A while ago I took a class at Fuller Seminary called “Perspectives on Christ and Culture.” In that class we examined various aspects of the relationship between Christ or Christianity and culture. We looked at and assessed various traditions ranging from Anabaptists to those belonging to the Reformed Tradition, we also examined various topics like multiculturalism and western patterns of thought. Having learned so much (theory) it would be a waste to store this information and never allow it to affect our ministry and the way that we live (praxis). If we do not allow our theory to move into praxis then we have failed to perform the proper task of theology (orthopraxy). In this blog I want to cover four theological concepts regarding Christ and Culture and see how it affects the way ministry is done. Now this blog is specific to my own context, but I believe that it serves as a model for how to understand Christ and Culture in regards to numerous ministry contexts.
I currently work with a college-age ministry which is a part of a large mega-church in the San Fernando Valley (a suburb of Los Angeles). Our group primarily consists of middle class, Anglo-American college students. My role in this ministry is directing our small groups. I help write curriculum for the small groups, train leaders, disciple students, and I occasionally preach. My hope is that I can take what I have learned and help these students think through their relationship to culture so that they might live faithfully as Christ-followers in whatever context God places them.
Over the next few days we will take a look at:
- Culture and the Cultural Mandate
- Transforming Culture
- Transforming Culture and the Biblical Meta-Narrative
- God’s Sovereignty and Vocation
CWoznicki Think Out Loud 