The Christian and Culture

What is this?

What is this?

What is this?

What do you see?

Art by Bev Dolittle Hide

and Seek

THE

EXTE

RNAL

W

ORLD

Sensory Grid(screens out

occurrences; no perceivable by the

senses)

Attention Grid(excludes

occurrences not relevant to one’s

immediate concerns)

Categories & Models(learned from one’s

culture and derived from observations)

THE MIND

ConsciousExperiences

SenseExperiences

PotentialExperiences

Senses Grid - Hiebert, Cultural Anthropology, p 6

Perception and Reality

• 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

Christian ThinkingOpen 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

AnalysisDeduction

OBSERVATION

PREDICTION

Test by Experimentati

onMODEL

Synthesis by

Induction

Scientific Process Cycle

Physical World – Closed System

AnalysisDeduction

OBSERVATION and

REVELATION

PREDICTION

Test by Experimentati

onMODEL

Synthesis by

Induction

Knowledge Process Cycle

Physical World Open System Spiritual Realm

What is Epistemology?

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

Perception and RealityChristian 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.

THE

EXTE

RNAL

W

ORLD

Sensory Grid(screens out

occurrences; no perceivable by the

senses)

Attention Grid(excludes

occurrences not relevant to one’s

immediate concerns)

Categories & Models(learned from one’s

culture and derived from observations)

THE MIND

ConsciousExperiences

SenseExperiences

PotentialExperiences

God

Reve

latio

n

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 PerceptionsPaul Hiebert, Cultural Anthropology, p 36

INDIAN CONCEPT OF LIFEBrahman: only reality, unknowable

to the passing world RealityIllusionhigh gods

lesser godsdemons & spirits

demi-godssaints &

incarnationspriestsrulers

merchantscraftsman casteworker castesservice castes

outcasteshigh animalslow animals

plantsinanimate world

Relations are

essentially vertical

Pure Spirit

Pure Matter

Mixed

AMERICAN CONCEPT OF LIFE

CreatorCreation

God, eternal, supernatural, infinite

Man; natural, but with an eternal soulA BRelations between people are essentially horizontal

Animals temporal

Plants

Inanimate world; lifeless

Relationship between God and man are vertical

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 othersVideo - Three Seconds

►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 Behav

ior

Learning

ProductsIdeas

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 is how a person perceives and

interprets reality, which

is used for living.

Culture is an integrated system of learned patterns of ideas, values, behavior, and products to meet the needs of its members.

Worldview – set of presuppositions about the makeup of one’s

world.Culture ‘s learned

system is based on one’s worldview

Worldview DefinedDefinition: “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

ORWorldviews are how people perceive and interpret reality, which they use for living.

OR“A set of presuppositions which we hold about the makeup of our world.” – James W. Sire

Dimensions of Culture & Worldview

BehaviorProducts

Cognitive

Affective

Evaluative

WORLDVIEW

EXPERIENCES

CULTU

RE

Decisions

Adapted from Paul Hiebert: used by permission

Culture

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

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!

Culture

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)

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

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

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

Yahweh Culture

Christ in Culture – Example of Service

All cultures changeContact with other peopleEnvironmental changesDevelopmentEducationModernizationGlobalization

Culture

Bluetooth has arrived

Culture

God & CultureThree 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

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

God & CultureCulture 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

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

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 & 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 & 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

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 & 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

Christ & 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

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

Christians & 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)

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

Christians & Culture

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 WorldviewBy 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