Ideas, Culture, and the Church

Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Truth shift in Western Culture Geographically: Germany – Continent – England – America Society: Intellectual – Educated – Workers – Middle Class Diagram Philosophy Art Music General Culture Theology

Thirdly, it spread as represented in the diagram, from one discipline to another, beginning with the philosophers and ending with the theologians. Theology has been last for a long time. It is curious to me, in studying this whole cultural drift, that so many pick up the latest theological fashion and hail it as something new. But in fact, what the new theology is now saying has already been said previously in each of the other disciplines. (Schaefer's emphasis)

Implications In cultural terms Not everyone needs to read existentialism “Imagine” Culture does affect the church Titus 1:12 Goes on to emphasize good works 6 times What happens when ideas reach theology? Individually designed “Christian” faiths Pluralism and ecumenicalism

Post Civil War Protestantism “Two party Protestantism” Both evangelical, interested in redemption Private party -> individual Public party -> society

19th Century Eschatology Post-millennial Salvation found in building the kingdom of God on earth Gave rise to Zionism

Post Civil War Industrialization Before, less than ½ worked for wages Chicago 1840: 5,000 1890: 1.1 million 1880-90: townships shrunk by 40% Large scale immigration from central and southern Europe Failure of southern reconstruction The effect

Social Gospel Redemption comes through saving society Consequences of industrialization comes through greed Fix ills-> usher in the millennium of peace

1907-08 1907: The Social Creed of Churches 1908: The National Council of Churches Social gospel becomes the dominant approach to evangelism among Protestants

What’s the point? The emphasis placed by contemporary denominations on reforming society and political activism has slowly evolved over nearly 200 years to its present state. The effects of the social gospel movement have clouded the purpose of the church as well as how the gospel should be preached. This has led to a cultural expectation for churches that is not necessarily rooted in scripture.

The effect.... It is time for God's people to speak out and be heard. Not by leading demonstrations and parades or grabbing signboards. We need to tell people lovingly about Jesus and His love, His plan of salvation and of the judgment. We are surrounded by people who do not really know the Lord and who are headed for hell. If we have any concern for their souls let us earnestly appeal to their sense of reasoning. Talk to them about Jesus, His plan of redemption, the one church for which He died, and the need for their obedience. Whether they are your next door neighbors, or total strangers you meet while on a vacation trip, they need to know about Jesus. Church members have reasoned for too long, that living a good clean life and setting a Christian example is enough. It is not. "Faith comes by hearing" not just by seeing (Romans 10:17). It is true that people may see that you are a good honest person, kind and neighborly, and respect you for it, but they need to be warned about the consequences of sin and the rejection of the Lord. They need to be told about how to be saved by believing in Jesus Christ, repenting of their sins, confessing their faith and being baptized and then living faithfully to the end.