3 Options for Engaging Culture for Jesus
In addition to the front-line issues facing Christians these days there is a behind-the-scenes argument taking place within the Christian community that is acute and probing: How are we to engage culture from a decidedly Christian worldview? The argument is often heated and divisive. It is an argument worth having.
This is not a new question. Each generation of Christians is called upon to respond to the particularities of the issues that confront each generation of believers. This is especially true in our day due to the fact that the issues we face seem to be heightened by their controversial nature and the hostility of those who hold alternative positions, juxtaposed to an orthodox Christian worldview.
Engaging culture is not a one-size-fits-all kind of proposition. In brief, there are three options or methods for engaging culture, all of which can be viable, effective, and necessary.
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Fight. The first option is to aggressively, openly, and polemically fight unrighteousness, sin, or the system that perpetuates an anti-Christian worldview. This method of engagement operates through a full, frontal assault on the issues at hand, wielding the sword of biblical truth, historical precedent, and searing logic. This method calls for frequent jousts with the leaders of the anti-Christian movement with pointed arguments and point-counter-point logic.
This method is often necessary. We need to be the Moses who openly confronted Pharaoh, we need to be Jesus who openly confronted the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his day, and we need to be like the Apostle Peter who confronted the authorities of his day. Those who fight view those who flee as traitors, those who have acquiesced to the cultural malaise. The danger of this mode of engagement, however, is that the "war-time" attitude some Christian fighters adopt eclipses God's love, mercy, truth, and grace.
Flight/Flee. The second option for engaging culture is to flee from the fight mode, opting for a more loving, benign cultural engagement. Here the argument is that Christians should not be known only for what they are against, but should be known for their love and authentic gospel attitude and behavior displayed toward people with whom they severely disagree. Further, this method demurs from the goal of "changing culture" as the priority of the Christian worldview; the goal is individual transformation.
There is a degree of necessity to this method of engagement as well. There is something to be said for living a quiet, peaceful, and gospel-driven life that speaks for itself (1 Thess. 4:9-12). Sometimes Christians are viewed as angry people who only know how to argue, oppose, fight, and resist. James 1:20 reminds us that "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." Those who opt out of confrontationalism want to avoid the image of an anger and bitter Christianity. No one wants to be the Fred Phelps of their generation. However, the weakness of this method is that it can be perceived as weak, passive, and too tolerant.
Facilitation. The final option for cultural engagement is based upon 1 Peter 3:15, combining the best of both the fight and flight modes by facilitating a winsome, truthful, but loving engagement with those who oppose the truth of God: "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always be prepared to make a defense (give an answer) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." This approach maintains a commitment to truth, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and a call to a clear and unashamed response to the critical questions of our time. It also calls upon the Christian to do this with gentleness and respect.
In summary, there are times we must stand and fight openly and aggressively; there are times we need to disengage and check our anger, opting for a consistent, daily walk with the Lord as the weapon of choice; most often we need to choose to regularly and winsomely engage culture with well-prepared, well-argued answers wrapped in a cloak of love, mercy, and authentic living. Wisdom from God helps us determine what mode of engagement to choose for the occasion.
