Cultural Engagement
Great thought provoking post from William Willimon on Not reaching our culture through our preaching.
As I posted yesterday, I'm in the middle of an essay on inculturation, contextualisation etc. and its place in mission. Willimon's post is a challenging one for our mission in the Western context. He suggests that we need to embrace our uniqueness as church rather than go for "relevance" at the expense of gospel.
Here's the final part:
"The point is not to speak to the culture. The point is to change it. God's appointed means of producing change is called church. God's typical way of producing church is called preaching."
Great thought provoking post from William Willimon on Not reaching our culture through our preaching.
As I posted yesterday, I'm in the middle of an essay on inculturation, contextualisation etc. and its place in mission. Willimon's post is a challenging one for our mission in the Western context. He suggests that we need to embrace our uniqueness as church rather than go for "relevance" at the expense of gospel.
Here's the final part:
"The point is not to speak to the culture. The point is to change it. God's appointed means of producing change is called church. God's typical way of producing church is called preaching."
3 Comments:
my problem is that i dont think we're called to change the culture as much as we are to change the world... much of youth ministry has focussed on the culture, protecting people from it, blaming it, demonsing it, but not looking at the world and saying "let's build the kingdom here"
I'm also unsure how one changes, challenges or engages in any meaningful way with a culture that it cannot speak with and to.
To do that would mean an exercise of power, rather than an empowerment to change, no?
Interesting thoughts. I like Willimon's point (and the rest of his post)because it challenges certain voices within the church who seem to champion "relevancy" above all else.
The call for the church to be distinct (and Kingdom centred) is helpful.
As for changing culture - I'll ponder on that!
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