“be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Culture has always helped apply God’s redemption to the lives of fallen people. We do not need to be aware of culture for it to work this way. But our lives have become more fragmented and disconnected. Now it’s even more important to understand how faith changes culture.
In my previous post, Scripture Reveals Culture, it is stated that “Culture helps fit the pieces of our lives together in a meaningful way.” As a result, culture has become more visible as the thing that holds those pieces together.
But how does that work? Culture in this sense is not an object we can point to. Rather, it influences how we see the objects and interactions around us.
This change in how we see is also described in the Bible. It’s the result of being “transformed.”
When we are changed by God’s grace, how we see the world, or times around us, is changed. Culture is how we give meaning to those things. That means for us, culture is changed as we are changed.
To us, culture is often indistinguishable from everyday life. But our interconnected world has brought us into contact with many other people. Now culture must help us make sense of our lives in light of how they make sense of theirs.
The critical difference is this: What do we do about it? Do we have the confidence to act on this new, transformed vision of the times?
Culture has to work harder to make sense of all the ways other people see meaning and purpose. That is why we are so much more aware of culture today.
But that means culture can also work harder for us, if we know how to use it.
God’s purpose for us has never changed. It was established in the person of Christ “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). And it will stand “not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph. 1:21).
Culture has been part of accomplishing God’s purpose from the beginning.
Faith always changes culture. This is even more true as culture has become a bigger part of our lives.
The gospel, which is the foundation of our faith does not change. God set it down in his unchanging Word based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. But culture is changing all the time. It constantly shifts depending on the perceptions and reactions of humanity (Read more at RedemptiveLeader.com).
As Christians, we must apply an unchanging faith to a constantly changing culture. To do that we must understand culture as it is revealed in the Bible.
Where Scripture reveals culture, faith changes culture.