Posted on November 20, 2008 - by Stephen Murray
Too much talk of Culture?
Thabiti Anyabwile and Carl Trueman think that there’s too much fascination with ‘culture’ and ‘engaging culture’ in Christian circles today. I must confess that I’m not completely convinced that they’re on the money, or (if I may be so bold) that the school of thought, ministry and theology that these gentlemen speak out of has taken culture seriously enough yet and what it means to engage culture in a way that is congruent with the gospel. But then maybe I’m just a naive, young, little upstart – ok so I know I am, but anyway… I really get the feeling, looking at the average reformed and evangelical church around me that culture, and real engagement with it is still something a bit mysterious and off the agenda at present even despite the large amount of press available about engaging the culture. (HT – Jason)
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Stephen Murray
Christian, husband to my beautiful Robin, missional dreamer, pastor, church planter, Arsenal, Sharks and Springbok supporter, surfer (in the real sea), patriotic South African, Capetonian. Find out more about the church planting work I'm involved in at my support blog.
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November 20, 2008
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Jeff said:
I agree. I think Christianity’s lack of engagement with culture is evident in the fact that there are no real ‘famous’ Christians today in cultural pursuits; literature, theater, art, cinema…When was a piece of serious fiction on a best-seller list by a Christian writer? Or in art? In the past culture has been impacked by Christians; C.S Lewis was probably the last of Christians who were influential in a cultural sphere…or maybe I’m just unaware of those who are out there?
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November 21, 2008
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John said:
Even if there is too much talk, that does not mean that we are yet engaging culture meaningfully. There will always be those who capitulate to culture and those who run from it. But I agree with Jeff there is a lack – certainly here in SA – of genuine Christian cultural engagement in all areas of life.
So perhaps we need to keep talking about it, but more importantly we need to find ways of supporting and encouraging doing.
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November 21, 2008
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A.Nonymous said:
What do you mean there’s no famous Christians in cultural pursuits- what about Angus Buchan? Oops, sorry, you right, that’s agri-cultural engagement. I didn’t go to a private school.
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November 21, 2008
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Jeff said:
i find it hard just to get my friends to go with me to films at cinema nouveau!
(for the non-south africans: cinema nouveau is a art house cinema showing independant films)
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November 22, 2008
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Steve said:
It’s all very vague, though isn’t it?
Thye talk of “essence” and “culture”, but they don’t say what they think these things are.
I wonder if they realise how much of what they think of as “essence” is in fact culturally perceived.
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November 24, 2008
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Nils said:
Hmmm. I agree that cultural engagement is essential if the gospel is to be communicated effectively. I just don’t think it’s as hard as many seem to be making it out to be. And this is where I tend to agree with Trueman and Thabiti. I don’t think they would ever say that cultural engagement is umimportant, anymore than they would say speaking to someone in a language they understand is unimportant for communication. You’ve got to do it. What I hear them saying is that all this talk and discussion and endless blogging about trying to understand culture is tiring. That we’re making it out to be more than it is. And I’m starting to feel like that. I’m convinced that while getting under the skin of a culture is helpful, people are nevertheless pretty much the same no matter what their cultural background. Everyone wants to talk about the meaning of life, the existence of God, life beyond death, what’s wrong with the world, how to decide right etc. And the Bible speaks to all those things. Gospel conversation started…
But maybe I’m being too simplistic.
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November 24, 2008
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Stephen said:
I agree that that is why Trueman and Thabiti are saying what they’re saying – all this talk and discussion and endless blogging is tiring. But its just as tiring for those who are doing all this talk and discussion and endless blogging when they see little real change in terms of cultural engagement. Its one thing to affirm that cultural engagement is important – its another to behave as if you hold such an affirmation. I’m not convinced that the behaviour is following the affirmation here.