In the Bible there is a word for when you go from being the culture in power to being the minority culture. That word is "exile."

God's people (Israel) experienced exile as a result of growing complacent during a season of prosperity. They had established a Jewish nation, prospered financially and defeated all of their enemies. They misinterpreted their material prosperity as God's vindication of their actions. They believed that if they were defeating their enemies and making more money, that God must be pleased with their behavior. This mindset justified every greedy and violent act that they perpetrated. This behavior was exhibited frequently among a series of unfaithful kings. God often sent prophets to warn them about this, but they rejected the ministry of prophets.

So, God sent them into exile. Other peoples that worshiped other God's took them over. Some of God's people were taken away to other lands. Others stayed in their land as other nations took them over. God's people lost their "Jewish nation" and were forced to practice their religion in private or face persecution.

God's people didn't know how to handle exile. Some waged holy wars against their occupying nations. Some gave in and turned their backs on God and followed the gods of the other peoples. Some left their homeland. Some stayed. There was always a small group that remained faithful to God and faithful to the land. That small group was called a "remnant."

What kept the remnant faithful during the period of exile was the concept of covenant. Their covenants with God, the land and each other prevented them from abandoning God, the land and each other.

The remnant processed the period of exile by engaging in practices like lamenting, fasting, weeping, mourning and repenting. In the midst of all of this, many found ways to be productive members of society, hoping to be an example to those around them of the goodness of their God in a religiously pluralistic society. In this way, the faith of the remnant was purified and rescued from the compromised state that caused the exile in the first place.

Perhaps the church is in the early stages of a season of exile. Many believe that they've lost their Christian nation. Many have looked at financial and military success as a sign of God's favor rather than an expression of their own discontentment. Many believe that the church is loosing a culture war. Some in the church are turning away from Jesus in order to pursue other ways. Many are struggling to navigate a society built on religious pluralism.

But some are staying faithful. There will always be a remnant of faithful people during a season of exile. Those faithful people will grieve, lament and repent. They will be sustained by covenants with God and other remnant-people. They will look for ways to serve and influence society as a testimony to their God. Their faith will be purified in the process.