It has been a long while since I last wrote anything on here. I have been busy with youth group activities such as a mission trip to Utah and to church camp in Missouri. So now, my relaxing summer can officially start! In about a month, all church activities start back up, so I better make the most of it. I have a bunch of church work to do, but I have something I have wanted to ask all of you, so please respond by commenting on this article or commenting on facebook.
At camp we had a speaker, a great speaker. I heard him a couple of years ago and it was very encouraging. This year, he did a great job as well. But I have one question, an issue I would like your input on. Before I go into the question, I want to tell you about the missionary speaker they had there as well. He is with New Tribes Mission and is going to go to the Philippines as a missionary. The NTM policy and practices make it where you study the culture of the people who are you going to for a number of years, up to 3 or 4 years, before you bring up the issue of Christ and His saving grace. You go to their culture, study it, talk like them, dress like them at times, and participate in activities with them so you can better understand how to witness to them. This builds a strong relationship with them. They will more likely listen to someone who has spent the time to build that relationship with them.
Now I totally agree with the philosophy of NTM. They have learned from mistakes of people in the past who have tried without success to witness to the tribal peoples of the world. I think that what they do is important and imperative. If you don’t study them, you won’t make it, and you won’t be able to effectively fulfill the great commission.
This brings me back to the speaker at camp. He urged us to not listen to the music of the world, not wear the clothes of the world, and not get drawn into the culture of the world. This is where my issue has come up. If the missionary going to the Philippines spends time in the culture to better evangelize to them, why can’t we here in the U.S.? Should we use the music and the clothes of this culture to study them so we can better reach them with the saving grace of Christ? Do we use things of this culture, go into the culture, and get drenched in culture to reach those who are lost in the culture? What do you think the Bible has to say about that? What do you think God thinks about this?
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I think we tend to associate "culture" automatically with the sinful things of the world, when culture is really just the way that people in a particular area live. It encompasses the way we build our houses, eat our meals, go about our daily business, etc, as well as the values we embrace. Christ tells us to be in the world and not of the world, meaning not to embrace the world's sinful values and participate in the sin the world so proudly displays. However, if we are to be a people of God whom those of the world will listen to, we must know and participate in the culture without embracing the world's values that are sinful. I love the analogy of the missionary - we wouldn't even think of going to another country and culture and sharing Jesus without ever participating in their culture! They wouldn't trust us! Missionaries are respectful of the culture they are in so as not to offend those they are sharing Jesus with.
ReplyDeleteHey Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI think this is an excellent question. I do think it's important for christian parents, or for people working with youth to know what the kids are listening to or watching, so they know how to visit with them about it, and possibly redirect them or talk to them about why certain music, certain clothes, or certain movies go against biblical principles. You don't necessarily have to participate in something to know that it is not wholesome or godly. In 4th grade, when Daniel was faced with the decision about whether or not to read the Harry Potter books and attend a Harry Potter movie/birthday party of a friend, we told him to hold on. Let us check it out. We read an interesting book by a christian author about the Harry Potter phenomena, we researched a little bit about what the series was about, we prayed about it, and searched the scriptures on sorcery and witchcraft. Through the Holy Spirit's guidance, we came to the conclusion that it would not be biblical to participate in this cultural phenomena. We showed him the scriptures to back up our decision. We also told him, however, that when he was a little older, say 14 or 15, if he still strongly desired to read a Harry Potter book or watch a movie, that he would have to pray about it and make the decision then. To this day, none of our children are even remotely intersted in the Harry Potter series. But that's just one example. I don't think a female christian youth worker would have to dress provocatively or get a belly button ring in order to "connect" with the girls. There are certain things about our culture that we understand, without participating in it, just because we live here. But if a youth worker or christian teen isolates themselves too much from their culture, their witness may be limited somewhat. For example, is it okay for christian teens, like Daniel, to attend parties where alcohol is being served as long as he doesn't drink? We struggled with this one for a while, and then came to the conclusion that what those kids are doing is illegal, according to the current laws, and Daniel really shouldn't be socializing with kids who are doing illegal acitivity. Secondly, it is difficult for some teens to resist temptation when they place themselves right in the middle of it. I guess my question to you would be, what part of a teen's culture are you wanting to participate in. It's important to show them that you can have fun without sinning. Some areas are grey, such as some movies and some music. I think it is in the grey areas that we need to teach kids/people to search the scriptures, pray about their decisions, and make sure they aren't participating in anything that the Bible condemns. So, I guess in a nutshell my answer would be...yes, it is important to understand the culture of the people to whom you are witnessing, and if participating in it helps in understanding it, that me be necessary at times. As long as it does not cause you to compromise your own beliefs and values, and of course, those should be based on Biblical principles.....Rhonda
I disagree with the premise that you have to study the culture for years before sharing Christ. Are we to be respectful? Yes. Are we to learn while we are there? Yes. Are we to love? Yes. Are we to try not to offend? Depends. Jesus wasn't following Jewish culture when he called out the sins of the Pharisees or called them a brood of Vipers. Peter did not study Roman culture, when he was sent to Cornelius. He broke Jewish culture by eating and lodging with Gentiles. An OT example is Jonah who didn't study Ninevite culture. Throughout church history, missionaries have been obedient to the call. This cultural focus is a new thing, like the seeker friendly mentality. Isn't Galations the reverse of this? The Jews tried to force their culture on the Gentiles. The Apostles repudiated it. The Gospel transcends culture.
ReplyDeleteMany good ideas about the teen question. We need to teach our teens how to be Christ like within the culture.
I know this was fast, but I got to go...
Marc
Well, you know how I feel about this. I considered not saying anything, as I know my opinions are often viewed as archaic and I have been accused of legalism a time or two. However, I see this as such an important topic, I feel I have to comment. I believe I will stand on Dr. A's side of this debate/discussion. I believe that the Bible is very clear in it's description of who and what we are in Christ. I do not think that we need to become more like the world or allow the present culture to permeate our lives in order to spread the Gospel. I also FIRMLY believe that we, as Christian parents, have a responsibilty to protect our children, to some extent, from the current culture. It is a culture that strives to reshape our children into techno driven zombies...the fashion, the music, the pornographic images, the distaste for morality of any kind, the lack of respect for authority, so much more...but most especially, the removal of the God of the Bible and the insertion of "do your own thing/be your own person/there are many roads that lead home..." This is a culture I feel strongly that our children need to be removed from. I do not choose to homeschool my family because it is easier. I choose to do that because I see Deuteronomy 6 as a mandatory factor in raising my children up to be godly people. I don't want the world teaching them. I want to teach them as I sit in my house, as I walk by the way, when I lie down and when I rise. Which brings me to Deuteronomy 6:14-we shall not go after other gods-the gods of the people around us. Ryan, I think we need to be so careful to protect the hearts, minds and spirits of our youth. They can minister to, evangelize to, and fulfill the great commission without being dipped in cuture. I am by no means saying to cut them off from the world...cloister them away. I am saying that we as Christian parents need to do what Rhonda stated in an earlier post-take it to the Lord, help our children take it to the Lord, and find Biblical support for our stance...whether for or against what stands before us. We need to help our children develop a Christian worldview that they can carry into the world and stand as a beacon. I know that I have gone a bit further than some, yet not as far as a few other parents, in removing culture from my home. We do not have TV, few movies make their way into our home and the ones that do are viewed on a Clearplay DVD player that edits and removes things of the parent's choice...we remove all blasphemy, sex, nudity, and cursing, I could go on and on...I know some people see this as a control issue, but they are wrong. What I am doing is keeping their hearts and minds sensitized. Because as well meaning as entering the culture may be, the truth is, you do become de-sensitized to things and there can be the possibility of a fall into the very things that you stand against. I know this has been long winded-sorry! Bottom line, I stand against becoming "drenched" in the current culture!
ReplyDeleteRyan,
ReplyDeleteI think there is a big difference between being IN the world and being OF the world. Paul became all things to all people that he might win some. I certainly don't think that Paul became part of the sinful culture around him but certainly was enough in it to understand it, be able to talk to others intelligently (re: the unknown god), and use it to the advantage of the gospel without participating in it. I think in many or most cases we must take the time to build a relationship that we might get a chance to be heard for the sake of the gospel. So I would agree that with NTM's principle generally. I also find it hard to believe that someone who is supportive of NTM would in turn say we don't have to do anything to understand our culture if we are to evangelize those in the US.
All that said, there is a place for a wise understanding of ourselves, our maturity level, and the maturity level of our families. While I might venture into a crack house to evangelize someone there (and of course not participate in the evil), I certainly wouldn't send my innocent pre-teen daughter to the same place. That same daughter though, after growing up and (maybe) becoming a, oh doctor say, I might encourage to do the same if so led by the Holy Spirit.
And that brings me to the final point. I do believe the right to be heard takes effort and time but there is also a place for the "cold" evangelistic event when the Holy Spirit directs. Bottom line is that we must be wise and above all listen to God's Spirit as He leads us to where He wants us to go.
That's my $0.02 worth.
Rocky