DISQUS

Steveo · 1 year ago

Amen.

inWorship · 1 year ago

In general I agree with this, but here is maybe a different view on this.

There is already culture happening and for us to create culture, means we are separating ourselves in a way that could create a Christian bubble. Your either in or out.

I think it is Christians attempting to create culture that has created this bubble and it has lead to a them vs. us mentality.

I don't think we should be creating a culture for people to join, but instead we should loving differently and in a way so as to affect the culture that is around us.

Go into the world and give them the gospel. Then let the culture around us be transformed into what God desires it to be.

Jesse · 1 year ago

I think you can make a christian culture by loving others like Christ did. It's not a bubble, but a body of believers. When they all come together and many are added and it grows, yea, I guess you could call that a culture. What is it that people usually do, they adapt to their culture and society. If ours is Christ, then hopefully others will follow when they see the personal, loving nature of Christ and adapt.

inWorship · 1 year ago

I agree Jesse. I guess my point is. Do we create for people to come to, or do we go and change what's already there.

Zach · 1 year ago

Culture = The behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group

Our culture is to be one that loves like Jesus.

Sub-Culture = a group having social, economic, ethnic, or other traits distinctive enough to distinguish it from others within the same culture or society.

The Christian Sub-Culture or bubble exists within the larger culture, or the greater calling.

I totally agree. We have to create the larger culture and see what grows within it too

Daniel Roberts · 1 year ago

Great job inWorship. In a sense, I would say the opposite of Jon's statement is true.

Culture is just a means of engage people. I can connect with the people on this board because we share a similar language, thought process, symbolism set, etc. I would have a much more difficult time connecting with an elder from an Amazonian tribe, because we have very different cultures.

Our job isn't to change culture or to even create a new one. Our job is to effectively use the culture we find ourselves in to engage people (build relationships), thus allowing God to change them.

Russ · 1 year ago

Jesus already created our culture, the Kingdom culture, check it out in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5, 6, 7)

Shaun Groves · 1 year ago

I wish someone - anyone - would define "culture" for me. it's become a buzzword without meaning ...for me.

Dioicio · 1 year ago

It is our job to create culture in essence that the culture will change the world.

jen · 1 year ago

I think our job is to be who God created us to be. When we live that out, God uses our areas of influence to create environments/culture where people desire to know who God created them to be.

yeidy · 1 year ago

I agree with Shaun because culture is just so hard to define. It seems like we already have a culture in place fueled by media, trends etc so what is culture???

johnincolorado · 1 year ago

maybe i'm stating the obvious that everyone is already agreeing to..it's our job to love God with everything we have and love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.
God knows that will change the world and create culture.

tunz · 1 year ago

It's our job to love the people of the world. If we have to create something called a culture to make that happen, ok, just as long as we(me)don't sit around reading other Christians blogs instead of being jesus to the world. That may even mean dying for them...

ah · 1 year ago

Does it make more sense if we use the (Zach's) definition of the word in a Christian context in the quote....

"As Christians, it isn’t our job to change the world. It is our job to create (a social group that believes in and loves like Jesus)."

I would say that is a true statement. I think where we sometimes get into trouble is various Sub-Cultures that pop up within the Christian culture. Again, Zach's definition of Sub-Culture = a group having social, economic, ethnic, or other traits distinctive enough to distinguish it from others within the same culture or society. Not all Sub-Cultures can be bad, but some of them may separate themselves enough as to appear exclusive instead of inclusive regardless of whether they really are or not.

Remember, to the non-believer - reality is what they perceive and nothing else.

Stephanie · 1 year ago

By creating a culture aren't we inevitably changing the world?

Tracy (worshipfan) · 1 year ago

If by culture we mean the "Christian" and often sub-par subculture that is so rampant these days I couldn't agree less. If we mean culture that is real, authentic, approachable, and engaging in non-threatening and non-religious ways that is full of passion and quality, then yeah, go for it.

But if that is the culture we are referring to, I think it will have a significant impact on the world.

Los · 1 year ago

I will make an assumption and say that the quote is speaking to creating culture outside of the church.
Point being...
While I was in Uganda, the kids in the slums, in Uganda, on the other side of the world, knew who michael scofield was when they saw a 2 second clip of "Prison Break". They know who Ludicrous is.
I think the point of the quote is that we, as Christians, need to be creating this media and culture that the world is inhaling and that is the tube that fuels the ideals of our world.
Los

supersimbo · 1 year ago

totally agree with this, culture created within the church is such a cop out, we need to go beyond the walls of church and be the leaders in government, schools, business, music, films and the arts etc etc etc
hey Los (and other readers of course), would love to know your thoughts on this post

http://www.supersimbo.net/2008/02/onerepublic.html

ally

Todd · 1 year ago

It would be more compelling if the quote were attributed to Jesus.

Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulou · 1 year ago

I think that, in the simplist form, creating culture is changing the world. It just then becomes a matter of good change or bad change.

Texas in Africa · 1 year ago

Totally disagree. Our problem as the American church is that we try to separate the two.

Chambers · 1 year ago

I think Jesus' message about the Kingdom of God was that we are supposed to play a role in changing the world by making the world the kind of place God wants it to be. "Your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven". We play an active role in that when we proclaim Jesus message of good news to the poor, freedom to the captive, healing of the broken, and the end of oppression. I dont see how its possible for this to happen without us changing, and if a lot of "us"es change, then culture inevitably changes as well.

Ronnie · 1 year ago

This reminds me of the book, "Roaring Lambs". We're called to be the salt of the earth. Salt adds flavor; so as Christians, we're called to add flavor to our world.

I would use the word "influence" rather than "create". I think it's our job to influence culture as Christians.

ryan · 1 year ago

i believe as Christians we're called to flee from culture and create our own. we need to get as far from those dirty pagans as we can. that's why i'm so glad that we have Christian radio and televison. i would much rather watch bad acting and poor production than hear dirty words or satanic rock and roll music. this is why i try to make sure that i don't have any friends who aren't Christians. i'm really hoping that one day we can get a big enough group of Christians together to buy our own country and all move there, so that we won't have to be around worldly things anymore and we can all be happy.

Deemus · 1 year ago

Maybe I am a moron, but that makes no sense to me.

I disagree mostly, but am struggling to understand what that means. I think its another example of someone trying to be clever or profound, for the sake of being clever or profound.

Was the great commission "culture?" I don't think so. And for those who say, "you just don't get it," you are correct. Hey overthinkers, try speaking plainly.

Flav · 1 year ago

right on the money! right on!!! great quote.

Rodge · 1 year ago

love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love one another and you wold love yourself.

let's pay more attention to jesus, and less attention to the latest books, trends and christianese language.

Los · 1 year ago

I have a great question...
"How's that working for you? And your next door neighbor"
Maybe we should just pray harder?
Then all move to the island with Ryan.
Kidding. So was he.
So to speak plainly...
How are you changing the world for His name's sake?
great discussion.
Let's keep discussing while trying to agree to disagree.
Words...

Rodge · 1 year ago

"...love one another as you would love yourself..."

erin · 1 year ago

hey c just sponsored a boy from uganda :)

Ivan Adriko (UG4270121)
Birthday: June 26, 2002
Age: 5
Gender: Male
Region: Africa
Country: Uganda
Program: Neema Child Development Centre