The Church and Culture - how do they relate to one another? The fact is they clash in many different ways today.
Illustration #1 Here in Texas, Karla Faye Tucker, a convicted pick axe murderer was put to death by lethal injection on Tuesday, February 3, 1998. She was the first woman executed in the State of Texas since the civil war. Many Christian groups (ie, Pat Robertson, etc.) called for the commuting of her sentence because she was a changed woman, having professed her faith in Jesus Christ. This is certainly and example in which the church and culture were at odds. If we are to think Biblically, what should our response to the Karla Faye Tucker matter be? Does Scripture offer us any answers to such difficult questions?
Illustration #2 To many people, the church is ineffective in the world today because it is too different from the culture around it. We live in an entertainment age and frankly a worship service is not entertaining. Many people would suggest that the church should look more like the culture. The whole debate today about Traditional vs. Contemporary worship has brought out some interesting questions to say the least. Does the church need to look like the culture in order to be effective? Do we need to give people what they want in order to reach them? Better yet, can we give people what they want and still reach them?
We will begin to examine this topic of how church and culture relate by looking at what we mean by the word culture.
II. Three levels of culture.
A. Webster defines culture as, "the skills,arts, etc. of a given people in a given period."
A concise definition, but the fact is the term culture means many different things to different people. Someone might say, "I am going to the opera to get a little culture." Or they might say, "certain traditions practiced in my family are part of my culture." These are both appropriate uses of the term because there are really three levels of culture.
B. Folk culture.
C. High culture.1. Gathered naturally. 2. Family and societal traditions. Example: Christmas traditions, foods, folk music, etc.
1. Involves talent or training. 2. Accomplishment. 3. The arts, music. Example: Opera, ballet, symphony.
1. Is created by modern technology. (ie, mass production techniques. Music, etc.) 2. Culture is bought and sold. Trends are pushed. 3. The purpose is largely economic. What sells? 4. A late 20th century development. 5. By nature it does not support Christianity. Pop culture is "trendy," Christianity and its message is changeles as God is changeless. 6. Stresses entertainment. Example: Pop music (ie, 60's ballads), pet rocks, fast food, etc.
Now, keeping those three levels of culture in mind we need to turn to the question of the church and culture and examine what the relationship between the two should be.
III. Relationship between church and culture. (Four models).
B. The church rules the culture.A. The culture rules the church. 1. Modern liberal theology holds this view. 2. Whatever the culture is doing the church must follow suit. Biblical evidence against: Mark 7:9-13 What was the objection of Jesus? Galatians 1:13-14 Paul was zealous for what? Which led him to persecute the church of God. Romans 12:1-2 Do not be conformed to this __________.
1. Reformed theology holds this view. 2. Pat Robertson and others believe that Christians should have petitioned the government to commute the sentence of Karla Faye Tucker. 3. This, by the way, is also the view of Roman Catholicism. The Pope so often speaks on political matters because his rule is considered to be over the state as well as over the church.
"Christ gave the apostles only spiritual power, that is the command to preach the Gospel, proclaim the forgiveness of sins, administer the sacraments, and excommunicate the godless without physical violence. He did not give them the power of the sword or the right to establish, take possession of, or transfer the kingdoms of the world. For Christ said, "Go therefore and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you." Matt. 28:19-20." (Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope)
D. The doctrine of the Two Kingdoms.1. Separatist groups. (ie, the Omish, Mennonites, etc.) 2. Advancements in the world are inherently evil. 3. Christians are to reject culture. Biblical evidence against: I Corinthians 5:9-11 Who are we to associate with? Mark 16:15 Go into all the ________ and preach the gospel. I John 4:17 As He is so also are we in this _____
_____.
IV. Can the kingdom of the right (the church) be enhanced by culture?1. The Kingdom of the left and the kingdom of the right. The kingdom of the secular realm and the kingdom of the church. 2. Separate but both are ruled by God. Colossians 1:16-17 What does God rule? Ephesians 5:23-24 Christ is the head of the _________. 3. Everyone is part of the kingdom of the left. Only Christians make up the kingdom of the right. Colossians 1:16-17 Again, whom does God rule in the kingdom of power? Colossians 1:13 Christians have been ___________ into the kingdom of His beloved Son. I Corinthians 6:9a Who inherits the kingdom of God? 4. The kingdom of the left God rules with power. (ie, using Governments, etc.) Romans 13:3-4 What power does the government possess? The government is a minister of who? 5. The kingdom of the right God rules with grace. (The Word, Sacraments) John 1:12 What do we receive in Christ? Psalm 103:13 The Lord has compassion on who? II Timothy 4:18 Who rescues us from every evil? Ephesians 2:19-22 We are fellow citizens with God's people and members of His household.
B. High culture.A. Folk culture. 1. Some impact. (ie, Christmas traditions, Easter traditions, even Lenten traditions.) 2. But Christianity is not a cultural religion. It is a world religion. 3. Folk culture should not be allowed to makeChristianity a folk religion.
C. Pop culture.1. Some impact. (ie, Music of Bach, Handel, art work of Michelangelo, Albrect Duer) 2. The works of high culture are timeless and enduring and thus they fit well with the message of Christianity.
V. Conclusion1. This is where the problem arises. Because of its foundation, its nature, pop culture drives out folk culture and high culture and it creates a certain temporary shallowness. 2. Leads to Pop Christianity. a. Very generic. (After all McDonalds should be the same no matter where it is.) b. Gratification of the consumer is the goal. c. Focuses on what people want, not what they need. Illustration Dr. Gene Veith spoke about a service in an LCMS church that he attended during the Christmas season. The message was "Five ways to avoid stress at Christmas." Were people interested in the topic? Sure they were. But in Veith's words, "there was no law, no gospel, and no Christ." 3. Constantly changing.
A. Treasure of the Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms. B. Value of culture to the church. 1. Folk Culture 2. High Culture C. Danger of Pop culture to the church. 1. Creates pop Christianity. 2. Undermines the stableness of the faith.