Page 85 - Christ and Culture Textbook

Study Section 15: The Church and Culture.

15.1 Connect

The Church can exist in any culture, but each culture will have certain beliefs, values, or
practices which contradict Christianity and therefore must be laid aside. The Jewish emphasis
on external righteousness by outward conformity to rules had to be put aside, for salvation is
obtained by faith alone, apart from works. The Gentile practices of idolatry and immorality
also had to be rejected as contrary to one’s calling in Christ. Any conformity to culture which
hinders the preaching of the gospel should also be forsaken. The question how do we do
that? Should Church involve itself into to politics, business and culture? What is the best place to start
from when engaging culture? Is it wrong for Christians to withdraw from culture completely? How do
Christians appropriately engage society in thoughtful, redeeming ways? Where does someone start
when approaching cultural engagement for the first time? Every dimension of our lives relates in some
way to Christ. That means all of life matters to God. The Church can serve faithfully as a representative
of Christ, even as we interact in the arts, the natural sciences, the social sciences, the public square, the
academy, sports and competition, and homemaking. Let see how the Church can exist for Christ and in
Christ without losing its focus.

15.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe some important theological truths that can help us to
make a difference in Culture.

2. The student should be able to explain how the Church can influence the culture a positive
way.

3. The student should be able to cite some negative influences that culture have been brought into the
Church

4. The student should be able to be motivated to exalt God’s word in every aspect of life

15.3 The Church has power Impact the Community

God in his greatness has empowered the Church to live with a difference in the ungodly
culture. Anyone who has received Jesus Christ as the savior, has the Holy Spirit dwelling in
them. The Spirit transforms our heart at the moment of salvation, and He continues to
transform our heart through sanctification. The Holy Spirit helps us to have impact on those
that we mingle with. One can be working at secular University but still have a Christian
influence. There other who are called to work in the government wings and will have great
Christian influence. The second Zambian President Dr. Fredrick Chiluba decreed Zambia to be a
Christian nation because of commitment to Christian values. A Christian Medical Doctor can influence
his workplace with Christian values. A Soccer prayer can influence a soccer team with Christian values.
The best to start engaging culture is where God plants you.

There is a great difference between the world being in the Church and the Church being in the world.
The world is not to gain any hold in the Church—by its attitudes and standards—but the Church is to be

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