The Christian and Culture

What is this?

What is this?

What is this?

What do you see?

Art by Bev Dolittle Hide and Seek

Potential Experiences Sense Experiences Conscious Experiences THE MIND Senses Grid - Hiebert, Cultural Anthropology, p 6 Potential Experiences Sense Experiences Conscious Experiences THE MIND THE EXTERNAL WORLD Categories & Models Sensory Grid Attention Grid (learned from one’s culture and derived from observations) (screens out occurrences; no perceivable by the senses) (excludes occurrences not relevant to one’s immediate concerns)

Perception and Reality Video – The Power of Words Scientific thinking – careful thought and systematic observation makes objective reality. Perception is selective: Limited by cultural experience Limited by knowledge Limited by location Limited by abilities Limited by amount & how data is organized Video – The Power of Words

Describe what you see?

Describe what you see?

What is meant by Christian cultural heritage? Christian Christian worldview compared to others Action: Making a positive difference in this world Culture Understanding culture and religion’s role Action: Christian engagement in culture and professions Heritage Christianity’s historical influence in the U.S. Action: Adding Christ-like contributions to our culture

What is meant by Christian cultural heritage? The role of Christianity in our culture Integration with American culture Contributions Challenges Culture and Christians’ engagement Recognize differing worldviews and why different Christianity’s view to cultural involvement How should we as Christians engage our culture? Your spiritual place in our culture

Open System vs. Closed System Christian Thinking Open System vs. Closed System Closed Worldview Open Worldview Material universe only Material and spiritual in universe Humanity evolved and is solely a product of material forces Humanity created in the image of God Truth is relative on moral issues Truth is revealed by God Existence by accident Creation by intelligent design Humanity the authority God the authority

Scientific Process Cycle Physical World – Closed System Analysis Deduction PREDICTION Test by Experimentation Scientific Process Cycle MODEL Synthesis by Induction OBSERVATION

Physical World Open System Spiritual Realm Analysis Deduction OBSERVATION and REVELATION PREDICTION Test by Experimentation MODEL Synthesis by Induction Knowledge Process Cycle

What is Epistemology? Definition: Epistemology is the study of the nature, sources and validity of knowledge.

Perception and Reality Christian Perception – perceive God as the source of ultimate reality but Christians can only understand it imperfectly and with guidance from God. Christian epistemology is informed by biblical revelation toward the spiritual and physical aspects of life. Christian also are observers of the physical world. We rely on God to guide us toward a closer understanding of the world in conjunction with reason. Understanding by reason/observation and interpreting revelation is imperfect but enough to discover truth.

Revelation God Potential Experiences Sense Experiences Conscious THE MIND THE EXTERNAL WORLD Categories & Models Sensory Grid Attention Grid (learned from one’s culture and derived from observations) (screens out occurrences; no perceivable by the senses) (excludes occurrences not relevant to one’s immediate concerns)

Epistemology Realism: External world is real. Science - assumed that scientific theories were accurate descriptions of the world. Theology – one’s understanding is complete and fully accurate Idealism: Philosophy & Religion – reality exists in the mind; material world illusionary Critical Realism: External world is real. Science – provides a map or model that moves toward a more complete understanding of reality. Theology - Knowledge of ultimate reality is limited but truth is obtainable by revelation.

Epistemology Critical Idealism: Reality exists in the mind. The external world is unknowable but order is imposed on sense experience by the mind. Instrumentalism or Pragmatism: External world is real. Cannot know if one’s knowledge is true but if it accomplishes what one wants its usable. No claim to ultimate truth. Determinism: External world is real. Knowledge is determined by material causes. Therefore there can be no claim to truth.

Perception and Reality Model – is “a means by which the basic structure and operation of the real world is portrayed.” Characteristics of a Model Helps to organize ones experience in a meaningful way. They do not attempt to explain everything They are ways of looking at the world Solar system model Models of American and Indian concepts of life

Christian and Hindu Perceptions Paul Hiebert, Cultural Anthropology, p 36 AMERICAN CONCEPT OF LIFE INDIAN CONCEPT OF LIFE Brahman: only reality, unknowable to the passing world Reality God, eternal, supernatural, infinite Pure Spirit Illusion high gods lesser gods Relationship between God and man are vertical Creator demons & spirits Creation demi-gods saints & incarnations Man; natural, but with an eternal soul priests A B Relations are essentially vertical rulers Relations between people are essentially horizontal Mixed merchants craftsman caste worker castes Animals temporal service castes Plants outcastes high animals Inanimate world; lifeless low animals plants Pure Matter inanimate world

Video – Thinking Christianly What is Christianity? Belief system Description of reality (worldview) Religion Spiritual disposition Movement of followers of Christ Way of life Video – Thinking Christianly by Jonathan Morrow

What does it mean to be Christian? Relationship with God and Christ Engagement of God’s mission Spirit of humility Engagement of our culture Spiritual development Living by love of God and others Video - Three Seconds

“Kultur” – early 19th century German Culture defined: Culture is the integrated system of learned patterns of ideas, values, behavior, and products characteristic of a society. “Kultur” – early 19th century German E. B. Tylor pioneer anthropologist borrowed in 1871 to designate “the total nonbiologically transmitted heritage of man” Considered one of the most important contributions of anthropology to the missionary endeavor (Luzbetak 1963, 59).

Culture is a product of God’s creation of humanity in His image Humanity by its nature creates culture Humanity was created as a relational being Behavior Learning Products Ideas Values Culture is Dynamic

Culture is a product of God’s creation of humanity in His image Culture is a dynamic vehicle by which humanity perpetuates its ideas, values, learning, behavior, and products. Ability to share ideas Develop and evaluate values Evaluate and regulate behavior Ability to envision, create and construct Constantly changing (dynamic)

Culture is different from worldview Culture is society’s integrated activities Ways of thinking and actions in society Culture is influenced by worldview Worldview consists of peoples’ interpretation of reality Intellectual and philosophical understanding and beliefs that motivate and direct behaviors and actions

Worldview – set of presuppositions about the makeup of one’s world. Worldview is how a person perceives and interprets reality, which is used for living. Culture ‘s learned system is based on one’s worldview Culture is an integrated system of learned patterns of ideas, values, behavior, and products to meet the needs of its members.

Worldview Defined Definition: “Worldview is a fundamental cognitive, affective and evaluative assumptions a group of people make about the nature of things, and which they order their lives.” – Paul Hiebert OR Worldviews are how people perceive and interpret reality, which they use for living. “A set of presuppositions which we hold about the makeup of our world.” – James W. Sire

Dimensions of Culture & Worldview Cognitive Culture EXPERIENCES CULTURE Evaluative Decisions Behavior Products Affective Adapted from Paul Hiebert: used by permission

Culture Elements of Definition of Culture Integrated Learned - cognitive Ideas - cognitive Values - evaluative Behavior – evaluative and affective Products – affective Society – socio-economic systems, how communities are organized

Culture Cultural Diversity Language Physical items Life style Relationship with others Values Gestures Personal space

Culture What is attractive? What do you find appealing? What kind of lips?

Culture OR

Culture What is considered beautiful is cultural (affective) “’Culture’ came to mean not merely the aggregates of human thought and behavior, but both the systems of beliefs that lie behind ideas and actions and the symbols by which those ideas and actions are expressed. Cultures are seen as integrated wholes in which the many parts work together to meet the basic needs of their members” Hiebert 1985, Insights, 21).

Culture What is the relationship between God and culture? Or What is the relationship between Christianity and culture? Understanding Christ’s relationship to culture gives us an example to follow!

God & Culture H. Richard Niebuhr (1951 Christ & Culture) Discussed five relationships that western theologians have seen between Christ and culture. Five Perspectives: Christ against culture Christ of culture Christ above culture Christ and culture in paradox Christ transforming culture (in and above)

Culture God and Culture Four Perspectives of God and Culture God Against Culture God In Culture God Above Culture God Above but Through Culture

Culture God and Culture God Against Culture – holds that God is opposed to culture Christians withdraw, reject, escape, isolate, or insulate themselves from the world Problems with this view (1 Jn. 2:15-16; 5:19) kosmos – evil use of culture Assumes because Satan uses culture evilly = all culture is evil Culture is not just external but in us

Culture God and Culture God In Culture Problems with this view Views God as created by humanity for something above themselves God is seen as supporting ones own culture Problems with this view Makes humanity the source of God whether intentionally or for psychological reasons Makes God a tool to support ones own ethnic identity (Acts 10, 15 - Jews and Gentles debate)

Culture God and Culture God Above Culture Problems with this view Deism Distant God and not involved Belief is good for moral direction No belief in supernatural working of God Problems with this view Takes God out of our daily lives Removes God’s incarnation God is simply rule maker not a father/relational Turns it into a closed system created by a remote God

Culture God and Culture God Above but Through Culture This view understands God as above (not limited by) culture but using culture as a vehicle for interaction with human beings. Culture can have both good and bad to varying degrees God works as well as his followers within cultures for His desires and goals Incarnation – Christ human and divine Culture Christ in Culture – Example of Service Yahweh

Culture All cultures change Contact with other people Environmental changes Development Education Modernization Globalization

Culture Bluetooth has arrived

God & Culture Three Discussion Questions Why did God create humanity? How does God work to change culture? What role do Christians have in God’s work? What’s your story? Os Guinness shares his

God & Culture Bible Recognizes the Place of Culture: Adam & Eve began culture Created with free will (relationship) God communicated with them even after sinning God provided for them even after sinning God provided direction for life Cain & Able Cain protected Flood points to God control of the world God works in the midst of those who do evil God decides the limits and results of excluding God Tower of Babel Humanity struggles with pride to exclude God and make themselves the final authority

God & Culture Bible Recognizes the Place of Culture: Abraham – through him “all peoples blessed” Interaction with King of Egypt Descendent from his servant or Hagar Nose ring (Gen. 24:47) Egyptian and Israelites (Gen. 43:32) Men and earrings (Gen. 35:4; Ex. 32:2; 35:22) At the gates (Ruth 4:1ff; Josh 20:1ff) Sandal given (Ruth 4:7ff) Saul and medium of En-dor (1 Sam. 28:7) Covenants (used in ancient Near East)

God & Culture Culture in the Bible Birth of Christ Jews and Samaritans (Jn. 4:9) Cultural problems Racism Sexism Life style Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:28; 11:3) Racism and Christianity Christianity and culture

God & Culture Bible Recognizes the Place of Culture: Acts 14:1-18 – Paul & Barnabas encounter culture Religions effect thinking Beliefs Illustration: Christmas pageant in India (Hiebert 1985, 13) Acts 17:16-34 – All humanity belongs to God Philosophy effects thinking Acts 19:11-20 – Ephesus and the occult

Aspects of God’s Relational Nature God & Culture Aspects of God’s Relational Nature God is love Humanity – created in God’s image Humanity creates cultures and societies God interacts and communicates with humanity Personal and involved For the benefit of humanity Physical wellbeing (garden, after fall clothes) Spiritual wellbeing (direction for life) Eternal being of the person

God of relationship within cultures God & Culture God of relationship within cultures God Corrects and Improves Mankind, his creation, always concerned for them. Noah & judgment: the first missionary (Heb. 11:7; 2 Pet.2:5) Gen. 15:16 sin of the Amorites Deut. 7:1-6 – destroy other gods Gods and goddesses (Gen. 31:30) Jacob and wife’s idol

God of relationship within cultures God & Culture God of relationship within cultures God: The Provider Covenant – a common means of making agreements with each other Abraham: Called and promised to become great nation Gen. 18:18 through him all nations will be blessed. Watch over His chosen people Began fulfilling His promise

The Deliverer and Culture Perfecter God & Culture The Deliverer and Culture Perfecter Moses: Commissioned by God (Ex. 3:10) Moses' four objections "Who am I that I should go" - emphasis on his own abilities People won't know who God is What if they don't believe? He is not a good speaker Description of God's deliverance of Israel (Ex. 19:4) Judges: Deliverance from political servitude (Jug. 3:9, 15) Prophets Proclaimed the will of God Exposed the sin of the people Preached the need to repent and be reconciled Proclaimed the outcome of non-repentance

God: In Christ In Culture (Incarnation) Christ & Culture God: In Christ In Culture (Incarnation) Immanuel: God with us Jesus came within a culture with and ethnic identity Redeemer: came to remove our sins, improve ones lot in a culture (Jew, Samaritan, Gentile) Savior: came to save the lost of all ethnic groups Sent One: sent by God for his purpose – restore humanity to God within their cultures

God: Through the Church in Cultures Christians & Culture God: Through the Church in Cultures We are sent as Jesus was sent (Jn. 17:18) The world may believe God sent Jesus and loves them (Jn. 17:23) The great commission: Go into all the world – cannot go without entering cultures (Matt. 28:18-20) Baptizing, making disciples, and teaching – working within cultures for a change of relationship with God to following the one true God

God's Mission through Christ Christians & Culture God's Mission through Christ Central theme in the New Testament is God's redemption of people through Christ. (Tit. 3:4-5; Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16) In Old Testament we see a God of mission God always concerned with peoples’ relationship with the one God

Culture 19     For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20   To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under 1the Law; 21   to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22   To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23   I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NASB95)

God’s Mission, Our Mission Christians & Culture God’s Mission, Our Mission What the mission of God means for Christians Mission originates with God God loves His creation God's people cannot neglect it God will equip His people Love as God loves by loving God and our neighbor Concern for spiritual and physical well-being of others Serve in a manner that represents Christ’s service

Christian Perspective Christian thinking and worldview Open rather than closed system Physical and spiritual dimensions Concept of objective authority Concept of truth Reality of evil Value of the person Value of the sacred How to Choose a Worldview By Jonathan Morrow

Christian Perspective People should be understood as integrated beings.

Christian Perspective The Christian worldview answers questions that science cannot Why am I here? What should I love? What should I live for? What is after death? “Reason’s final step is to recognize that there are an infinite number of things which surpass it.” Immanual Kant

Christian Perspective What is Christian Cultural Heritage Christian Representing Christ in the world through a Christian life style and belief system Cultural Engaging our culture from a Christian worldview expressed in ideas and actions within any profession Heritage Christians holding to a Christian worldview have contributed positively to this world & the U.S. and Christians should continue working in peace with all people upholding the value of all humans created in the image of God through sharing the Christian worldview