Comments on: cultural relevance http://www.somestrangeideas.com/2004/08/04/cultural-relevance/ theophile | bibliophile | technophile Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:22:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: john http://www.somestrangeideas.com/2004/08/04/cultural-relevance/#comment-8 john Fri, 20 Aug 2004 02:04:44 +0000 http://www.subvergence.org/wordpress/?p=11#comment-8 Thanks for your comments. I can claim that very little of this thinking is original with me, but it certainly resonates with me! I've heard good stuff about Capon, though I haven't read him yet. A few of his books are on my wish list. If you've read more than just that one, can you recommend a good one to start with? Thanks for your comments. I can claim that very little of this thinking is original with me, but it certainly resonates with me! I’ve heard good stuff about Capon, though I haven’t read him yet. A few of his books are on my wish list. If you’ve read more than just that one, can you recommend a good one to start with?

]]> By: guest http://www.somestrangeideas.com/2004/08/04/cultural-relevance/#comment-7 guest Fri, 20 Aug 2004 02:03:30 +0000 http://www.subvergence.org/wordpress/?p=11#comment-7 Like your thoughts here. I especially appreciated what you said about Jesus being already at work wherever we go. I just finished Robert Capon's book, The Parables of the Kingdom. In it Capon discusses the significance of seed being sown in the whole field or the man buying the entire field, not just that around the treasure. The fact is that God is at work all over the world. Isn't it great when we catch up? Like your thoughts here. I especially appreciated what you said about Jesus being already at work wherever we go. I just finished Robert Capon’s book, The Parables of the Kingdom. In it Capon discusses the significance of seed being sown in the whole field or the man buying the entire field, not just that around the treasure. The fact is that God is at work all over the world. Isn’t it great when we catch up?

]]> By: guest http://www.somestrangeideas.com/2004/08/04/cultural-relevance/#comment-6 guest Fri, 20 Aug 2004 02:02:53 +0000 http://www.subvergence.org/wordpress/?p=11#comment-6 :) Yes I think we're on common ground on that. In practice, displaying the love of Christ to that world is what brings people to Christ. Sometimes it's approriate to confront people on certain things, but it has to be at God's leading whatever we do. I just think it's important for us to be clear about what are the real problems facing us and the world around us. Lucy :) Yes I think we’re on common ground on that. In practice, displaying the love of Christ to that world is what brings people to Christ. Sometimes it’s approriate to confront people on certain things, but it has to be at God’s leading whatever we do.

I just think it’s important for us to be clear about what are the real problems facing us and the world around us.

Lucy

]]> By: john http://www.somestrangeideas.com/2004/08/04/cultural-relevance/#comment-5 john Fri, 20 Aug 2004 02:00:14 +0000 http://www.subvergence.org/wordpress/?p=11#comment-5 Lucy, Thanks for commenting -- nice to have someone who doesn't agree with all I have to say. I wholeheartedly agree that the culture(s) of this world need to be transformed by God. I believe that is in fact why we are here. My point is that God isn't absent from them. We need to recognize where he is, and use that to reveal him. My neighbor has never really attended church in his life until recently. However, he does understand love for others and the value of it. Rather than try to show him areas of his life that are corrupt, I would say I am far better off acknowledging what values that he has which I agree with, and moving from there. He holds these values because he too is made in the image of God, and there are uncorrupted portions of that image that are still in him. Once we see where he (and others) are whole, we can begin the process of healing the other parts. Lucy,
Thanks for commenting — nice to have someone who doesn’t agree with all I have to say.

I wholeheartedly agree that the culture(s) of this world need to be transformed by God. I believe that is in fact why we are here. My point is that God isn’t absent from them. We need to recognize where he is, and use that to reveal him.

My neighbor has never really attended church in his life until recently. However, he does understand love for others and the value of it. Rather than try to show him areas of his life that are corrupt, I would say I am far better off acknowledging what values that he has which I agree with, and moving from there. He holds these values because he too is made in the image of God, and there are uncorrupted portions of that image that are still in him. Once we see where he (and others) are whole, we can begin the process of healing the other parts.

]]> By: guest http://www.somestrangeideas.com/2004/08/04/cultural-relevance/#comment-4 guest Fri, 20 Aug 2004 01:58:57 +0000 http://www.subvergence.org/wordpress/?p=11#comment-4 Yes God works amongst those who are not his followers to bring them to him, and is certainly not present in all the church, but the danger I see in this belief that God is already at work in culture is simply this. Culture is full of problems and troubles that could easily place it on a par with sodom and gomorrah. eg drugs, alcohol, prostitution, violence, shootings, rape etc. Jesus came to transform all that, not just to make people feel comfortable that he is already there in it. I wonder sometimes though if when people talk of culture they are not talking about these realities and are more talking about things like movies and football. If that is the case, then we are talking about different things, but the culture that I live and work in needs transformation by God, and it may even be described as godless in many ways. Lucy Yes God works amongst those who are not his followers to bring them to him, and is certainly not present in all the church, but the danger I see in this belief that God is already at work in culture is simply this. Culture is full of problems and troubles that could easily place it on a par with sodom and gomorrah. eg drugs, alcohol, prostitution, violence, shootings, rape etc. Jesus came to transform all that, not just to make people feel comfortable that he is already there in it.

I wonder sometimes though if when people talk of culture they are not talking about these realities and are more talking about things like movies and football. If that is the case, then we are talking about different things, but the culture that I live and work in needs transformation by God, and it may even be described as godless in many ways.

Lucy

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