HMMM.  The King of Overstatement strikes again.  Let me say it this way, “What does Jerusalem have to do with Athens?”  Tertullian asked this rhetorical question with regards to how Christian theology relates to pagan philosophy.  Pagan philosophy was part of Tertullian’s culture and he made a strict distinction between them.  Ironically, Tertullian used the language of pagan philosophy, if not their concepts, to argue for the truth of Christianity at times.  I will borrow from the culture when I need to make some kind of connection.  (an example:  I try to stick as many Seinfield allusions in my blog as possible for fun).  However, I do not borrow truth concepts from the culture.  The goal is not to be immersed into the culture so we smell like them, but that they might smell like us.  (Kind of like Jerry’s car after the valet’s BO problem.) Again, helpful is the category of “Christ transforms culture” rather than “Christ and culture are together in paradox.” 

There are neutral aspects in culture that Christians share.  Language, art, music, poetry, literature, work, agriculture, food, drink, etc.  These things are a part of our culture.  God has provided common grace to bless all societies.  Therefore, I can listen to Jack Johnson or Dave Matthews and enjoy their musical talents.  This blog is a neutral element of our culture. 

We must recognize there are things we do not share with our culture.  These elements are at enmity with God.  Dave Matthews literally sings, “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”  This is obviously at odds with a biblical world view and outright rebellion against God (I Cor 15:32-proof texting).  Even with language, an essential aspect of culture, there is a tendency to be rebellious.  God and Christ are prevelant words used in America’s everyday conversations, but I wonder what the ratio is between words of worship and swearing.  The culture also trains us how to think.  Westerners are born to be skeptics and scientist, but the Bible calls us to be a people of steadfast faith in the miracle of the resurreciton.  I can easily declare, repent of your skepticism Greg because it is a part of your culture that is rebellious against God. 

We do not need to seek to destroy our culture, but as Augustine noted, the culture is made up of sinful men, and therefore the culture will be sinful.  AKA an enemy of God and his people.  I am not denying common grace or seeking to pull Christian influence out of the public square.  I assume this is where you wanted to take me to task and I admit I am a bit unbalanced in the blog.  We engage a culture that we have many things in common with and bring light that shines in darkness.  One might say that the gospel becomes incarnated into the culture–it takes whatever form is necessary without losing content, or just “indigenous.”

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