Culture and the Church (1)

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Liberty University *

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RLGN-104

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Arts Humanities

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Apr 3, 2024

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The Gospel and Church Chloe Meger Liberty University, Behavioral sciences RLGN:210 Dr. Brad Mckerley January 25 th , 2024

Cultural engagement is important, but first, what is culture? Culture is described by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of social groups. A shared set of values, or social practices associated with a particular field, as well an integrated pattern of human knowledge” (2024). There is Christian culture, and then materialistic, worldly culture outside of God, which a large portion of the population falls into. As Christians, we essentially must engage in culture in a way that brings people to fall in love with the Lord. Matthew 28:19 states we must go and make disciples (Holy Bible, New International Version, 1984), and to do so we must engage with people outside of our church culture. My church doesn’t shy away from different cultures but rather welcomes them. My church's goal is to share and teach the gospel, make disciples, and encourage and steward people to go out into everyday life as disciples. My church is optimistic about cultural progression, as it is because of the emerging culture that we are given more ways to preach the gospel. Sermons are being uploaded to Spotify, live sermons online, and online tithing to our missionaries, to name a few. However, I would also say my church is aware of how culture has progressed in the sense of turning against the Lord, and because of this, my church would not promote some secular things knowing it will only feed the flesh. My church knows secular culture is a by-product of worldly things, being said my church welcomes secular culture, and directs it towards the gospel and the one true truth. My pastor has done sermons on sexuality, anxiety, and finances, to name a few. He isn’t scared to talk about secular things because he wants to lead our congregation to the One Truth. I can’t explain how much I love my church. Every Sunday worship is powerful, I have goosebumps and feel the Holy Spirit. My pastor preaches convicting sermons that empower the congregation to pursue holiness and live a life in surrender to the Lord. In the book Center Church Timothy Keller says, “Because the gospel is endlessly rich, it can handle being the one “main thing” of a church.” (Keller, para.39) The gospel is the good news about how we have been saved by peril. The gospel isn’t something we do, but something we respond to and receive as it has already been done for us (Keller, para.1). My church goal isn’t to see culture as something we need to change but rather to bring people back to the heart of the Lord and his plan for us. My church wants to see people fall in love with the Lord and as a result of the Holy Spirit working within them, the Lord will change their actions as a by-product. As Christians, we can expect non-believers to live in sin and promote secular culture and the beliefs that follow. I believe as Christians, we shouldn’t make our goal to “change culture”, but rather share the gospel in different cultural environments which will propel people to pursue the Lord and not culture. As the book Center Church described, “Counseling, spiritual direction, doing justice, engaging culture, doctrinal instruction, and even evangelism itself may become the main thing instead of the gospel” (Keller, p.37). Changing people's actions, preaching doctrines or right living should not be the false gospel we preach, rather if we can share the good news with people, the Holy Spirit can do the changing of their hearts and their actions will be transformed by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.

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