OF Culture (Church and Culture pt. 3)

In our last conversation on this topic we discussed the “Christ against Culture” relationship. This conversation will focus on what could be seen as the antithesis to the “Christ Against” model:

Christ OF Culture

- states that God is transcendent and can be found in all human endeavors.
- the Church and culture are not it conflict.
- the Church embraces the world.
- uses cultural symbols and tools (rock music, theater seating, etc.) to communicate with the culture.
- mimics culture.

Examples: 20th century Protestant Liberalism and the Seeker Sensitive movement.

Where else do you see examples of this posturing? What healthy/unhealthy when the Church is postured this way?

Against Culture (Church and Culture pt. 2)

As we explore the relationship between the Church and culture let’s look at the first posturing Richard Niebuhr outlines (see Niebuhr’s “Christ & Culture”).

Christ Against Culture

- this position finds its footing on the sole authority of Christianity over the Christian.
- It rejects the world and any of culture’s claim to authority.
- the world here is seen as bad, something that needs escaping, and in turn doesn’t deal with systems of the world.
- creates an “Us vs. Them” mentality; at times antagonistic.
- creates a Christian sub-culture.

Examples: 20th century Christian Fundamentalism

Where else do you see examples of this posturing? What healthy/unhealthy when the Church is postured this way?

Church and Culture (pt. 1)

Disagreements (even arguments and church splits) arise in church circles over what is “appropriate” by way of dress, worship music, and even social policy as they relate to culture. Is there a proper relationship between the Church and culture? Richard Niebuhr’s classic theological discourse “Christ & Culture” articulates 5 different relationships between Christ (or the Church) and Culture that we’ll take a look at over a series of blog posts.

Some questions to get us thinking: Where have you seen examples of a dysfunctional relationship between the Church and culture? Where have you seen examples of a functional (or healthy) relationship between the Church and culture?