Robert Lowery on Biblical Models of the Church
20/11/21 12:10
I just finished reading Evangelicalism & the Stone-Campbell Movement. One of the essays was by Robert Lowery on Biblical Models of the Church.
We must both embrace and engage culture, respecting and using those features that help us accomplish our mission. But we must not deny core principles (1 Cor 9:23). We must engage culture to evangelize people. If we view culture as the enemy, then we will tempted to withdraw. Just as dangerous, if we view culture as our friend, we may be tempted to compromise. Paradoxically, then, Christian communities are both cultural and counter-cultural, accepting the positive and the good while rejecting the bad and unhealthy. (p.218)
I think 1 Cor 9:20 is also fitting. We seem to always go to one of the extremes.
We must both embrace and engage culture, respecting and using those features that help us accomplish our mission. But we must not deny core principles (1 Cor 9:23). We must engage culture to evangelize people. If we view culture as the enemy, then we will tempted to withdraw. Just as dangerous, if we view culture as our friend, we may be tempted to compromise. Paradoxically, then, Christian communities are both cultural and counter-cultural, accepting the positive and the good while rejecting the bad and unhealthy. (p.218)
I think 1 Cor 9:20 is also fitting. We seem to always go to one of the extremes.