Welcome to episode 207 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue in our series on Christian citizenship.  Today, we tackle the topic of cultural engagement.

Key takeaways: 

  • As followers of Christ, we're called to a distinctive way of life that sometimes aligns with and sometimes challenges the prevailing culture.
  • Three principles for cultural engagement:
  • Christians should be distinctively Christian.
  • Christians must be engaged.
  • Christians should be thoughtful about our influence.
  • Three models of cultural engagement:
  • Critical consumption - examine cultural content thoughtfully.
  • Common grace collaboration - God's common grace enables non-believers to create good things, discover truth, and promote justice.
  • Counter-cultural community - some aspects of our faith and practice will inevitably stand in contrast to the surrounding culture.

Quotable: 

  • Compromise for the sake of relevance ultimately leads to irrelevance.

Application: 

  • A balanced approach to cultural engagement requires wisdom and discernment. It means constantly asking questions like:
  • What aspects of this cultural element reflect God's truth, goodness, and beauty?
  • What aspects distort or contradict God's design?
  • How can I appreciate the good while respectfully challenging the problematic?
  • How can my engagement bear witness to a more excellent way?
  • Cultivate deep biblical knowledge. The better we understand Scripture, the more clearly we can discern what in culture aligns with or contradicts God's design.
  • Practice intentional cultural awareness. Pay attention to the messages in the media you consume, the assumptions in the education system, and the values celebrated in entertainment.
  • Build relationships with non-believers.
  • Find like-minded community. Cultural engagement is challenging to sustain alone.
  • Recognize that our ultimate goal isn't just cultural analysis or even cultural transformation, but pointing to Christ through our engagement.

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