when the salt has lost its savor how can it be salted?"
I don't presume to be able to answer that question for the American church, but I suspect the answer is closer to humility, brokenness, repentance, and grattitude than it is to standing up and demanding we be heard and heeded.
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