tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post116498287104818533..comments2023-10-24T07:03:42.942-05:00Comments on vtmbottomline: Is Culture Evil ?Paul Burlesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165365240955630682006-12-05T18:34:00.000-06:002006-12-05T18:34:00.000-06:00Acts 17 is a great chapter to look at in this disc...Acts 17 is a great chapter to look at in this discussion, especially the following verses. <BR/>26 "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; <BR/>Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV)<BR/>There are bridges and barriers in every culture and in every heart. So I find hope in culture because God determined the times and boundaries that we all live in. There is a way to share Christ and the gospel message if we are looking for it. Often it is in the sub-cultures of a given culture that we find the most openness to the gospel. It may also be one of the most uncomfortable places for Christians to go because of the unrepentant sin nature. But our Lord went. Isn't that what Christmas is all about too? God became flesh and dwelt among us. What a culture that was. <BR/><BR/>JC<BR/>A Pac Rim MissionaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165261587206139942006-12-04T13:46:00.000-06:002006-12-04T13:46:00.000-06:00Alycelee,I think you're correct. Thus the folly of...Alycelee,<BR/><BR/>I think you're correct. Thus the folly of attacking culture as evil. People are and need to be loved into the Kingdom as they see and hear the gospel message from us. <BR/><BR/>I am studying for a new series to be presented to the Emmanuel, Enid's congregation in January which has as it's basis an understanding of the New Covenant. You've given me some thought as to future posts. No promises but some serious thinking. Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Paul B.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165249717637267302006-12-04T10:28:00.000-06:002006-12-04T10:28:00.000-06:00IMHO culture simply mirrors the people who form it...IMHO culture simply mirrors the people who form it ie, be it the culture of the community, the culture of the church, the culture of a particular town/city so the degree of light or darkness would depend on the light/darkness that particular people are walking in. However concerning the people of God, we are called to "bring down strongholds."<BR/><BR/>Paul (changing the subject) any teaching on covenant theology. (at the risk of being stoned)<BR/>Agape<BR/>AlyceAlyceleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15130147737160480022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165094885975770302006-12-02T15:28:00.000-06:002006-12-02T15:28:00.000-06:00Logan,I definitely like your opening paragraph and...Logan,<BR/><BR/>I definitely like your opening paragraph and will certainly check out your blog. I even like your name, Logan, since it's my grandson's name as well. You've got a lot going for you with me already. :)<BR/><BR/>Paul B.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165081971920170292006-12-02T11:52:00.000-06:002006-12-02T11:52:00.000-06:00Paul, I believe that people are evil, and often th...Paul, <BR/><BR/>I believe that people are evil, and often their actions are evil. But culture, and all of it's many components, is amoral.<BR/><BR/>This is the main subject of <A HREF="http://engagingculture.com" REL="nofollow">my website</A>. There I discuss various aspects of "culture" (movies, music, art, books, dance, advertising, relationships, etc.) from a conservative biblical viewpoint (I am a Reformed Southern Baptist) and ask how we should confront and transform culture, so that it brings glory to our Savior. <BR/><BR/>I hope you'll check it out and tell me what you think. <BR/><BR/>Logan<BR/>admin@engagingculture.com<BR/><A HREF="http://engagingculture.com" REL="nofollow">www.EngagingCulture.com</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165060881296081382006-12-02T06:01:00.000-06:002006-12-02T06:01:00.000-06:00Chuck,Great observations. I remember years ago hea...Chuck,<BR/><BR/>Great observations. I remember years ago hearing B.J. Thomas say when asked if he enjoyed being a "Christian Entertainer" that he wasn't. He was an entertainer that sings and was a Christian. That's what I believe, as you and I have talked about many times, there is no such thing as christian music, or christian literature, or christian business. You're correct, only people can be "christian."<BR/><BR/>Bob,<BR/><BR/>You and Chuck [above] have both said something that I think is telling. The only people Jesus seemed to vent His anger on were those who were religious. It is religious people who condemn the behavior of others that seem to be the real problem in scriptures.<BR/><BR/>The bottomline so far in this discussion, it seems to me, is that culture is not evil in and of itself. If that is true, why all the hateful language about confronting culture, becoming like culture, and acting as if "culture" is our enemy? <BR/><BR/>Why don't we just view it as loving and relating to people who are a bit different in behavior than are we in some ways and being careful of our own attitudes and behavior while we're at it. All the time telling the gospel story to anyone who will give an ear to us. It seems to me that is the essence of the life of Jesus lived out in His culture. Thanks guys for weighing in.<BR/><BR/>Paul B.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165031848814103682006-12-01T21:57:00.000-06:002006-12-01T21:57:00.000-06:00Hi PaulThe description of our culture is interesti...Hi Paul<BR/><BR/>The description of our culture is interesting. Even, humorous at points.<BR/><BR/>I agree with your assessment of viewing culture through the lens of faith. It appears to me that if we, as Believers, were to spend our time and energy condemning our “evil” culture, we would have examples in the New Testament of Jesus, Peter, Paul, John, etc. condemning that first century Greco-Roman culture. If my understanding of history is correct it was much more openly “pluralistic” than our twenty-first century American culture.<BR/><BR/>According the scriptures, at least the way I understand them, there is no such thing as a “Christian” culture. Only individuals can become Christians. When culture is being defined as “evil” or “Christian” have we not created a social gospel? Or, maybe, it’s a religious gospel much like the one the Pharisees and Sadducees proclaimed. In the Gospels, if there was a culture Jesus condemned, it was the one that set false religious standards as a way of justifying and judging. Culture can’t do those two things, only “Christ, and Him crucified” can! And because He did, I can enjoy Him and His presence in all kinds of cultures.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, for the thought provoking question.<BR/><BR/>ChuckChuck Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11303211354773227743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165030699848444112006-12-01T21:38:00.000-06:002006-12-01T21:38:00.000-06:00I don't know as culture can be evil. People seem t...I don't know as culture can be evil. People seem to have that market cornered.<BR/><BR/>Governments can do evil things. But it's people that do the doing.<BR/><BR/>As to our ability to reach the lost and help people deal with their lostness, if we'd all remember we are hopeless outside of Jesus and it's not really our fault, or to our credit, that He saved us, perhaps we'd lose whatever condemnation some may feel toward lost society. In order to get saved, we have to admit we were part of it, ourselves, at one time.<BR/><BR/>The only vitriol I read in what Jesus said, ever, was directed at those who misused their religion, and the temple. We'd to well to limit our vitriol to those events, ourselves. <BR/><BR/>Even at that, Jesus said to let all malice be put away from us. I guess we need to throw love, not condemnation, at lost mankind (including that evil culture if there be such an animal).Bob Clevelandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06110395869562328309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165025803192383722006-12-01T20:16:00.000-06:002006-12-01T20:16:00.000-06:00Bryan,If you were to take the first two sentences ...Bryan,<BR/><BR/>If you were to take the first two sentences of your first paragraph and the last sentence of that same paragraph, you would have, in a nutshell, my understanding of culture. In any nation of people.<BR/>Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Paul B.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165023329599797192006-12-01T19:35:00.000-06:002006-12-01T19:35:00.000-06:00I was thinking that culture is simply a reflection...I was thinking that culture is simply a reflection of the entities who are creating it. It, with this line of thought, in and of itself, isn't really good or evil. The scripture teaches us that there are none who are righteous and that a man's heart is deceitful all the time. Those who aren't with Christ are against Him. So, what is evil in this world are any who do not worship the only One worthy of worship. Culture just becomes a tool in the hand of evil to distract humanity from the One we should worship. It permits a multitude of idols to worship. On the other hand, if our eyes remain fixed on Jesus, much of culture can be a part of the enjoyment of life here and now. <BR/><BR/>By the way, I'm just old enough to know all of what is being described as American, but I daresay that you wouldn't have to get too much younger than me to find many who would say Beetle who? Archie who? etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165004710533942452006-12-01T14:25:00.000-06:002006-12-01T14:25:00.000-06:00Les,Thanks for the comment.My take on what is sinf...Les,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment.<BR/><BR/>My take on what is sinful/evil is whatever is not of faith. So the most mundane behavior [all things] of human beings would fit into that category, hence the need for a Faith Relationship based on the gospel/claims of Christ being established.<BR/><BR/>Then, having established that faith relationship guided by the Spirit and scripture, whatever a person does that is in faith connected to the reality of Christ is not sin. So I can enjoy my culture, as did Paul, shown by his appealing to Roman authorities as a citizen, and have confidence that my culture is not evil but simply a gift to be experienced. Thus I can enjoy many of the things listed in the post, discerning which things scripture [silent on most, unclear on others] would give me guidance concerning...some to be personally rejected...some to be personally enjoyed, but all would then be to the glory of God. [Which means..Doxa..God seen present and real.]<BR/><BR/>But to categorically condemn culture or to assume all things considered cultural are automatically sinful, which is what I seem to be hearing lately, is categorically incorrect from my personal perspective.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I've enjoyed many of your comments on other blogs of late, including this one. Keep it up.<BR/><BR/>Paul B.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-1165002443875068342006-12-01T13:47:00.000-06:002006-12-01T13:47:00.000-06:00Paul, Great question. To me, culture is nothing m...Paul, <BR/><BR/>Great question. <BR/><BR/>To me, culture is nothing more than the product of human work and thought. If it glorifies Jesus, great. If it doesn't glorify Jesus, then culture and Christianity are going to clash. <BR/><BR/>To my simple way of thinking, anything that does not glorify Christ is evil. I'm sure some can find some caveats for that and that's okay. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the opportunity to comment. <BR/><BR/>LesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com