Family Reflection

Called to Challenge Culture

Why is it so important for Christians to challenge culture? What does this mean? By what standard do we evaluate the culture in which we live?

Grounded in a Biblical worldview, a Christian leader must evaluate all viewpoints and ideas through the lens of Scripture. As Christians, we must be willing and able to challenge non- Biblical presuppositions, assumptions, and truth claims of the culture in which he or she lives. Separating ourselves from the culture in which we live, and evaluating it, is a difficult task. Because of this difficult task, some Christians simply blend into the culture, their Christian faith becomes indistinct from the culture in which they live. Other Christians take an opposite approach and they completely separate themselves from the culture. At Regent, we do not believe that the Scriptures teach either of these positions—complete assimilation or complete disengagement. The harder road—the biblical road—is that Christians must join in God’s redemptive purposes for the culture in science, the arts, literature, history, politics, economics, commerce, education, law, and theology by gaining a deep understanding of these subjects and institutions…and representing Christ within them. Ephesians 1:22 indicates that all things—all areas of culture—have been placed under Jesus’ feet.

The Prophet Daniel provides a Biblical example of a godly man who first, understood and excelled in the culture in which he found himself. Second, stood firm against ungodliness. And finally, blessed it.

Daniel is given by God “learning and skill in all literature and wisdom” (Dan. 1:17) so that “in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of [him], he found him ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom”. While not compromising his principles and continuing to set his heart on understanding before God, Daniel becomes an influential leader in a foreign land by both challenging and serving in that culture.

Like Daniel, a Christian leader must also be willing to humbly, but boldly, give a defense of the faith, as instructed by 1 Peter 3:15, which reads: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… Christians must be able to offer a Biblical perspective “destroying arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (2 Cor. 10:5). The Apostle Paul warns to let “no one take you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition…” (Col. 2:8). Challenging culture requires a keen awareness of the errors in “human tradition.”

Equipped with his or her knowledge of the Lord and the culture, and Christ-like character, the Christian leader can transform culture with both courage and grace. These efforts will not always be met with success so this courage to challenge culture extends to standing strong in the face of persecution, as indicated in Philippians 1:29, and not being ashamed of the gospel, as instructed in Romans 1:16. As Peter and the apostles continued to preach over the objections of the council and high priest in Acts 5:27, so too the modern Christian leader must have the courage to “obey God rather than men.” Like Paul in Acts 17, at the Areopagus, we should be able to offer a reasoned, informed, and inspired apologetic to a

fallen, deceived, and sinful world. And like Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, the Christian leader must be willing to study and become knowledgeable of the culture in order to more effectively engage and respond to it.

Finally, in challenging culture, the Christian leader must be mindful of the temptations of the world, committed to removing idols which compete for worship that is rightfully God’s and quick to confess and repent of sin and be restored to a right relationship with Christ.