How To Relate To Culture?

Mark Lauterbach:

In light of this, there’s a big question many Christians are asking today: How should a Christian relate to their culture?

Should we insulate ourselves in Christian ghettos? Or are we to study the culture–stay in touch with the best of TV and cinema, keep up with the bestsellers, and know some of the new music?

Personally, I am not sure I know exactly how to answer all these questions or where to draw all the lines. I know we should ask these questions, carefully and biblically. And I know we will all answer them, in good conscience, in different ways.

But I want to suggest that this question–“How should a Christian relate to culture?”–may be the wrong question. This may be the wrong place for us, as Christians in the middle of culture, to start. Here’s why: I am not sure how I am to relate to the culture, but I am sure I am to relate to people outside of Christ for the sake of their salvation. Before we ask how we as Christians should relate to our culture we must ask how and why Christ came into culture. Christ and his mission should define the questions we ask about culture.

He continues...

Third, knowing people is different than going to movies. I think the whole discussion of being culturally aware dodges the real work of knowing lost people deeply. I am called to love and serve them for Christ. I am called to help them when they have marital problems, children problems, and are living with effects of their sin. I am called to relate to them in what we have in common. And we have a lot in common. They are made in Godʼs image. They know love and hate, sadness and joy, and the beauty of music and creation. I do not need to focus on the unique culture of our times, so much as on the real people around me.

This means I am to know individuals. I have never met statistical averages. I only know my friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates. I need to get to know their questions, histories, backgrounds, objections to the Gospel. I am to treat them with deepest respect.

I have often puzzled over why sinners flocked to Jesus. He was sinless. They were sinners. They were despised by many – but they wanted to be with him. I think one answer is that, clear as he was about salvation and sin, he treated them with such dignity and respect that they were drawn to him.

Read the rest of this piece. It is very important.

(HT: Los)