Christ And Culture

Revelation 7:9-12

I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9)

ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT theological works of the twentieth century was Christ and Culture, a 1951 book by H. Richard Niebuhr that explores the relationship between Jesus and human culture—whether he is at odds with it, is above it, works within it, works against it, or enters into it to transform it. Wherever a Christian’s opinion falls will shape his or her relationship with the surrounding world. How we envision the Kingdom of God will determine how we affect society.

That’s the view from within Christian theology, but what about outsiders’ views? One of the big questions in the humanities and social sciences in recent decades has been whether it is ever ethical for someone to “impose” his or her beliefs on another culture. The Christian mission, whether in a radically non-Christian culture or in one’s own neighborhood, is an effort to affect the beliefs of another. In an age of cultural relativism, many see that as a problem. They forget that Christianity was once foreign to all non-Hebraic cultures (as other religions were foreign beyond their sources), and that every teacher, conversationalist, politician, and philosopher is engaged in changing the thoughts of others. But they also assume that the gospel will undermine a culture and destroy its distinctiveness. And that was not Jesus’ mission.

Jesus came not to make the world uniform but to make it new, and it is clear from Revelation’s scenes of heaven that people of every tribe and tongue—still very distinguishable—will worship before his throne. Remember that in your interactions with those from different backgrounds. Focus on the gospel’s power to change hearts toward God. God enjoys radical diversity within the unity of his Kingdom. So should you.

{Lord, I believe my concepts of you and your Word are true. But I also know that my understanding is limited and that many believers see you in different ways. I want to stir up love for you in others; I trust you to bring about change—or not—in your way and your time. Amen.