EDITORIAL
In the Trenches | Eric Geiger
For centuries, Christians have debated what our response to the world around us should be.
During the 1940s, Yale professor Richard Niebuhr gave a series of lectures on five common approaches Christians have taken toward culture throughout history.
My take on the five approaches follows:
1. Christ Above Culture.
Those with this view believe that Christians are above the culture; therefore, they do not need to engage the culture. While surely the values in Christ’s kingdom are more beautiful and praiseworthy than the values embraced in any earthly one, this view can lead to isolationism.
2. Christ of Culture.
People who adopt this view believe that Christ is fully in the culture. They believe because he is in every movie, every conversation and every song the culture can be fully embraced. While the first view can compromise the mission of Christ, this view can violate the holiness of Christ.
3. Christ Against Culture.
People who are against the culture insist they have an assignment from God to attack the culture, to expose everything that is wrong with the context in which they live. They are similar to the “Christ above culture” group, but instead of choosing isolation, they protest. Yes, there are times we must stand against cultural norms, while also committing to be gracious to all.
4. Christ and Culture in Paradox.
Those with this view attempt to hold the paradox between citizenship in two kingdoms: his and the earthly kingdom we belong to because God has chosen when and where we live. We must be careful not to forget we belong to his kingdom first.
5. Christ Transforming Culture.
People with this view deeply believe that Christ is the missionary God who has the power to transform people and even cultures. Transformers neither isolate from culture or compromise their beliefs for it, but they seek to transform others.
The apostle Peter did not use this framework, but he did challenge Christians to live differently in the world surrounding them: “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the pagans” (1 Peter 2:11–12).
Peter didn’t tell them they were dual citizens—no, rather they were strangers in this world. And as strangers, they should wage war against their sinful desires. As we help our people live as disciples in this culture, we must exhort them to 1) deal with sin inwardly and 2) display their Savior outwardly.
Notice Peter does not say to live above the pagans or against them to become like the pagans. But to live honorably among them “so they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits” (v. 12). Or as Peter heard his Savior say: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).