I agree with much of this, but the last paragraph is where I slightly differ (I think). Maybe I'm missing him, but why isn't it both? In all honesty, do you think this author would make statements like, "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds" and "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret."? How does this outlook of unbelieving thought and, therefore, the fruit of this thinking, relate to Christianity and culture? I enjoy reading many of the authors and seek to interpret it through the Lordship of Jesus Christ, but reading Nietzsche makes me agree with David, "The fool says in his heart..." They are still fools, in the proverbial not intellectual sense.
I guess it's the same thing, I absolutely agree that Christians engage culture, create culture, form culture, redeem culture and all the other aspects of it, because I believe there is no realm outside of God's creation, Christ's Lordship, and his message of reconciliation, but, as a man that boasts in his homosexuality told me today, "The Church doesn't have to become like the world to reach the world." As I use that line, maybe that is how the author sees understanding these authors. So, in the end, maybe we aren't saying something completely different.
"The church doesn't have to become like the world to reach the world". Jesus did. (Sorry, couldn't resist).
I think there is a "sense in which-ness" at work here.
There is a sense in which we don't (must not!) become like the world to reach the world and there is a sense in which we do (and must!) become like the world to reach the world.
Distinguishing the "sense in which-nesses" is where the discernment comes in, I suppose.
2 comments:
I agree with much of this, but the last paragraph is where I slightly differ (I think). Maybe I'm missing him, but why isn't it both? In all honesty, do you think this author would make statements like, "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds" and "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret."? How does this outlook of unbelieving thought and, therefore, the fruit of this thinking, relate to Christianity and culture? I enjoy reading many of the authors and seek to interpret it through the Lordship of Jesus Christ, but reading Nietzsche makes me agree with David, "The fool says in his heart..." They are still fools, in the proverbial not intellectual sense.
I guess it's the same thing, I absolutely agree that Christians engage culture, create culture, form culture, redeem culture and all the other aspects of it, because I believe there is no realm outside of God's creation, Christ's Lordship, and his message of reconciliation, but, as a man that boasts in his homosexuality told me today, "The Church doesn't have to become like the world to reach the world." As I use that line, maybe that is how the author sees understanding these authors. So, in the end, maybe we aren't saying something completely different.
????
kdny
Kdny,
"The church doesn't have to become like the world to reach the world". Jesus did. (Sorry, couldn't resist).
I think there is a "sense in which-ness" at work here.
There is a sense in which we don't (must not!) become like the world to reach the world and there is a sense in which we do (and must!) become like the world to reach the world.
Distinguishing the "sense in which-nesses" is where the discernment comes in, I suppose.
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