The Christian’s The Christian’s ResponseResponse

© John Stevenson, 2008

What are some of the more What are some of the more inadequate ways that Christians inadequate ways that Christians

go about offering a critique of go about offering a critique of popular culture?popular culture?

What have been the effects of Christian boycotts?

How has How has Christianity Christianity

been been impacted by impacted by

culture?culture?

What are the problems

with equating patriotism

with Christianity?

For what are Christians known?

What benefits might there be for What benefits might there be for the church and our culture if the church and our culture if

Christians performed the task of Christians performed the task of cultural criticism more cultural criticism more

adequately?adequately?

James 1:5James 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom,

let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

A Review of Church ModelsA Review of Church Models

Conversionist Church

Church

God’s Realm

World

Antithesis Church

World Church

God’s Realm

Transforming Church

Church

World

Accommodation Church

World

Church

“Doing good in the world”

• Does this commit St Andrews to an explicit cultural strategy?

• What is good about this plan?

• Are there liabilities in this plan?

• Should we presume that one strategy is best for all Christians in all times and all places?

• Is there a consensus as to the best cultural strategy for Christians to assume today in our North American context?

• Do multiple strategies by Christians in the same cultural context enrich and advance God’s kingdom – or do they conflict, possibly negate and thus hinder kingdom advance?

Culture and Church in Tension

In the world, but not of the world

God’s Realm

ChurchWorld

How are Christians to relate to How are Christians to relate to the World?the World?

Do not love the world, nor the

things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of

the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).

For God so loved the world, that He

gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John

3:16).

How are Christians to relate to How are Christians to relate to the World?the World?

Do not love the world, nor the

things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of

the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).

This refers, not to culture in general, but to culture as it is self glorifying and autonomous from God

Romans 8:20-22Romans 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected

to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Romans 14:11Romans 14:11 For it is written, “As I live, says

the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.”

Does this promise relate Does this promise relate to the cultures of the to the cultures of the

world?world?

What should be the Church’s role in criticizing popular culture?

There are no ordinary There are no ordinary people. You have never people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are civilizations - these are

mortal, and their life is to mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. ours as the life of a gnat.

― C.S. Lewis, ― C.S. Lewis, The The

Weight of GloryWeight of Glory, , 1919..

...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the

earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:10-11)