Culturally Redemptive

There is a lot a talk today about being culturally relevant. Many books and conferences have been created to encourage churches to move forward and become pertinent to the culture in which we live. Which begs the question, “which culture,” which is another subject. For the most part, cultural relevance is a good thing. Especially for churches that have somehow become disconnected from their culture.

Culturally retarded:

Let face it - some churches are culturally retarded. They function disconnected from the society and times in which they live. Either intentionally or by accident they become an island. They exist to perpetuate their own traditions or heritage. They have their own language and their own micro-culture. They have become so inward focused that they have lost touch with the world around them. They have ceased to be able to view themselves through the eyes of the world. They view their traditions and practices as sacred and guard against anything or anyone who would threaten them. Worst of all, they have lost the ability to be salt and light in the world. Sadly, many exist unnoticed.

With the church relevance movement (or “seeker sensitive” movement) I have witnessed many churches making great strides toward breaking free from traditional forms, language and practices that have created barriers between them and their culture. Many are succeeding in introducing changes that have made them more relevant to their culture and have experienced numerical growth as a result.

I believe being culturally relevant is a move in the right direction. But, if becoming “relevant” is the ultimate, over arching goal some churches tend to drift into becoming “seeker-driven.” Seeker-driven churches become nothing more than a Performing Arts Center. It is all about what will attract a crowd. In practice they have lowered the bar so far that “anything that attracts people” becomes the end all and anything that would make an “unchurched” person feel uncomfortable is discarded.

In their minds “a crowd” is the same as “a church.” The worship service becomes nothing more than a themed event with practical “felt needs” driven messages. Don’t get me wrong, being able to be pertinent or applicable to the unchurched community around us is definitely needed. I know this first hand as I was raised in a church that in many ways was - culturally retarded. What I would have given for a little cultural relevance! But, just because you can attract, relate to, resonate with or speak the language of your culture – does not mean you are effecting change in people’s lives - even if you see an increase in church attendance.

Culturally redemptive:

We must push beyond the “seeker-driven” church model to become a culturally redemptive community of Christ followers. Relevance is essential, but only part of the equation. It gives the church the ability to use wisdom, discernment, sensitivity and language. We must know where people are in order to communicate the message of Christ effectively. We should watch social trends and study unbeliever’s lifestyles and be informed about what is going on in the world around us. But knowing where people are does not mean that we leave them there.

Sally Morgenthaler does such an excellent job of communicated this. The following excerpt is from her book, Worship Evengelism.

“In Acts 17:16-34, Paul witnesses to the Athenian philosophers. Now here is a man who is very informed about Greek culture, especially about how the Greeks perceive God. He immediately sees the need to connect with their worldview and to form his apologetic on the basis of their experience. Paul begins, "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD" (Acts 17:22-23a). As perceptive as his analysis is, he does not stop there. He continues, "Now, what you worship’ as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you" (v. 23b), and he proceeds to give them a Creation-to-Resurrection picture of the works and character of God, all the while lovingly pointing out the deficits in their cultural understanding of God.

Was Paul culturally relevant? Absolutely. He built his witness on the basis of their experience, and he spoke in terms they could understand: straightforward Greek, phrased specifically for the philosophical mind. Yet Paul went beyond cultural relevance; he was culturally redemptive. Trusting God for the results, he took the gospel of Jesus Christ—a message that went totally counter to their culture—and applied it to their lives. Verses 32 through 34 show us what happened: "When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, ‘We want to hear you again on this subject.’... A few men became followers of Paul and believed."

Worship that witnesses dares to do what Paul did, only in the context of worship. It dares to be a bridge, to acknowledge the seekers’ culture by using their best stuff, not the trash. It incorporates their style of music, their turn of a phrase, and their distinctive pattern of celebration, and it does so excellently.

However, worship that witnesses also dares to be a bridge to something. If we want our worship to evangelize, let us never forget that we are taking people somewhere. Our job is to make "more and better" worshipers. Study the culture, yes. Acknowledge the culture, yes. Use the best the culture has to offer, yes. But transcend the culture, we must. Transcend it with the whole Truth of Scripture and the Gospel.”

A church that is striving to be culturally redemptive keeps “God” at the center of all its worship services and activities. If there is to be a target audience – it should be God. The culturally redemptive church balances the need to be connected to popular culture without making Jesus “my homeboy.” It embraces and receives the world without divorcing our First Love.

Regardless of liturgy or worship style, ultimately worship is not for us – it is for God. Evangelism is a natural byproduct of a worshipping community that understands what it means to be culturally redemptive. The result is that we become a church that is effecting change in our culture – one person at a time. We must be concerned with the life change that is taking place in the people who attend our services and not just how many people are attending. The church exists to be an agent of God’s redemptive plan - always has, always will.

If you are interested I have a link on this page to Amazon.com where you can get your own copy of Worship Evangelism by Sally Morgenthaler. I have found this book extremely insightful.

                                                       

Comments

[Gene Holt]

The gospel is cross cultural and calls us to a relationship with God as shown to us by Jesus Christ. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus simply said they had seen the Father by the actions of Jesus Himself. Jesus calls us to be different from what the world would expect us to say and do. Jesus said we do what the pagans do if we only love those who love us. He calls us to love men as God does since He sends the rain on the just and unjust. He also tells us to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Jesus sought out the poor and disenfranchised of society. He came to those who needed a physician. In other words, we must think and act differently from the world we live in (In the world but not of the world). The work of the church is in the highways and byways and not in the church building. Where two or three are gathered togehter to worship God, He is there with us.

[TJ]

Dennis,

You bring up a topic in your second paragraph about some churches having their own language. As a linguist in the military (who would have thought), I have never really understood why people use certain terms is certain settings. For example, the military language is filled with acronyms that most other non-military people would not understand. It’s the same in the church or should I say Christendom. We use words like, blessing, ministry, spirit, will of God, and other terms that most “unchurched” wouldn’t have a clue to their real meaning let alone to what we are trying to say.

Also on the other side of the coin, we in the church use terms that other words could explain more accurately the situation. For example, many people will say that they are performing a song on stage for worship service. This gives the listener the idea that it’s a performance. Or one might say they are ministering in song on the stage. This might leave some unchurched heads with question marks above them. A better way to express such an activity to both the churched and unchruched is I am worshiping the Lord in song on the platform with others at church. Of course this brings me to the terms “churched and unchurched” which somehow in my mind gives a false connection with being a Christian (or should a say Christ follower or disciple of Christ) and attending church. You pointed this out very nicely later on in your log.

tj

[Val Ellett]

It was your music ministry work and worship services that brought me around to Abundant Life. It was THE MUSIC that made the connection in my heart and the bridge over to God. I never thought that was possible.

I felt like an outsider and didn't understand the "lingo" of other "church talkers"... I felt like I would never be able to feel the full glory that everyone else felt. Now, my singing and my applause is for God alone.

Old "friends" at the Christian college where I graduated didn't understand why I didn't go to church... they would ask me very angry questions about where I really stood in my faith. My only scared answer that I had in my heart, was that any music I make is my worship to God. They just shook their heads like I was nuts. Until A.L., I felt like maybe I was.

So...
you have been culturally relevant and redemptive to me...
I come, not for a performance, not to be entertained, but to be fulfilled.
In my musician's heart, music is the only really awesome prayer that I can offer to Our Lord.

Thanks for your hard work.