OUR CULTURE IN CHRIST – STUDY GUIDE
INTRODUCTION
It’s always good to know what you’re working towards. So, if you’re new to the teaching of “Our Culture in Christ”, you may find the brief summary on p145 and the more thorough summary on p306 to be useful.
The concept is remarkably simple. When we’re born again as Christians, we’re born into one family of God, one unique people group. And since every people group has a unique culture, we should expect to find a certain cultural unity among Christ-followers around the world.
But what is culture? We often tend to think of culture in terms of the traditional food, costumes, artwork and music that characterises some particular ethnic group. But this is only one part of what we might call surface culture. “Our Culture” takes a much broader and deeper view of culture. The cultural unity that Christians have in Christ becomes wonderfully apparent when we look below this surface level of culture.
Many people assume that Jesus came to start a new religion but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Jesus never invited anyone to join a religion; he invited them to a Kingdom, a fellowship of followers living a radically different lifestyle, a whole culture to the glory of God.
We should not be ashamed therefore of the culture that we have in Christ. And we need to know that it’s OK for us to function as a subculture in a world where so many do not know the Lord Jesus. Because we have been influenced by so many worldly trends, we need to evaluate our ways to ensure that they still align well with Scripture and with Christ. “Our Culture in Christ” offers a cultural perspective on the Bible story and I’d like to think that this subculture theology will challenge your thinking about both church and culture. This study guide is offered with these goals in mind.
The literature on church and culture is vast and growing rapidly. “Our Culture in Christ” tackles what I believe to be a blindspot in most of the literature. It will require you to let go of some of your cultural assumptions. Therefore, in presenting this study guide, I can only urge that you study with an open mind and heart.
For each chapter in the book, I have provided a short summary, some simple review questions (that can be answered directly from the text) and some discussion questions (suitable either for group discussion or your own further study).
“To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Eph ).”
Steve McNeilly, March 2011.
CHAPTER ONE – ONE PEOPLE IN CHRIST
CHAPTER SUMMARY
The pull-down quote on p4 sums up this chapter. “From the beginning of time, God wanted a people who would enter into relationship with Him and then take His love into the world.” God told Abraham that he would be the father of nations but his descendants only really became a people during their time in Egypt, and then even more so during their miraculous exodus and their forty years in the wilderness.
The Old Testament can be seen as a record of God’s ongoing appeals to His people. Be faithful and obedient to Me and I will fulfill all My promises and bless you abundantly. If you forget Me and serve other gods instead, it will go very badly for you.
Nevertheless, the people sinned and consequently suffered the judgment of God. Eventually, they lost their land to foreign powers who took them into captivity. God always raised up a faithful remnant but the remnants were getting smaller and smaller. In the end, it all came down to one perfectly righteous descendant of Abraham, One who also happened to be the Son of God.
In Jesus, all the promises to God’s people were fulfilled and a whole new people group was brought into existence. Everyone who is “in Christ” by faith is part of this new people of God and an heir to the promises God made to Abraham and David. Despite their differences, God wants all Christians to see that they are, in fact, one people in Christ.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What two New Testament passages identify Christian believers as God’s “own special people”? _______________ _________________
2. Which of God’s promises to the people of Israel was fulfilled by the end of Joshua’s lifetime? ___________________________________________
3. Which foreign power took the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity and threatened to do the same to the southern kingdom during the time of Isaiah? ____________________
4. Is it biblical to refer to the Christian Church as ”spiritual Israel”? ______
5. Complete this sentence. “The Christian Church is not so much an _______________ as it is a people group.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What implications can be drawn from the fact that six of the seven references to “My people” in the New Testament link the Christian Church back to the Old Testament?
2. Three different Old Testament prophets mention the Branch. Why is this term applied to Jesus, the Messiah? What does it mean?
3. This chapter makes the point that God has not completely rejected national Israel. How does Israel fit into God’s plan now? How may Jewish people find salvation?
4. How might the understanding that we are one people in Christ help to promote Christian unity?
5. Why have we focused so much on Christianity as a religion? What exactly is a religion anyway? (Check a dictionary.)
CHAPTER TWO – LEVELS OF CULTURE
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This chapter aims to promote a deeper understanding of culture. The “bicycle wheel” diagram on p14 highlights the rich variety of cultural expressions that we experience in life but culture is actually more complex than this.
The diagram on p15 (or the back cover) shows three levels of culture. Worldview, our basic concept of reality, is always at the heart of culture. The outer rim consists of the most recognisable cultural forms, including creative culture, rituals and customs, and standards of behaviour. The in-between level consists of life attitudes, values and perspectives. There is plenty of room for diversity and change within the cultural forms in the top portion of the circle but the things in the lower parts of the circle remain basically the same.
Christians around the world share a profound cultural unity at the worldview and paradigm levels because our core beliefs and life attitudes come from the same Scriptures. For the same reason, we also have much in common in our rituals, customs and standards of behaviour. And, since Christ demands our full allegiance, our Christian culture takes precedence over our national or ethnic culture whenever there are points of conflict.
Modern Christianity is extremely diverse but, in this chapter, we suggest that true Christian culture must always be Bible-based, Christ-centred and Spirit-empowered.
In multicultural societies, Christianity exists as a subculture but this is not a bad thing. God is giving His Church the opportunity to witness culturally, together demonstrating the wonderful way of life and holistic culture that comes from following Jesus.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How is culture acquired? ____________________________________
2. What happens to the second level of culture when various ideologies compete for the minds and hearts of people? _______________________
3. Which of the following cultural forms is NOT discussed by Peter in his first epistle: a) marriage, b) female beauty, c) music, d) attitudes to government? __________________
4. What is dangerous about a society that discourages legitimate debate about cultural issues? __________________________________________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “To be truly Christian, a culture must be Bible-based, ____________________ and Spirit-empowered.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Where would the following cultural forms belong on the cultural diagram (found on p15 or the back cover): a) the latest popular Christian worship song, b) dressing modestly, c) an attitude of holding lightly to material possessions?
2. Review the dot-point list of beliefs that make up a biblical worldview (pp 18,19). What Christian life attitudes or values would you expect to flow from these worldview beliefs?
3. What differences can you see between “Kingdom thinking” and the cultural way of thinkng presented in this chapter?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 (quoted on p24). How can this, and the many other similar passages of Scripture, be harmonised with the idea that God has called us to reach out to people with His love?
5. Do you agree that all cultures should be open to public scrutiny? Can you think of some cultures that expect to be above such scrutiny?
CHAPTER THREE – CULTURE IN THE BIBLE
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This chapter shows that cultural issues were prominent throughout biblical history. Deuteronomy was “Israel’s magnificent cultural blueprint”, featuring stories to be passed down through the generations, instructions for annual feasts and celebrations, guidelines for home and family culture, laws about food and clothing, and stern warnings about getting involved with the culture of the nations they were to dispossess.
Cultural issues were also central to the unfolding history of Israel and Judah. King David introduced a unique worship culture to Israel. Solomon’s temple, with its magnificent architecture, artwork and artifacts, was just as much a cultural icon as it was a centre of religion. The flourishing of wisdom literature and the poetic ministry of the prophets, calling the people back to their godly heritage, further added to the culture of Israel.
When God finally had to discipline His people with captivity into Babylon, the people experienced life under a different culture and the remnant that eventually returned to their homeland did so with a passion to re-establish the godly culture that had been so decimated. God’s people then struggled to maintain their identity under the powerfully influential Greek culture.
In the New Testament, Jesus taught a kingdom culture for God’s people, teaching about all aspects of life. The early church was a counter-cultural community with profound social implications. The First Epistle of Peter is so rich in cultural instruction that we have described it as a “subculture manifesto for the people of God in Christ”.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Why did Moses bother to recount the stories of the exodus and the years in the wilderness to people who had experienced these things themselves? _________________________________________________________________________
2. How many Levites were employed to praise God with instruments that David had made? ______________________
3. What cultural tradition became a life or death issue for the Jews under the rule of Antioches Epiphanes? __________________________
4. Which New Testament epistle sets out a Christian perspective on female beauty? ________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “How do you get something into the heart of a people group? You build a culture that will _________________________________________________.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What cultural imperatives from the book of Deuteronomy can be applied in Christian home and family life today?
2. Music is a dominant feature of any culture. What role did music play in the culture of Israel? Does this tell us anything about the role it should play in the Church?
3. What do you think about the discussion of the temple treasures on p37? Do you agree that their primary significance was cultural?
4. What healthy lessons can the Christian Church learn from the remnant teachings of Scripture?
5. From the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), can you identify teachings that relate to all the various parts of our culture diagram?
CHAPTER FOUR – A CULTURAL RESPONSE FOR CHANGING TIMES
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Many Christian writers have lamented the waning influence of Christianity in modern society but this chapter suggests that the challenges currently facing Christianity demand a cultural response. It would be unwise to abandon vital aspects of our Christian culture in an attempt to regain the relevance we once had. We need to understand which aspects of our culture can change with the times and which aspects must be retained at any cost.
The first challenge is to maintain biblical standards of morality in an world where things like sex outside of marriage and homosexualty are regarded as normal. We need to demonstrate the value of our moral standards in the context of a Christian subculture.
The second challenge is the widespread exodus of young people from Christian churches. Part of the problem is that Christian faith has not been adequately enshrined in Christian culture. Young people have, by default, found their cultural identity in the world rather than in the church.
The third challenge is identified as a public anti-Christian bias. The Gospel is increasingly being regarded as intolerant and many countries are bringing in legislation that threatens Christian witness. Because culture is now more highly respected than faith, we suggest that a cultural understanding of Christianity will be our best defence against this trend.
The fourth challenge is the lack of Christian unity. The answer to this is the biblical truth that we are one people in Christ with a strong mandate for deep cultural unity.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What is the Greek word used in the New Testament to encompass all forms of sexual immorality? ___________________
2. What lesson can we learn from the little Jehovah’s Witness boy who didn’t celebrate birthdays? ________________________________________________________________
3. Why do social, political and ideological forces outside of Christ despise evangelical Christians? _________________________________________
4. Which of the following would NOT be a potential result of subculture thinking in the Church at large? a) churches sharing resources, b) pastors claiming “ownership” over people, c) more effective community outreaches, d) the world knowing that we are disciples of Christ.
5. Complete this sentence. “In a truly multicultural society, our Christian culture must be ___________________________________________________ .
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why do you think God condemns sexual relationships outside of marriage?
2. What is Paul’s priority in 1st Corinthians 5:9-13 (quoted on p57)?
3. Are children too isolated from the world if they attend Christian schools?
4. How should Christians respond to the currently popular ideal of tolerance? Is tolerance a biblical value? Why or why not?
5. Do you agree that the leaders of Christian churches are too obsessed with numbers? Why is this such a strong temptation?
CHAPTER FIVE – WORLDLINESS IN THE CHURCH
CHAPTER SUMMARY
When Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples, He allowed them considerable scope for initiative and creativity. The key question has always been: “To what extent must Christians become like the people they are trying to reach?” This chapter suggests that the Western Church, in its attempt to regain the influence it once had, has compromised too much and allowed itself to be infiltrated by the worldliness of the surrounding society. This is especially evident in prevailing ideas about success in ministry.
Relevance, for the Christian Church, means having the answer to mankind’s real needs, not their felt needs. The problem is not so much about marketing as it is about the power of God and the purity of the message we proclaim. Christian Churches cannot copy the ways of the world without compromising their standards of godliness. Nor can we expect to produce true disciples for Christ by worldly methods. Such disciples will be ill-equipped for the challenges of the Christian life. Even those who don’t fall away will be ineffective in witnessing. The whole witness of the Church is thus damaged by a discipleship that is based on worldly ideals. Furthermore, if the church is worldly, where can sinners go when they become convicted of their sin?
The Christian Church must be radically different from the world we are commissioned to reach but that doesn’t mean that we become negative and reactionary. Instead, it means that we live and celebrate a wonderfully different culture.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What Bible passage tells us to “hold fast the word of life… in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation?” _____________________
2. What sort of disciples will result from worldly discipleship methods? _________________________________________________________
3. To what three things must the Church appeal instead of to the flesh?
_________________ , __________________ , __________________
4. According to an estimate in this chapter, what percentage of Christian culture should be about celebration of what we have in Christ? __________
5. Complete this sentence. “The light cannot have communion with the darkness but it can have ________________________.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What did Paul mean when he spoke about being “all things to all men” in 1 Corinthians 9:22?
2. Can Christians enjoy participation in the world (music, movies, social occasions, etc) without being guilty of loving the world? What principles might govern such enjoyment?
3. In practical terms, what would a revival of holiness mean for the members of your local church?
4. What place (if any) does entertainment have in the life of the Church?
5. Will a truly Christ-centred culture be solemn or joyful? Is it possible to be both?
CHAPTER SIX – HOW USEFUL IS OUR WORLDVIEW?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
There are many competing worldviews in the modern world. Christians need to understand about worldviews because people from different backgrounds have worldviews that they naturally assume to be correct and we will not communicate effectively with them unless we understand this.
Many people in Western societies are unclear about what they really believe and why. Therefore, the concept of worldviews becomes an important key for witnessing. We can gently expose the worldview inconsistencies in people and point them to a more holistic culture in Christ, one where a Christ-centred, biblical worldview informs every area of their lives.
But Christians also have worldview blindspots and we need to re-evaluate our worldview assumptions in the light of Scripture. Otherwise, the Christian culture that we practise will be defective in some way.
There is no general consensus about what a Christian worldview might be so we seek, in this chapter, to describe a biblical worldview. Such a worldview will come directly from the Bible, received as the authoritative and true revelation of God, considering the unity of its various parts, and recognising that Christ Himself is the key to correct biblical understanding.
In this chapter, we suggest three criteria for evaluating and comparing different worldviews. A good worldview will 1) help people to make sense of the world, 2) provide a basis for living a good life, and 3) provide a basis for koinonia, a shared experience of life. The biblical worldview stands up extremely well on these criteria.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. True or false: People who share the same cultural background will share the same worldview? ________
2. What are some of the things that we might expect to find in a culture where people have a defective, inadequate worldview? _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
3. If the New Testament is a “slam-dunk” in basketball language, what is the Old Testament? __________________________
4. What is koinonia? ________________________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “Some components of culture can seem odd without the ________________________________ .”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why is it inadequate for Christians to simply affirm that their beliefs are right and that the beliefs of others are therefore wrong?
2. Are the three criteria for evaluating worldviews on p91 valid? Why or why not?
3. What advantages does the Christian worldview have when it comes to dealing with human suffering and death?
4. What is your personal vision of “the good life” and what does this say about your worldview?
5. Why do some people (even Christians) regard the creation/evolution debate as unimportant?
CHAPTER SEVEN – LIFE TRANSITIONS
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Every culture has its own unique ways of celebrating life transitions such as coming of age, finding a life partner, parenting and ultimately, death. The Christian Church has a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate a meaningful, sensible and beautiful culture in all these areas.
In regard to coming of age, Western society has so distorted the concept of adulthood that it’s now seen in terms of sexual expression and general permissiveness. The Christian Church needs to find positive ways to celebrate and recognise the passage into adulthood.
In regard to gender roles, modern society has created much confusion. Young men are bombarded with provocative images but condemned if they stare at them. Young girls are presented with impossible stereotypes of physical beauty. Stay-at-home Mums are denigrated and overlooked in public policy. The Bible contains much-needed wisdom and sanity in all these areas. Courtship provides an excellent alternative for Christians wanting to avoid the pitfalls of worldly dating rituals. And because marriage is a foundational aspect of Christian culture, it’s vital that Christians maintain Christ-honouring wedding rituals and strong, godly marriages, especially in a society where marriage is under constant attack.
Even in respect to funerals, the Christian Church has an opportunity to demonstrate a culture of hope and meaning that sets it apart from other cultures. Mourning is a biblical concept that could significantly help people when they lose loved ones.
In a world where traditions are being recklessly abandoned, the Christian Church is ideally positioned for cultural witness in the way we handle life transitions.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are some of the things that can skew a young man’s understanding of masculinity? ____________________________________________________________________
2. According to this chapter, in what life transition does the Christian worldview shine most brightly? _________________________
3. What does it take for a wedding ceremony to be genuinely Christian? __________________
_________________________________________________________
4. Where do life transitions fit on the culture diagram? _________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “Without enduring traditions, in an individualistic world ___________________________________________ .”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. When did you first feel that you had reached adulthood? Did anyone help you celebrate this transition?
2. How might the Christian Church help young people cope with life in an overly sexualised society?
3. What is the purpose of a funeral service for Christians? What about for those who have no faith commitment?
4. What is the difference between grieving and mourning?
5. What was your reaction to the Indian coming-of-age ritual described on p122? What effect would you expect this ritual to have in the life of the young boy? Is 13 the right age for such celebrations?
CHAPTER EIGHT – OTHER RITUALS AND TRADITIONS
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Many rituals and traditions that provided previous generations with a sense of meaning and community are now being abandoned but there are some Christian rituals and traditions that are too important, or too biblical, to ever lose.
Rituals and customs belong in the outer rim of culture, reaching into both the changeable and unchangeable regions. This chapter looks at several Christian rituals and seeks to determine which things are essential to Christian culture. Water baptism and teaching were specifically commanded by Jesus in His Great Commission to His disciples but there is considerable diversity in the way these rituals are performed. The same applies to the communion service. And, while Christians as a people group have no special food, we do share an enduring ritual of giving thanks before a meal.
Worship is a central aspect of Christian culture because it focuses directly on the One around whom our whole culture exists. Music and singing belong in the creative part of culture, so we welcome a rich diversity of styles. We must be careful, however, that our worship is genuinely directed to God.
Sunday worship (and a day of rest) is another valuable Christian tradition that deserves to be actively maintained.
Language is a fundamental part of any culture and, while Christians around the world speak many different languages, there is a valid, biblically-informed use of language that is not always understood outside the Christian community.
The chapter finishes with some brief discussions of worldly rituals that may not be appropriate in Christian homes.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are the three major requirements in the Great Commission? __________________, ___________________, __________________
2. What essential Christian ritual has unfortunately become “a major stumblingblock” to Christian unity? _______________________________
3. True or false: the first specific mention of the Sabbath is in Exodus? ________
4. List two biblical phrases that people who don’t read the Bible are likely to know. ______________________________________________
______________________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “The answer to the communication gap is not to ‘dumb it down’ but to find _____________________________________ for our treasured words and concepts.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Are church buildings an essential element of Christian culture? Why or why not? What does your church building say about Christian culture?
2. What, in your opinion, is the future of preaching in Christian culture? What will probably change and what will probably stay the same?
3. Where does worship fit into our culture diagram?
4. Has your personal witness been hampered by ‘Christianese’? How would you explain the holiness of God to an unbeliever?
5. Are Christmas and Easter pagan celebrations or valid Christian alternatives? Does it matter to you? What aspects of these seasons would you prefer to avoid?
CHAPTER NINE – MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Marriage and family issues are especially important to Christians, even if their experience often fails to match the ideal. This chapter looks at a number of modern issues affecting marriage and family life.
Divorce is a tragedy that should not even be joked about in Christian homes. Part of the problem is an unbiblical concept of love. Marriage is a covenant that sets out positive responsibilities, not a contract that seeks to protect the rights of one over against the other. De facto “marriages” cannot be affirmed in Christian culture because they deny all the things that make Christian marriage so valuable. In fact, marriage provides enormous benefits for society as a whole, which is why it must never be altered to include same-sex relationships.
The concept of male headship in marriage offends many people these days but an alternative reading of the Greek word kephale (head) potentially resolves the issue. A source of authority flows from God to Christ, to the man, to his wife. Far from enslaving, this is empowering for the wife.
Children are extremely important in Christian culture and God’s perfect plan is that they be nurtured by both father and mother. Boys and girls are different and it’s OK to bring them up differently. Christian parents should not be intimidated by worldly thinking that promotes moral and spiritual neutrality in the raising of children. All parents naturally want to pass their culture on to their children. If anything, this should be even more important for Christian parents.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. According to Matthew 19:8, why did God allow divorce? _______________________________
2. What is the Greek word for ‘head’ in verses like 1 Corinthians 11:3? _______________
3. What name is given to the view of gender roles that stands in opposition to the view known as egalitarianism? _______________________________________
4. What living arrangement is described in this chapter as “one of the most potent arguments for a Christian subculture”? ____________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “The Bible gives us a two-fold objective in raising children, to _______________ and to _________________ .
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How would you explain the high incidence of divorce among Christians? What is going wrong?
2. What are your thoughts on the designation of women as Ms?
3. In Australia, the Marriage Act requires couples to give 30 days notice of intention to marry. What advantages can you see in this when compared, say, to the instant marriages we hear about in Las Vegas, USA?
4. The culture of the early Christian Church was that wives must submit to their husbands (Eph 5:22-24, Col 3:18, 1 Pet 3:1,5,6). What circumstances, if any, would negate this principle in our own times?
5. What is the significance of parenting to Christian culture?
CHAPTER TEN – PRIORITIES AND PASSIONS
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This chapter looks at some of the key distinctives of the Christian way of life. Our priorities and passions flow directly from our worldview and on into the surface culture area of rituals and customs. This chapter demonstrates that moral issues, evangelism and even our attitude to truth itself are things that cannot be compromised (even if the world demands it!) because they are firmly embedded in our culture as Christians.
Love for God is the defining passion for Christians who seek to obey Jesus. This love can easily grow cold but God rewards those who “chase” His presence in their lives. The key to a growing relationship with God is prayer, personal and private, corporate and public.
The Bible is obviously an indispensible part of Christian culture because it actually defines our worldview. But it’s the ways in which we use this book that most contributes to our culture as Christians.
The rest of this chapter discusses the Christian priorities of faith (in the sense of expecting things from God), evangelism as a response to the love of God, and attitudes to truth. With regard to the latter, there are many people these days who insist that there is no such thing as objective truth but, for Christians, Jesus Himself is the truth. There is still some black and white in the world and this motivates Christians to speak up on modern ethical issues. The Gospel calls us to speak God’s truth powerfully, but with love and compassion.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. If salvation is not God’s ultimate purpose for His people, what is? _______________________
2. Name two men who helped make the Bible available to the common people. _______________________________ , ______________________________ .
3. What is the one true motivation for evangelism? ______________________________
4. Which Bible passage affirms that God saw us and knew us while we were being formed in the womb? _______________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “The Word of God is holy but a favourite Bible is more like ___________________________ .”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Are you a God-chaser? Have you had experiences in prayer that made you hungry for more of God’s presence in your life?
2. Do you agree with our interpretations of the different postures in prayer on pages 164,165? Can you think of any others?
3. Why is faith “just as much a spiritual discipline as prayer or Bible study”?
4. How do we, as Christians, know if something is true or not?
5. What worldviews issues would be likely to influence people on either side of the euthanasia debate?
CHAPTER ELEVEN – LIFE ATTITUDES
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This chapter looks at a range of values and life attitudes that Christians normally have in common. We do acknowledge that there is a gap between how we know we should live (ideal culture) and how we really do (actual culture). This is normal in any culture.
The first and most important Christian value is love. To distinguish this God-type of love from all worldly distortions, Christians often use the Greek word agape. This love is not a sterile thing because Christians are told to be affectionate with one another.
Other Christian values that stand out (or should stand out) from worldly culture include a habit of honouring one another, a zealous diligence for good works, an ability to rejoice in hardship, hospitality to strangers, cleaned-up language, heart-felt compassion that moves us to action, humility and sexual purity. Praying in the Spirit is a valuable lifestyle thing for many Christians.
Christian humour is especially counter-cultural, as is our general disposition to peace and living peaceably.
The chapter concludes with two very basic life attitudes to which God calls us. The first is an attitude of living for eternity. When we understand that this world is not our lasting (let alone ever-lasting) home, things take on a different perspective.
Religion tends to divide life into the sacred and the secular. The concept of Christian culture, however, demolishes this unhelpful dualism. God is interested in every aspect of our lives. True Christian culture, therefore, is holistic rather than dualistic.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What is the Greek word for ‘honour’ in passages like Romans 12:10? _____________
2. True or false: The Bible urges Christians to show hospitality to strangers because it often leads to conversion? _________________
3. What happens to social ministry that lacks compassion? _______________________________
4. Complete this sentence. “Zeal… may be thought of as ________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
5. Which way of looking at life is more holistic, the Hebrew or the Greek? __________________
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you observed any gap between ideal culture and actual culture in the Christian Church? Is it helpful to acknowledge such a gap or do you find it discouraging?
2. What outcomes would you expect if Christians everywhere started taking literally the exhortations to greet one another with a holy kiss?
3. The second epistle of John sets out an important limitation on hospitality. What sort of factors would justifiably limit Christian hospitality today?
4. Look at the “living for eternity” list on p198. How might economic or socio-political circumstances affect the attitude of Christians in this regard?
5. Is there a safe zone for Christian humour? Where would you draw the line?
CHAPTER TWELVE – THE PROBLEM OF INDIVIDUALISM
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This is one of the most important chapters in this book because it looks at a potentially destructive mindset that has already infiltrated the Christian Church in Western nations. Individualism is a relatively modern phenomena that puts the rights and freedoms of the individual above the welfare of the wider community. Such a mindset was totally foreign to the early church and also to many communities around the world even today. Individual freedom is a good thing but, if our freedoms are truly submitted to God, they will result in other-centred love, which is the exact opposite of individualism.
In the Bible, God called His people to do what was right in His eyes but, when they were not under strong leadership, they did whatever was right in their own eyes. The Christian Church, by contrast, came together as one body after the miracle of Pentecost. The New Testament emphasizes a corporate mindset where every member contributes for the benefit of the whole church. In this environment, people gladly share their possessions, giving freely to those in need.
Individualism has many negative connotations for discipleship because people have been trained from childhood to make decisions on the basis of what they feel is right for them. Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. He set the pattern when He prayed “Not My will but thine.”
The antidote to individualism is in seeing ourselves first and foremost as belonging to the people of God in Christ.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How is individualism defined on p202? _______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
2. According to Bertrand Russell, which philosopher finally threw open a door for individualistic thinking? ___________________________________
3. Why was the judgment against the “stick-man” of Numbers 15 so harsh? ___________ _________________________________________________________________________
4. Which Bible passage highlights the tension between individual responsibility and individual-ism? ____________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “How can we corporately manifest Christ if we cannot even _____________________________________________ ?”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why would individualistic thinking be more prominent in large, highly diverse societies?
2. How does individualistic thinking manifest in modern church communities?
3. What is your reaction to the story about the Nigerian student on p213? Have you ever experienced life in a community where clothes and other personal items were freely shared?
4. Why does Satan promote individualism?
5. How does individualism affect culture and the way it is transmitted?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN – ISN’T IT BETTER TO WORK FROM WITHIN THE CULTURE?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
The third part of the book answers questions which may be anticipated from our presentation of Christianity as a subculture. It is often assumed that Christians have to thoroughly immerse themselves into any foreign culture before they will be able to reach the people in that culture for Christ. In this chapter, we argue that this is not true. Both Peter and Paul ministered with great success in cultures where they were outsiders. Jesus Himself made no attempt to be culturally acceptable to the Jews.
Western culture in particular has become so seductively corrupt that Christians must take a moral stand outside such culture.
This chapter considers the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in light of His subsequent ministry. Jesus had no comforts or pleasures of any kind in the wilderness. No-one to talk with except God His Father. His only approval was from the Father. We suggest that, during His wilderness experience, Jesus formally turned his back on all the pleasures and temptations of this world and committed Himself to the Father alone for provision, guidance and approval.
Western culture is addicted to comfort and pleasure, entertainment, achievement and approval, a warped definition of success, and words. Whereas the world’s concept of success means attaining fame or prosperity (or both) through whatever field of endeavour we happen to choose, a biblical concept of success means achieving what God calls us to achieve. If we would live in the power of the Spirit, we will need to learn these lessons.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Name two things that Jesus did that were contrary to the Jewish culture of the time. ______________________________________, ____________________________________ .
2. What is the word for people who try to attain a higher spiritual life by deliberately inflicting pain on themselves? __________________________
3. Where in the New Testament would you read of a “royal law”? _________________________
4. Why did Herod want Jesus to perform a miracle? _____________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “The tragedy is when God has great things in store for us but we are too busy trying to achieve _______________________________________________ .”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What difference would it make to your witness if you began to see yourself as an outsider with insider knowledge regarding the culture in which you grew up?
2. Give some examples of cultures or subcultures from which a new Christian would need to break away. What principles should guide such decisions?
3. Do you agree with our inference that Hebrews 5:8 most likely refers to Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness? If not, to what sufferings might the verse be referring?
4. What would be an appropriate Christian attitude to the home comforts described on pages 224 and 225?
5. Have churches become too entertainment oriented? Is there a balance somewhere between pure entertainment and boring? Where would you draw the line?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN – CHRISTIANITY AND THE CULTURE WARS
CHAPTER SUMMARY
‘Culture wars’ is a term commonly used to describe the battle between competing forces who claim the right to guide the culture of a nation or society. Typically, the battle is between those who want to radically change the culture and those who resist such change. In Western societies, where Christian influence is rapidly declining, Christians are facing huge challenges.
This chapter looks at some very important questions about the culture wars. Should Christians get involved in politics? Our answer? Yes, if we have that opportunity. But our enemy is not flesh and blood. The Bible calls us to battle against principalities and powers, which means that, on a human level, we can respond lovingly, letting our good works and reasonable arguments persuade people. We are not called to enforce our values on the world. That approach has never worked in history; it won’t work now. Sinners are always going to want to sin. The promise that we will reign over the earth refers to the time when Christ returns. But, in the meantime, we are certainly called to speak up on issues and we must demonstrate our values in a Christian subculture. We are called to minister to the poor and oppressed, not just because such ministry is a key to our ongoing influence in the world, but more importantly because we are motivated by love.
This chapter also includes a short section in answer to those Christians who feel that social and political action is pointless because Jesus is returning soon.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. According to this chapter, who first coined the term “culture wars” (albeit in German)? ________________________________
2. Which New Testament verse urges us to pray for kings and those in government authority over us? _________________________
3. Which of Jesus’ disciples was involved in a lobby group against the Romans? ________ _________________________________
4. Summarise the three step approach to the culture wars proposed on p251.
a. _________________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “Democracy has many benefits but the clear implication of Scripture is that God can work in and through ______________________________________________
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. The “singing dog” illustration suggests that the culture wars will be won by the groups who make the loudest noise. Is this currently happening? Is there a way to counter this other than trying to make a louder noise?
2. Are minority groups wrong to demand radical changes to society because it doesn’t suit their chosen lifestyle? If so, why? How should Christians respond to this?
3. How biblical is democracy?
4. How does the promise of the second coming of Christ affect your thinking about the culture wars currently being waged going on in modern societies?
5. How would you respond to critics who argue that the Christian Church, through its history, has forfeited any right to speak out on moral issues?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN – BUT AREN’T THERE MANY CHRISTIAN CULTURES?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
With so many vastly different church cultures, how can we talk meaningfully about any Christian subculture? The differences between Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical and Pentecostal are more than just surface differences. In the context of this book, this is an important question to answer. Our approach is to look to the early Church as described in Acts for an example of pure Christian culture. This was a church operating in the fullness of God’s grace and power. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and the Lord worked many miracles in their midst. In many respects, the Christian Church over the centuries has drifted far from this original pattern. But, when God brings His church into times of revival, denominational differences are less apparent and the culture of the Church more closely resembles the culture of the first Church.
In this chapter, we look at the marks of revival and suggest that, while true revival cannot be engineered by man, we can in fact experience something of revival culture as we walk in the Spirit, and in holiness, praying with expectant hearts to the supernatural God in us and among us.
One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to bring God’s people into unity. But this unity cannot simply be a lowest common denominator type of unity. It’s a unity based on God’s love, through the work of Christ on our behalf, and manifested in the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, as it was in the very first church.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Why do some churches look more like community centres than places of worship? _____________________________________________________________________________
2. Which of the following was NOT a feature of the first Christian church? a) Fellowship meals b) Bold preaching of God’s Word c) Fundraising campaigns d) An expectation of miracles.
3. What is the third of Jonathan Edwards’ “distinguishing marks” of revival? ________________ _______________________________________________________
4. Which Scripture passage promises a special blessing to brothers and sisters who dwell together in unity? ___________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “The unity that will be found in a Christian subculture is not hesitant or tentative but _____________________________________ , not awkward or strained but __________________ , not suspicious but __________________________ .
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What surface culture rituals and customs can you identify in your own local church or denomination? What do these things say about your congregation and its beliefs?
2. In your opinion, what doctrinal difference between Christian denominations pose the greatest obstacles to genuine cross-denominational fellowship?
3. This chapter suggests a number of ways in which God’s Church has moved away from the original pattern. How can Christian people address issues like these without becoming negative and critical?
4. Read the “waiting, working, thirsting…” quote on p264. Has a longing for revival motivated you in your service to God?
5. This chapter is perhaps the most controversial chapter in the book becaue it presents a picture of Christian culture that some Christians would not readily accept. In your opinion, has our line of reasoning, leading to the final sentence in the chapter, been biblically sound?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN – WHAT ABOUT THE NEW PARADIGM CHURCHES?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
This chapter deals with a new phenomenon which has come to be known in some circles as the emerging church. Readers who have no knowledge of the emerging church, and no particular interest in learning more, may want to skip this chapter. But, because the emerging church is seeking new ways to engage with culture, it’s something that could hardly be ignored in this book.
‘The emerging church’ is a kind of umbrella term for a wide assortment of innovative Christian communities that are trying to bring Christ to a postmodern world. We unpack that with a touch of cynicism because there is some evidence that postmodernism may not go on to have the lasting influence that some writers expect.
Some of the positive features of the emerging church include their passion for creative worship experiences, their desire to grapple with cultural issues and their determination to take Christ outside the four walls of the church and into the community. Some potential dangers include the insistence by some emerging writers that current church structures must be completely dismantled. We argue in this chapter that their assessment of the state of the Church is flawed. The problems that they are seeking to fix are not relevant to all churches everywhere. Nor do they properly account for the many dynamic Christian revivals that are happening around the world today.
The chapter closes with a comparison of emerging church ideas with the subculture message that we have advocated in this book.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Which prominent writer, famously involved with Emergent Village, is “widely recognised as a leader and spokesman for the emerging church movement”? _________________________________________________
2. Which generations are regarded as “thoroughly postmodern” and hence prime targets for the emerging church movement? _______________________ and _________________________
3. What is a thurifer? ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________
4. Of the following professions which one is most likely to take a postmodern approach to truth? a) Chemist b) Computer technician c) Forensic scientist d) Philosopher
5. Complete this sentence. “The church, as a sign of the kingdom of God, must demonstrate ____________________________________________________ .
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you had any personal experience with emerging (new paradigm) churches? If so, what were your initial impressions? Would you invite a non-Christian friend to one of theiur meetings?
2. Read the quote from Brian McLaren on p271. Do you agree that Christians have become intolerant and unloving towards non-Christians?
3. Would you have walked out of the Vanguard Church service described on p282? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the idea of reverse evangelism, as described on p284? Are these people going too far? Or are they just being deliberately provocative to shock Christians into getting out more?
5. Frost and Hirsh talk about the Western Church losing her place in the Town Square (p286). What challenges and/or opportunities does this present?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – WON’T SUBCULTURE THINKING DISCOURAGE EVANGELISM?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
For some people, the term “Christian subculture” immediately conjures up images of a church that doesn’t care about the lost because they’re too busy hiding away in their own little world. At the very least, they express concern that our message would make the church too inwardly focused. This chapter addresses a range of questions on this theme.
The story of a king adopting an orphan boy as son shows how cultural change takes place over time after conversion to Christ. Like the freshly adopted prince, the new Christian needs to become established in his new identity. Only then can she effectively reach back to the people she knew in her old life. Knowing the people we are trying to reach provides opportunity for witness but the power to make a real difference comes from the changes worked inside us by the Holy Spirit.
Christian conversion usually involves major worldview change. Using hypothetical cases, we look at what this might mean for various members of Western society. The subculture message, by explaining this, gives us a useful platform for evangelism. It also helps with ongoing discipleship because new members of the church community naturally pick up on Christian culture through consistent participation.
We also make the point that our Christian culture itself, if presented in an interesting way, can be used as a witness in the community. And finally, the subculture message promotes Christian unity, thus paving the way for united Christian witness. In all these ways, subculture thinking actually helps equip us for effective evangelism.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. The natives of which island had their worldview assumptions challenged by Paul’s encounter with a snake? _____________________
2. Does Christian conversion always involve a massive change in worldview? __________
3. What incident led to mass conversions in the towns of Lydda and Sharon? ________________ ________________________________________________
4. Name two cultural issues that Paul addresses in 1st Corinthians. a) ______________________ _________________________ b) _____________________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “Far from advocating a subculture mindset that leads to retreat, we are advocating a mindset that ______________________________________ .
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What principles of evangelism and discipleship do you draw from the story of the king and his adopted son?
2. How would you describe the worldview assumptions of David and Annie (pp 293,294)? What would have to change in their worldviews before they could become disciples of Jesus?
3. Why is it important to understand that cultures are always changing? How might such understanding impact Christian mission?
4. The subculture message stresses that all those who are in Christ are one people, thus providing a sound basis for Christian unity. Do churches in your city/region ever come together for evangelistic outreach? If not, why not?
5. Do any of our suggestions for Christian cultural witness (pp 299, 300) strike you as having real potential? Can you think of other ideas that would make Christian culture attractive to outsiders?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – HOW DO YOU BUILD A CULTURE?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Our final chapter seeks to offer practical suggestions for outworking the Christian subculture message. We begin with a summary (on p306) of the book’s message and a reminder that subculture thinking is big-picture stuff. Five “focus points” for building and strengthening Christian culture are then presented.
The first focus point is pressing in to God. Since Jesus Himself is the very heart of Christian culture, everything revolves around Him. Loving God is our top priority.
The second focus point calls us to “emphasize our solidarity” with the people of God around the world. If our perspective is limited to our own denomination or local church, it will be too narrow, given that our Heavenly Father sees us all as one people.
The third point is about emphasizing our distinctive lifestyle as Christians. Rather than being embarrassed about our Christian culture, we should freely celebrate the values and practices that make us stand out from the world.
The fourth focus point is emphasizing our cultural heritage as Christians. Culture is generational. It works across the centuries. Christian history is an incredibly rich source of heritage that should inform our cultural identity today.
Finally, the fifth point reminds us that the arts can be powerful expressions of Christian culture.
This final chapter is all about possibilities. “Our Culture” is not a detailed prescription for Christian culture although we have tried to identify the things that will always be essential. In the end, Christian people from all sorts of backgrounds will determine what the Christian subculture will look like.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. True or false: The Christian culture allows for rich diversity? ______________
2. According to one pastor, quoted in this chapter, what must you do to worldly standards in order to discover God’s standards? __________________________________________________
3. What does F.R.O.G. stand for? _______________ __________________ _____ _______
4. What is happening to Western culture as a result of its tendency to ridicule or dismiss things just because they are old? ________________________________________________________
5. Complete this sentence. “The Christian subculture cannot be something new, because __________________________________________________________________________ .
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What changes in attitude might help the Christian Church to see itself as a “worldwide cultural phenomenon”?
2. Discuss the first paragraph on p309. Is it right for Christians to see themselves as competing against other religions, such as Islam or Buddhism?
3. Consider the list of Christian distinctives put forward on pp310 and 311. Rate each one according to its importance, in your opinion, for Christian culture. Score 1 for something that is not important at all, 5 for something that is absolutely essential.
4. What is Christian art and what should be its purpose? What sort of art would violate the second commandment?
5. What sort of things would be studied in a “Christian Culture Research Institute”?
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