Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10.5)

Disciplines
Culture
Christians are citizens in a Kingdom of redemption, where by the Word and Spirit of Christ, we are agents and ambassadors in a process by which Christ our King is making all things new (2 Cor. 5.17-21; Rev. 21.5).

Because God loves His creation so much, He sent Christ to redeem it from sin (Jn. 3.16). We who have received the gift of redemption are now called to bring the glory of God to light in all areas of life, including all our cultural lives, down to the most everyday, mundane details and activities of life (1 Cor. 10.31).

We redeem the culture of which we are a part by bringing it into the light of Christ’s Kingdom, so that whatever of darkness and sin remain, they can be dispelled and replaced by all that is beautiful, good, and true (1 Jn. 2.8).

The disciplines of making, using, and redeeming culture require, as part of our calling, that believers be prepared to repudiate certain forms of culture and certain practices that simply do not fit within a framework of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit. It’s at this point that we become aware of the “culture wars” that flare up because of the differences in worldview between Christians and unbelievers.

Certain cultural practices, common to the world of unbelief, are unacceptable for believers. As often as we become aware of such a practice in our lives, we must take immediate steps to be done with it. This may involve some cost or sacrifice on our part, and even, perhaps, that we denounce the practice publicly, if it had been widely known that we engaged such a practice, as we see in Acts 19.19, 20. We must not harbor any cultural practices, activities, or forms, which are contrary to the purposes of Christ and His Kingdom.

But we note that the believing community in the city of Ephesus did not mount a general campaign against the practice of magic, or other cultural forms or practices of which they may have disapproved. The believers concentrated only on themselves and their community. They seemed to understand that the work of redemption involves creating an alternative society and culture, one clearly visible to the watching world, even though in places, contrary to and even in conflict with it.

Doubtless, the believers in Ephesus must have explained their actions to their unbelieving neighbors. And they may have used available public forums to try to persuade people of the folly of such practices, as we see Paul did in Athens (Acts 17).

But not as an end in itself, as if merely changing culture were the answer to people’s greatest need.

The believers in Ephesus they did not seek to transform their culture except insofar as they had power to do so within their own spheres of influence. They did not try to force cultural change politically. Change came through their own exertions and example, and within the framework of the Gospel and the Kingdom. We note the effect of this in Acts 19.20: “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”

Cultural change is best achieved willingly, rather than by force of law. The first Christians worked hard at winning people to the Lord, so that in Him, and in His Word and Spirit, their desires might be redeemed and transformed, so that they would desire the holy and righteous and good things of the Lord and His Word. In such a condition, giving up cultural practices that one recognizes as inimical to a Kingdom way of life follows naturally from our change of mind and heart.

Because Christians today have chosen to attack disagreeable forms of culture – and those who create, sponsor, and use them – rather than to work hard at winning our neighbors to Christ, and because we are not consistent in our own use of culture, but reflect too much the ways of the very world we condemn, we have stumbled in our mission and turned the world against us.

Only as the light of Christ shines in the heart of people will they freely and gladly give up those things which are displeasing to Him. Let us walk in the light, friends, as He is in the light; and let us shine into our neighbors’ hearts, with the warmth and brilliance of His truth, the love Jesus bears for us and for them.

For reflection
1.  What is your approach to “redeeming” the culture of your life for Christ and His Kingdom?

2.  How do you work to shine the light of Christ’s love on the people around you?

3.  What can we learn from the church in Ephesus (Acts 19) about spreading the Word of God with power?

What can you do to begin improving your witness for Christ, by the way you live and the conversations you engage in with the people around you?

T. M. Moore

Stretch your vision of Christ and His Kingdom by ordering a copy of T. M.’s book, The Kingship of Jesus, from our online store (click here).

The Week features insights from a wide range of topics and issues, with a view to equipping the followers of Christ to take every thought captive for Jesus. Please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.