A Reverend's Rambling Review of 'Relevance'

[Felicity]

Great post Bro. Steadfast. There's only part that I might have a little problem with.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Ferd

ahhh, well in that case, at least one of us is half right!

So......are you saying that no matter the given culture, the culture of the first century church should prevail for every christian? Since they wore robes, every christian should wear robes? Since that culture wore sandals, every christian should wear sandals?

Or......are you saying (as I believe) that certain things in the bible were written for all generations and others for a particular culture? We (as christians) are to take the message of Jesus Christ and apply it to our given culture.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

So......are you saying that no matter the given culture, the culture of the first century church should prevail for every christian? Since they wore robes, every christian should wear robes? Since that culture wore sandals, every christian should wear sandals?

Or......are you saying (as I believe) that certain things in the bible were written for all generations and others for a particular culture? We (as christians) are to take the message of Jesus Christ and apply it to our given culture.

honestly I think that culture should play a very small part in the grand scheme of things. I think too many make too much about culture.

Certainly I am left with a giant question mark over my head, when I see people talking about making the gospel fit a culture as corrupt and immoral as the one we live in.

Do I think we need to dress in togas and speak Aramaic? no. Do I think we need to live a cloisterd Amish existance? no agian.

But this wringing our hands over how we are precieved by a vile and ungodly world is not something I loose sleep over.

I think telling them why God matters in their life should be the goal. Not telling them "look we are cool too" this is what "being relevant" has come to.

Originally Posted by Ferd

honestly I think that culture should play a very small part in the grand scheme of things. I think too many make too much about culture.

Certainly I am left with a giant question mark over my head, when I see people talking about making the gospel fit a culture as corrupt and immoral as the one we live in.

Do I think we need to dress in togas and speak Aramaic? no. Do I think we need to live a cloisterd Amish existance? no agian.

But this wringing our hands over how we are precieved by a vile and ungodly world is not something I loose sleep over.

I think telling them why God matters in their life should be the goal. Not telling them "look we are cool too" this is what "being relevant" has come to.

YES! That's more along the lines of what I'm trying to say. I'm not saying we should try to be totally 'out of touch' with the world. Be relevant but not to the point of ignoring spiritual essentials.

Your last paragraph is the key to understanding much of what I was trying to say. Again, my key question is why are we feeling pressed to impress a world that is anything but righteous? What is that driving force that tells us we have to fit into their mold when God came to deliver us of that very mold?

Thanks for understaning the premise of my post! Great response.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

YES! That's more along the lines of what I'm trying to say. I'm not saying we should try to be totally 'out of touch' with the world. Be relevant but not to the point of ignoring spiritual essentials.

Your last paragraph is the key to understanding much of what I was trying to say. Again, my key question is why are we feeling pressed to impress a world that is anything but righteous? What is that driving force that tells us we have to fit into their mold when God came to deliver us of that very mold?

Thanks for understaning the premise of my post! Great response.

Thanks. I agreed with your post(s) completely.
it seems to me that there is way too much talk about what we need to change and way too little talk about how God changes people.

[stmatthew]

To many preach a cultural Christ instead of a crucified Christ.

[RevDWW]

Too many seem to worry more about culture than His Kingdom.

[RevDWW]

1 Corinthians 9:22 - 27 (KJV) 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

What do you think Paul really meant by "I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some."

Could it be that he was striving to reach into any/all cultures so that the inhabitants could be won to Christ?
Did he change himself in every situation to make those of that culture feel comfortable with Christ?
Did he adapt the Gospel for cultures sake?

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Ferd

Thanks. I agreed with your post(s) completely.
it seems to me that there is way too much talk about what we need to change and way too little talk about how God changes people.

The whole thing comes down to BALANCE, as in everything concerning God's church.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Sherri

The whole thing comes down to BALANCE, as in everything concerning God's church.

Something like; "Let your moderation be known to all men" or ".....every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." ?