No offense to Walt Mueller but I am sick of the word culture. It has become the most overused word in church vernacular since relevant. I am sick of how some use the word as a diseased amoeba that we must protect ourselves from. I am sick of how it is used as a convenient way to over generalize important issues of our day like media influence, social networking, violence, racism, war and a world economy. I am sick of the way the Church acts as though it is not PART of culture.
Simple fact of the matter is that you can’t separate Church and Culture. The religious influence on the people is one of the crucial marks of culture in society. We should be asking not how is this culture affecting this people group or that organization but rather ask how is the New Testament Church affecting Culture.
The internet is here to stay, so are TV, Movies, Democrats, Republicans, Hate and Love. How do we as a church navigate through this world and proclaim Jesus. I strained a ligament in my knee a few weeks ago and last night I tweaked it playing with my 3 year old…holding it in pain she saw that I had a small scratch and went to get a band-aid for my booboo. In her world if she fixed the scratch the pain would go away. Church, stop focusing on the scratch…stop focusing on the surface level evidences of pain and let’s go deeper into the soul and offer healing. Healing that comes only from Jesus. Then, the church will begin to AFFECT culture not simply be observing and commenting on it.
Study Jesus and you find someone who went out of his way to AFFECT culture not to comment on it. Even when he commented on it he was stirring the pot of the establishment. I pray that you who read this read it with it’s intent to encourage spiritual leaders to LEAD with love, compassion and mission. Let other people study why.
Sean Rheaume 