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Theological Perspectives on Theological Perspectives on
Culture: Living in the Marketplace Culture: Living in the Marketplace
with with Discernment and WisdomDiscernment and Wisdom
Church, Marketplace and Mission ConferenceChurch, Marketplace and Mission Conference
ACTS Seminaries, 30 October 2010ACTS Seminaries, 30 October 2010
Bruce L. Guenther, Ph.DBruce L. Guenther, Ph.D
MBBSMBBS--ACTS SeminariesACTS Seminaries
The Central QuestionThe Central Question
How do we as the church, as How do we as the church, as Christians, live as faithful Christians, live as faithful
disciples of Jesus in “the world” disciples of Jesus in “the world” (society, culture, marketplace)?(society, culture, marketplace)?
Life in “Exponential Times”Life in “Exponential Times”
1. We are experiencing possibilities that were never 1. We are experiencing possibilities that were never considered possible throughout most of human considered possible throughout most of human historyhistory
2. The lack of differentiation between Christians and 2. The lack of differentiation between Christians and others, and the level of uncritical “consumption” others, and the level of uncritical “consumption” and exposure to various influencesand exposure to various influences
3. The accelerated pace at which we are constantly 3. The accelerated pace at which we are constantly being forced to adapt and adjustbeing forced to adapt and adjust
The “Great Omission”The “Great Omission”
1. Historical reasons for the 1. Historical reasons for the ulturalultural isolation of isolation of evangelical Protestants evangelical Protestants
-- immigration/ethnic experienceimmigration/ethnic experience
-- influence of fundamentalisminfluence of fundamentalism
-- influence of dispensational influence of dispensational premillennialismpremillennialism
IroniesIronies
•• Despite isolation, they were not successful in Despite isolation, they were not successful in stopping the influence of the surrounding culture stopping the influence of the surrounding culture in their church communitiesin their church communities
•• The The isolation of evangelical Protestant groups helped facilitate the process of secularization within society
The “Great Omission”The “Great Omission”
2. Theological Imbalances2. Theological Imbalances
-- Careless dualisms (e.g., spiritual vs. secular)Careless dualisms (e.g., spiritual vs. secular)
-- Excessive priority given to the “Great Excessive priority given to the “Great Commission”Commission”
-- A spirituality that gives preferential attention to A spirituality that gives preferential attention to interior piety over societal involvementinterior piety over societal involvement
-- Priority given to doctrines of salvation and Priority given to doctrines of salvation and scripture over doctrines of creation and incarnationscripture over doctrines of creation and incarnation
-- Overemphasis on certain Overemphasis on certain ecclessiologicalecclessiological modelsmodels
What does the Bible say What does the Bible say
about culture?about culture?
“The “The World” in the Bible (Part 1)World” in the Bible (Part 1)
Psalm 24:1; Nahum 1:5;
Acts 17:24; 1 Peter 1:20
Creation or nature
“Earthmaking”
What does the Bible say What does the Bible say
about culture?about culture?
“The “The World” in the Bible (Part 2)World” in the Bible (Part 2)
John 3:16-17; John 12:46
John 16:28; John 17:18; John 1:9-10
All peoples and what they have done in and with creation
“Worldmaking”
What does the Bible say What does the Bible say
about culture?about culture?
“The “The World” in the Bible (Part 3)World” in the Bible (Part 3)
1 John 2:15-17; John 15:18-19
John 16:33; John 17:14; 1 John 5:4; Romans 12:2
Opposition to God and His purposes
“Worldliness”
What does the Bible say What does the Bible say
about culture?about culture?
“The “The World” in the Bible (Part 4)World” in the Bible (Part 4)
Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8; John 17:6-19
The legitimacy of our calling
to be in the world
“The Creation or Cultural Mandate”
Culture: Definitions and DistinctionsCulture: Definitions and Distinctions
1. Originally a noun referring to cultivation, tillage
2. 16th-century - came to be associated with human development
3. 19th-century nuances- a process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic development (Arnold)- a people’s way of life (Taylor)
Culture: Definitions and DistinctionsCulture: Definitions and Distinctions
Broad Sense – “The Life of a People”
“that total process of human activity and that total result of that activity to which now the name culture, now the name civilization, is applied in common speech” (Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Culture)
“any human effort or labour expended upon the cosmos, to unearth its treasures and its riches and bring them into the service of humanity for the enrichment of human existence” (van Til, The Calvinist Concept of Culture)
Facets Facets of of CultureCulture(adapted from presentation by Ken Radant)(adapted from presentation by Ken Radant)
Narratives of meaning
Metaphysical and epistemological beliefs
Moral principles
Aesthetic ideals
Skill and knowledge inventories
Relational structures
Societal infrastructures
Means of self-expression
Culture: Definitions and DistinctionsCulture: Definitions and Distinctions
Narrow Sense Narrow Sense –– The “heartbeat” The “heartbeat” of a peopleof a people
“Culture is the world of human meaning, the sum total of a people’s works that express in objective form their highest beliefs, values, and hopes - in short, their vision of what it is to be fully human. Culture is a text that calls for interpretation” (Vanhoozer)
““the system of concepts and behaviours that embodies what a group values most and holds tightest”
“the lens through which a vision of life and social order “the lens through which a vision of life and social order is expressed, experienced, and explored: it is a lived is expressed, experienced, and explored: it is a lived worldview” (worldview” (VanhoozerVanhoozer))
Responding to Culture:Responding to Culture:
Testing your postureTesting your posture
Rank in order of priority (1 = most important) the following considerations when thinking about the relationship between culture and the church:
___ Prophetically identifying and challenging those aspects of contemporary culture that need to be resisted or replaced by Christians.
___ Exerting influence and pursuing partnerships within contemporary culture so that it becomes more consistent with Christian values and standards.
___ Encouraging Christians to find places of beauty and refuge in order to endure faithfully the difficulties and challenges they face in contemporary culture.
___ Redeeming aspects of contemporary culture by helping Christians evangelize and influence their individual spheres.
Basic Postures Towards CultureBasic Postures Towards Culture
PassivePassive Active
Encourage Christians to
endure faithfully their
difficulties and challenges
Exert power to make society
more consistent with Christian
values and standards
Change culture through
evangelism and influence of
Christians in their individual
spheres
Prophetically identify aspects of
culture to be resisted and
replaced
Howard Snyder, Models of the
Kingdom (1991)
1. as a Future Hope
2. as an Inner Spiritual Experience
3. as Mystical Communion of Saints
4. as Institutional Church
5. as a Counter system
6. as a Political State
7. as Christianized Culture
8. as an Earthly Utopia
Avery Dulles, Models of the
Church (1988)
1. Church as Institution
2. Church as Community
3. The Church as Sacrament
4. Church as Herald
5. Church as Servant
6. Church as Community of Disciples
Models of Church/World EngagementModels of Church/World Engagement(Adapted from Os Guinness, (Adapted from Os Guinness, The CallThe Call))
ModelModel OrientationOrientation EvaluationEvaluation ExampleExample
Danger of Compromising Jesus’ Way Danger of Compromising Jesus’ Way –– OverOver--engagementengagement
AbdicationAbdication The church is the The church is the world. There is no world. There is no distinction between distinction between the values and the values and methods usedmethods used
Church has nothing to Church has nothing to offer; God works offer; God works through peoplethrough people
Shelby, SpongShelby, Spong
Political Political ActivismActivism
Force is God’s Force is God’s method for bringing method for bringing about conformityabout conformity
Champions godly laws; Champions godly laws; coercing conformity is coercing conformity is counterproductivecounterproductive
Roman Roman Emperor Emperor ConstantineConstantine
Individual Individual ConversionistConversionist
Faith is a private Faith is a private matter; living in two matter; living in two different kingdoms different kingdoms with two with two
Respect for private Respect for private conscience; does not conscience; does not challenge societal challenge societal structures or ethicsstructures or ethics
Martin LutherMartin Luther
Models of Church/World EngagementModels of Church/World Engagement(Adapted from Os Guinness, (Adapted from Os Guinness, The CallThe Call))
ModelModel OrientationOrientation EvaluationEvaluation ExampleExample
TransformativeTransformative Persuasion, gradual Persuasion, gradual change, redemptive change, redemptive use of forceuse of force
Challenges societal Challenges societal structures to change; structures to change; may compromise Jesus’ may compromise Jesus’ wayway
John CalvinJohn Calvin
Confessing Confessing Church as Church as Alternative Alternative CommunityCommunity
Exemplify God’s Exemplify God’s community, Jesus’ community, Jesus’ way of life, way of life, overcome evil with overcome evil with goodgood
Jesus is the model for all Jesus is the model for all life; danger of isolation life; danger of isolation and lack of engagementand lack of engagement
AnabaptistsAnabaptists
Isolationist Isolationist (reclusive)(reclusive)
Develop a Develop a community within a community within a restricted restricted geographical regiongeographical region
Concrete expression of Concrete expression of God’s community; God’s community; isolation and lack of isolation and lack of engagementengagement
Dutch Dutch ProtestantsProtestants
Danger of Withdrawal Danger of Withdrawal –– UnderUnder--engagementengagement
Craig Carter, Rethinking Christ and
Culture (2006)
Three Christendom types that accept violent coercion
Christ legitimizing culture (e.g., the German Christians)
Christ humanizing culture (e.g., Martin Luther, Billy Graham)
Christ transforming culture (e.g., Augustine, Cromwell)
Three non-Christendom types that reject violent coercion
Christ transforming culture (e.g., William Penn, Martin L. King, Jr.)
Christ humanizing culture (e.g., Mother Teresa, Mennonite Central Committee)
Christ separating from culture (e.g., St. Benedict, the Amish)
Andy Crouch, Culture Making:
Recovering our Creative Calling (2008)
“Postures” Towards Culture
1. Condemning Culture: Fundamentalist Withdrawal
2. Critiquing Culture: Evangelical Engagement
3. Copying Culture: The Jesus Movement and CCM
4. Consuming Culture: Evangelicalism’s Present Tense
5. Cultivating Culture (nourishing and preserving what is best)
6. Creating Culture (innovation and creative beauty)
H. Richard Niebuhr, H. Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Christ and
CultureCulture (1951)(1951)
1. Christ Against Culture
2. Christ of Culture
3. Christ Above Culture
4. Christ and Culture in Paradox
5. Christ Transforming Culture
Critique of H. Richard Niebuhr, Critique of H. Richard Niebuhr,
Christ and CultureChrist and Culture (1951)(1951)
“Some elements of culture the church categorically rejects (pornography, tyranny, cultic idolatry). Other dimensions of culture it accepts within clear limits (economic production, commerce, the graphic arts, paying taxes for peacetime civil government). To still other dimensions of culture Christian faith gives a new motivation and coherence (agriculture, family life, literacy, conflict resolution, empowerment). Still others it strips of their claims to possess autonomous truth and value, and uses them as vehicles of communication (philosophy, language. Old Testament ritual, music). Still other forms of culture are created by the Christian churches (hospitals, service of the poor, generalized education)” (John Howard Yoder).
Critique of H. Richard Niebuhr, Critique of H. Richard Niebuhr,
Christ and CultureChrist and Culture (1951)(1951)
“Virtually every Christian group expressed in one way or another all five of the motifs. With respect to one cultural activity, they may typically express one motif, with respect to another they may characteristically adopt quite a different stance. Even with respect to a particular category of cultural activities, as regarding learning, the state, the arts, contemporary values, popular culture, business, leisure and so forth. Christians are likely to manifest something of all five of the attitudes” (George Marsden)
Contextualization: The Process of Contextualization: The Process of
Cultural Cultural Analysis and DiscernmentAnalysis and Discernment(adapted from Paul Hiebert, “Critical Contextualization”)(adapted from Paul Hiebert, “Critical Contextualization”)
1. Exegete culture - phenomenological description and analysis
2. Community exegesis of the scriptures related to questions raised by the culture under review
3. Critical response – making decisions and naming idolatries
4. Navigating acceptable pathways and compromises
The Magna Carta of contextualization: 1 Cor 9:22
Selected Bibliography Selected Bibliography
Carson, D.A. Carson, D.A. Christ and Culture Revisited. Grand Rapids: Christ and Culture Revisited. Grand Rapids: EerdmansEerdmans, , 2008.2008.
Carson, D.A. and John D. Woodbridge, eds. Carson, D.A. and John D. Woodbridge, eds. God and Culture: Essays God and Culture: Essays in Honor of Carl F. Henry. Grand Rapids: in Honor of Carl F. Henry. Grand Rapids: EerdmansEerdmans, 1993. , 1993.
Carter, Craig A. Carter, Craig A. Rethinking Christ and Culture: A PostRethinking Christ and Culture: A Post--Christendom Christendom Perspective. Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007.Perspective. Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007.
Crouch, Andy. Crouch, Andy. Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. Downers Grove: Downers Grove: InterVarsityInterVarsity Press, 2008. Press, 2008.
Friesen, Duane K. Friesen, Duane K. Artists, Citizens, Philosophers Seeking the Peace of Artists, Citizens, Philosophers Seeking the Peace of the City: An Anabaptist Theology of Culture. the City: An Anabaptist Theology of Culture. ScottdaleScottdale: Herald Press, : Herald Press, 2000.2000.
HeieHeie, Harold, and Michael A. King, eds. , Harold, and Michael A. King, eds. Mutual Treasure: Seeking Mutual Treasure: Seeking Better Ways for Christians and Culture to Converse. Telford, PA: Better Ways for Christians and Culture to Converse. Telford, PA: CascadiaCascadia Publishing House, 2009.Publishing House, 2009.
Selected Bibliography Selected Bibliography
Moore, Terry Michael. Moore, Terry Michael. Culture Matters: A Call for Consensus on Culture Matters: A Call for Consensus on Christian Cultural Engagement. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007.Christian Cultural Engagement. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007.
Niebuhr, Richard. Niebuhr, Richard. Christ and Culture. New York: Harper & Row Christ and Culture. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1951.Publishers, 1951.
Stackhouse, John G., Jr. Stackhouse, John G., Jr. Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Real World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.Real World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Stott, John and Robert T. Stott, John and Robert T. CooteCoote, eds. , eds. Down to Earth: Studies in Down to Earth: Studies in Christianity and Culture. Grand Rapids: Christianity and Culture. Grand Rapids: EerdmansEerdmans, 1980., 1980.
VanhoozerVanhoozer, Kevin J., Charles A. Anderson, and Michael J. , Kevin J., Charles A. Anderson, and Michael J. SleasmanSleasman, , eds. eds. Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.Trends. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.
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