{"id":90593,"date":"2025-01-23T12:21:38","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T18:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/?p=90593"},"modified":"2025-01-24T10:38:25","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T16:38:25","slug":"impacting-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/impacting-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Approaches to Impacting Culture for Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"90593\" class=\"elementor elementor-90593\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14c559b1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"14c559b1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f6c3d3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f6c3d3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Christians, we are called to make disciples and impact culture by being ambassadors for Christ in a world that is in desperate need of the light of the gospel. There are many ideas and opinions surrounding how to best go about this, but there are two questions that must come before all of them. <em>[Note: we talk about the contents of this article in depth in our<a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2441105\/episodes\/16472550\"> first episode of the In &amp; For Podcast<\/a>].<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><b>How should we define Culture?<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are multiple definitions of culture floating around out there. This is because some hold to more of a dictionary definition while others hold to a contextualized definition they\u2019ve come across from an author or other content creator. Regardless of preferred definitions, here\u2019s what we can all agree upon:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wherever there are people there is culture<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Culture occurs when people interact with each other and with the world around us\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How a group of people interact with each other and the world informs us about their culture<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is important to remember for a very noteworthy reason. <\/span><b>While culture on a global scale can be vast, complex, and ever changing, we must remember that culture isn\u2019t <\/b><b><i>just <\/i><\/b><b>on a global &#8211; or even national &#8211; scale. Culture exists even where there are only a few people (our own families, neighborhoods, and communities).<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> When we shrink culture down to this size, all of the sudden culture is approachable.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It allows us to avoid being paralyzed by scope and to start where we are and with those who are within our area of influence. Only then can we begin to work outward in the larger concentric circles of culture. The question is, how do we approach culture to make an impact for Christ?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.josh.org\/christianity-challenge-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Related: The Biggest Challenge for Christianity in 2025<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><p><b>How should we engage with culture?<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Let\u2019s look at three approaches to culture and determine which best fits within a biblical worldview. Throughout each example, I\u2019ll use Paul in Athens (Acts 17) as a reference point to consider since it\u2019s such a powerful example of cultural engagement in the New Testament.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Cultural Approach One: Against culture<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this approach, there is a desire to withdraw from nearly everything in culture that is not explicitly Christian in nature. There is a problem here though.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While the desire is well intentioned, in application the result is that the Christian withdraws not just from the products of culture but also the people within that culture; people who need to know the truth of salvation in Christ.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Imagine Paul having such an approach when he visited Athens in Acts 17. He would not have been \u201ccut to the heart\u201d out of concern for the people when he saw the idols in Athens. He would have just been embittered, spat on the ground and sent word to Timothy and Silas that they\u2019ll be heading elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We, too, must be careful not to be so \u201cagainst culture\u201d that we just determine to cast it aside and isolate ourselves from the knowledge of all cultural trends as well as from those who need Jesus in order to retreat to only-Christian surroundings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Cultural Approach Two: Of Culture<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this approach, the pendulum swings entirely the opposite way. Here there is a desire to show the world that Christianity does not force one into a joyless life of brow beating and rule following. Unfortunately, in an \u201cof culture\u201d approach, that desire is expressed by looking so much like the surrounding culture, there is no longer anything distinctive about being a follower of Christ.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In application, the result is that the Christian sacrifices too much for the sake of culture. The Christian also ends up being blinded to the sin-stained and corrupt nature of culture. But perhaps the greatest problem with this approach is that peers, family, neighbors and others do not see an \u201cof culture\u201d Christian as someone who can provide wisdom, help or counsel in times of distress. Because there is no distinct and faithful presence for Christ, the only conclusion is, \u201cthat person is pretty much like me and has the same answers as me.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If Paul would have taken this approach in Athens, he would not have been engaging with the people and showing them a more excellent way. He would have been more focused on looking as much like them as possible to fit in and then somehow \u201csurprising\u201d them at some point with the fact that he is a follower of Christ. And here is the conundrum for the \u201cof culture\u201d Christian. The longer you \u201cblend in\u201d so to speak, the more difficult (and hypocritical) it becomes to take a stand for Christ.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.josh.org\/discern-gods-voice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Related: How to Discern God\u2019s Voice in a Loud World<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><p><b>Cultural Approach Three: In and For Culture<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The final approach is to be in and for culture &#8211; for its ultimate good. In this approach, there is a desire to show the world that we know God has placed in our particular cultural contexts to reach the surrounding culture for its ultimate good. That ultimate good being the essential truths of Christianity (God is real and good, The Bible is trustworthy, Jesus is Savior, our identity\/significance is best found in Christ and our purpose is best fulfilled in submission to God\u2019s authority).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The desire to be in and for Christ and in and for the surrounding culture for its ultimate good perfectly harmonizes the Christian worldview. It acknowledges that we are in a lost and corrupted culture, but it doesn\u2019t fully withdraw from it or fully embrace it. Instead, it steps into that culture with the light of Christ. It understands that culture is made of people who are made in the image of God and therefore have intrinsic value and worth. It approaches others in humility to understand them and then lovingly points them to the God of creation and salvation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">is <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the approach Paul took in Athens. He clearly took time to engage with the people (in the streets and within the synagogue), learned more about their culture (writings and artifacts), and then demonstrated all of this in his discussion with the philosophers toward the end of the chapter. He was quoting their writings, citing their poets, and showing a clear understanding of why they built the altar to an unknown God, as well how the real God can be truly known. This is what it looks like to be in and for culture for its ultimate good.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This, too, is the approach that we should take in our interactions and conversations with others. We must be simultaneously in and for Christ while showing that we&#8217;re in and for the cultures where the Lord has given us influence and share of voice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Where can you begin to be more \u201cin and for\u201d in the cultural context where God has placed you? It\u2019s a question worth prayerfully considering as you seek to live on mission for Christ and impact culture for its ultimate good.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We discuss this issue in depth in episode one of the In &amp; For Podcast. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2441105\/episodes\/16472550\">Subscribe and listen to the podcast<\/a>!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c56d8b4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c56d8b4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcdf132 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dcdf132\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.josh.org\/12-truths\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/607\/2024\/04\/12-Truths-banner-for-Landing-Page.jpg?w=1024\" title=\"12 Truths banner for Landing Page\" alt=\"12 Truths banner for Landing Page\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Christians, we are called to make disciples and impact culture by being ambassadors for Christ in a world that is in desperate need of the light of the gospel. There are many ideas and opinions surrounding how to best go about this, but there are two questions that must come before all of them. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50255,"featured_media":90596,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"How do we cut through the confusion in today\u2019s culture to help make an impact for Christ? See why it starts with having the right approach to culture.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[1245,320,1246],"translator":[],"blog-author":[1230],"class_list":["post-90593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apologetics","tag-cultural-apologetics","tag-culture","tag-trends","blog-author-brock-anderson"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/607\/2025\/01\/Blog-blurrycrowd-ThreeApproachesImpactingCulture.jpg","meta_box":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50255"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90593"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90627,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90593\/revisions\/90627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90593"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/translator?post=90593"},{"taxonomy":"blog-author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites-stage.josh.org\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-author?post=90593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}