Cultural: Relating to the ideas, customs and social behaviors of a society.
Christianity: Worldview based on the teachings of Jesus.
On their own, these words are just fine. When they are brought together, they sound good too, just like a catch phrase does, but what I want to hone in on is the deeper meaning surrounding the definitions.
The definition is in need of balance, especially where the church is concerned. This term is great under the biblical precepts and ways of God (Psalms 139:3). God calls us out of the world's system (1 Peter 2:9) and He teaches and directs a believer in His way (Isaiah 55:8). The old becomes new (2 Corinthians 5:17). This dynamic encompasses true cultural Christianity.
The term is tainted when a christian thinks we can influence the world's culture by allowing tolerance instead of truth in love and acceptance without repentance. Western civilization certainly shows this through communitarian mentality, 'why can't we all just get along, in the name of peace.' I'm not talking about sports team rivalry or inconsequential preferences of diverse folks. I'm talking about how easily we take two opposing thought systems and merge them to create a new system so all parties are happy. This is dangerous ground spiritually. The, 'I'm OK, your OK, we are all under grace, so we are all covered,' mentality is a pitfall in the American church. It leaves room for doctrinal error, which leads to watered down teaching of the word (2 Timothy 2:15) and is couched in the ideas of modern cultural Christianity. The social gospel is the extreme outcome of this error and is a false gospel.
Read Luke 12:49-51 before reading any further. This truth has been lost in many churches today. Jesus is discussing the fact that He was going to suffer pain and death and because of His willingness to follow God's plan which encompassed a zealous revealing of truth, would cause upset within house holds, with a final end which leads to God's glory. He states a common cultural fact when he says we are hypocrites when we predict the weather but can not even understand the times we live in. People will be looking towards fallible ways and miss the truth right before their noses. The culture was the same in Jesus' time as it is today.
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Biblical View of Culture
God calls his people OUT of their culture. He doesn't necessarily change the culture, he changes the man. A redeemed man will have encounters within his culture and there may be times a culture is changed but there is a catch. The only time you see a culture change is because repentance was involved.
Our modern idea of loving people to change a culture misses the mark in that to truly love means to speak truth.
Our only 'job' within our culture is to live rightly (I Peter 3: 8-12) and preach the good news (Mark 16:15-16) with obedience to the will of God (2 Thessalonians 2; 14-15, 3:6, 2 Peter 3:9). The last 8 words of Mark 16 verse 16 state an obvious fact cultural and social gospel Christianity tend to ignore, "but whoever does not believe will be condemned." This fact usually causes tension because if you preach the full measure of the good news you have to talk about the law (commandments) and sin. The only way a culturally deprived people can see the truth is know their true condition, which should lead them to the full understanding of the work of Jesus and why they need Him.
Yes, Jesus did come for the sick, it is the spiritually dead (sinner) who need a doctor (Mark 2:17). The doctor must diagnose the problem first in order for revival to take place. When we rely on methods of tolerance and acceptance without repentance and bypass the talk of sin, you've just consulted a charlatan. A sick person can not understand the bounty of grace without first knowing their grave condition without it.
The more typical outcome of speaking truth into a culture causes tension, hatred and spurning from a rebellious heart. This doesn't mean we shouldn't do it anyway. (Matthew 10:13-14) The travels of the Apostle Paul in Acts certainly showcases his demise within the Jewish and Gentile culture. He was reviled and hated the majority of the time but also had those converts that were called out and following the Lord.
The New Testament is a record of what being called out means. Paul is constantly correcting and admonishing the called out ones (church) to remember the old way are gone, put on the new man and keep the false gospel out. (Ephesians 2: 3, 12 - Colossians 1:21. Galatians 1. )
In a nutshell, ( I know I say that a lot), We are to be called out of the culture we came from and be an example, not try to change it through politics or our own works, both of which do not espouse what the gospel is.
Old Testament Examples
When I was studying my Bible a few question came to mind. Did Lot change Sodom and Gomorrah? Did God give Jericho the chance to change their culture before being destroyed? What about Ninevah?
The common string between Sodom and Gomorrah, Jericho and Ninevah is they were all pagan cultures. They defied God, were idolatrous and wicked. Lot was considered righteous and distressed over the 'culture' he lived in. He wasn't able to change them, nor was God willing to bear with their lawlessness any longer. (2 Peter 2:7, Genesis 13:13)
Abram dealt strictly with the King of Sodom after saving Lot's family in Genesis 14 (22-24). He also prayed for the wicked city asking God for mercy if there were righteous living there. (Genesis 18). We all know the rest of the story, God's justice was meted out. (Genesis 19). I don't think Lot or Abraham worried about cultural change.
Jericho was a walled city full of Canaanites who were obviously not righteous folk. The Lord told Joshua the land belonged to the Israelites and to drive the squatters out. Jericho was a formidable city and God brought the walls down through a supernatural act. The only one saved was Rahab, who repented and turned from her ways. (Rahab is in the family line of Jesus- Matthew 1:5). The Israelites definitely were not thinking about changing that culture. In fact, some of the Canaanite captives taken into Israeli camps caused contention later on in history. The Israelites allowed Canaanite citadels to remain and the disobedience to God's original command (to drive them out of the land) caused them to experience detrimental consequences in their culture. Bad apple ruins the bunch! (Judges 1: 27-34).
Ninevah may be the only evil culture that was changed by a righteous man speaking a message directed by God. Jonah was reluctant to speak the message of REPENTANCE to the city of Ninevah, with a human understanding, I can see why, they brutalized their enemies and Israel was on that list. God showed his Mercy to Ninevah, they listened and repented. (Jonah 3:6) Remember, repentance is on an individual heart basis, many individuals repenting can cause cultural change. (Although they did experience destruction through conquering later on in their history.) Ninevah is modern day Assyria and there is still a Christian community there. (Matthew 12:4).
The Way
The more I put the term 'cultural christianity' and especially the 'social gospel' against biblical accounts, the more I think that term strays from what is the true basis for any changes or influence within a society. That basis is falling on your knees before a Holy, Just God and repenting of anything that does not meet His requirements within individual hearts. This lifestyle is a separateness within the bounds of society. We are in the world, but not of the world. John 17:16,17). May we work out our sanctification with honor, beauty and gratefulness before our friends, families and neighbors and at every opportunity, preach the good news in full measure, being examples in word and deed for the Glory of God.
Remember the term Christian was first used as a derogatory term. It came with an air of disgust and pity, 'Those people who follow Christ, how pathetic!' This was how we were seen culturally, a reviled people. Just as Jesus was (I Peter 2:23).
I can think of many areas of society a true follower of the way is reviled. What do you see?
I think deeply on Psalms 1 in context to this subject!
Please let me know your thoughts on this subject. These are mine and may need refining or maybe there are other examples I'm not seeing and I would love to discuss.
Excellent video...
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