Redefining Culture and Engagement, Part 2

Jonathan Dodson

Acts 29 Pastor - Austin, Texas

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Engaging Culture

All too often when we speak of "engaging culture" we fail to take into account the complexity of culture. Engagement isn’t mere participation in culture as opposed to refusal to participate in culture. With our more comprehensive definition in place, it becomes quite clear that conservative or liberal views that perceive "the culture" as something to be attacked or defended are misguided. Rather, there are complex systems of act, artifact, and belief that need to be carefully engaged. While there are cultural behaviors and beliefs that should be rejected, deciding what to reject and to celebrate should be a careful and thoughtful process. Like it or not, culture is something we engage, deliberately or un-deliberately, consciously or unconsciously. The challenge is to engage culture in a very deliberate, thoughtful, and theologically informed manner.

Careful Consideration

Culture is complex and cannot be rejected or celebrated without some thought or value. The remarkable thing about culture is that it allows society to create, function, and promote human flourishing—civilization. However, every human is responsible for their actions in contributing or detracting from civilization. And our response will be motivated by certain beliefs. At this point it becomes apparent that we need some kind of belief lens or worldview to help us make ethical decisions about our cultural values and assessments. Are they good or bad, right or wrong, constructive or deconstructive, wise or foolish? Do we engage culture as agents of redemption or as consumers of entertainment? Do we engage culture as fearful critics or as uncritical participants? We all engage culture; we have no choice. The question is: "How will we engage culture?"

To be continued.