Welcome to the Negative World, Tony Dungy
Introduction
The culture marches onward to its moral destruction. Christians have often struggled with biblically and faithfully approaching the culture at such a stage. Yet, the general consensus among faithful gospel-believing Christians is that the culture increasingly indicates an intensifying hostility to those who find themselves outside the moral norms of the day. Retired Hall of Fame NFL coach, Tony Dungy, experienced this firsthand last week when he communicated ethical beliefs about sexuality and abortion. Public outcry against prominent individuals who hold to views that were considered morally right just two decades ago suggests the commencement of a new age: the negative world. The recent response to Dungy’s views provides Christians with another test case, thus demonstrating the incoherent moral framework in much of America today.
The Negative World
In an article in the theological journal, First Things, Aaron Renn describes the current cultural moment in America as the negative world. In his framing, the negative world is preceded by the positive and neutral world. Here is how Renn defines the three phases of America's moral culture as it relates to the Christian faith:[1]
"Positive World (Pre-1994): Society at large retains a mostly positive view of Christianity. To be known as a good, churchgoing man remains part of being an upstanding citizen. Publicly being a Christian is a status-enhancer. Christian moral norms are the basic moral norms of society and violating them can bring negative consequences.
Neutral World (1994–2014): Society takes a neutral stance toward Christianity. Christianity no longer has privileged status but is not disfavored. Being publicly known as a Christian has neither a positive nor a negative impact on one's social status. Christianity is a valid option within a pluralistic public square. Christian moral norms retain some residual effect.
Negative World (2014–Present): Society has come to have a negative view of Christianity. Being known as a Christian is a social negative, particularly in the elite domains of society. Christian morality is expressly repudiated and seen as a threat to the public good and the new public moral order. Subscribing to Christian moral views or violating the secular moral order brings negative consequences."
Although one might quibble with the dating of each moral phase or even how Renn describes each period, the overall framework provides Christians with a sense of awareness when interpreting events in the public square. In discerning how to approach the culture as a Christian, Ephesians 5:6–14 offers a helpful starting point:
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; or at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when the light exposes anything, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light." [2]
If Christians ignore the dark and negative world they live in, the darkness will continue to conceal itself and infiltrate local churches, Christian families, and Christian institutions.
The first stage of the capitulation of local churches to the sin within the culture is refusing to acknowledge or address the impending darkness. Although it is not the mission of Christians to solely focus on the events of the public square, it is the mission of Christians to "discern what is pleasing to the Lord" and "expose" the "unfruitful works of darkness." The level of responsibility for each Christian differs depending on one's role in the local church and culture. Yet, every Christian ought to comprehend and discern what is evil and good, responding biblically and faithfully to the darkness when it approaches one's sphere of influence. Darkness exists in various forms in the lives of individuals, local churches, and the culture. However, several issues remain prominent in America today. If anything can rightly be described as the unfruitful works of darkness, it is the current cultural position on issues related to sexuality and abortion.
Tony Dungy and the Negative World
The latest figure to receive his introduction to the negative world is retired Hall of Fame NFL coach and cohost of the top-rated NBC show Football in America, Tony Dungy. After tweeting a picture that communicated his intent to participate in the March for Life, media outlets offered various responses to display their displeasure. An example of this is an article written by sports editor Dave Zirin. In the piece, Zirin criticizes Dungy for participating in March for Life and describes the Hall of Fame coach as homophobic and bigoted. In Zirin's mind, a man like Dungy should not be endorsed by NBC and the NFL because of his public views on issues about homosexuality and abortion.
Dungy has often defended a biblically faithful approach to sexuality and abortion. However, the intensity of the backlash against him in this most recent example approaches a new level. Another helpful anecdote includes a tweet written by Fox Sports cohost of First Things First, Chris Broussard, in which he defends Dungy's beliefs. The responses to the tweet illustrate the general cultural consensus about a Christian approach to sexuality and abortion: you can privately believe that homosexuality is sinful or abortion is murder, but you are no longer welcome in the public square. Further, if a Christian who holds such views desires to remain present in a position of prominence, he or she must leave their “bigoted” views at the door. Dungy has received this message loud and clear. It is doubtful that he will lose his job immediately, but Renn's observation applies: "Subscribing to Christian moral views or violating the secular moral order brings negative consequences." Dungy has certainly experienced this, and many lesser-known figures will too. This scenario begs the question of whether individuals who do not find themselves in the same position as Dungy could survive such an introduction to the negative world.
A Lesson for Christians About the Negative World
The negative world has arrived, and with it, a new moral order has been established. The backlash from the public and media concerning Tony Dungy illustrates the environment surrounding Christians. Specifically, the once pluralistic, free, and "liberal" society, which welcomes all ideas, religions, and beliefs, is dead. The widespread usage of the word "tolerant" is now only reserved for any belief consistent with the negative world's moral order. Thus, suggesting that committing homosexual acts or murdering the unborn offends a holy God. Such a position is no longer welcome in the public square. In 2023, the only legitimate source for moral formation derives from the current moral sensibilities of the culture. Any transcendent moral framework must be thrown out accordingly. With this in mind, Christians can never accept such an assertion. The only solution is for Christians to insert their moral insistences into the public square by running straight into the cultural milieu. Engaging in the public square, equipped with the truth of God's Word, and doing so with love and grace leads to a faithful and wise approach to cultural engagement.
[1] https://www.firstthings.com/article/2022/02/the-three-worlds-of-evangelicalism.
[2] Italics mine.
