Christians and Culture
How should a Christian interact with the world?
There are many books that could be written and have been written on this subject, but for today I want to somewhat briefly (although not too briefly) give a brief overview of my attempt at an answer to this question, motivated by an assignment I was working on this morning for one of my seminary classes. In order to do so, however, I want to introduce you to the three primary parties of Jews who were running around during the life and times of Jesus circa-first century AD. (The reason for this will soon be evident.)
The Pharisees. These, we can call the Scribes. They were the people’s people, primarily middle-class, who adhered to the entire Old Testament (Tanakh) and strived to live a holy life in their current society. They were the largest sect of the Jews, and are largely the spiritual fathers of modern Judaism.
The Sadducees. These, we can call the Priests. They were the upper-class, priestly sect of Jews, liberal in their mindset and more willing to sacrifice doctrine for the sake of embracing Gentile culture. They only adhered to the first five books of the Old Testament (Torah), and had become largely corrupted by their longing for political and socio-economic gain.
The Essenes. These, we can call the Monks. Out of disgust for both the Pharisees and Sadducees, they retreated into the desert to live a monastic lifestyle of religious piety and extreme devotion. In addition to the Old Testament, they adapted many more teachings, committing to strict dietary laws and a commitment to celibacy.
My reasons for providing this information will be clear very soon. That being said, let’s get to the topic at hand: How should Christians interact with culture? Let us look no further than Christ’s prayer in John 17:
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:14-18)
I believe that a Christian is to be in the world, but not of it. However, this phrase needs clarification, so it becomes important to firstly explain what this does not mean, and secondly what it does mean.
WHAT “IN THE WORLD, NOT OF IT” DOES NOT MEAN
In this category, there are two extremes: “In the world, and of it,” and “Neither in the world, nor of it.” Both are to be rejected.
In the world, and of it. These are what we could call the modern-day Sadducees, who sacrifice religious truth for the sake of cultural acceptance, and in doing so seek to gain the favor of the world while diminishing passion for God and zeal for truth. They seek to walk the middle-ground between flesh and spirit, and in doing so place themselves against the flesh.
Neither in the world, nor of it. These are what we would call the modern-day Essenes, who abandon the world for the sake of maintaining their religious zeal. They seclude themselves from the world in order to not be tainted by it, but in doing so abandon their chief-most calling in ministering to the lost for the glory of God.
WHAT “IN THE WORLD, NOT OF IT” DOES MEAN
When we say that Christians are in the world, but not of it, we are asserting that Christians are to interact with the world and live normal lives in everyday society and culture, while recognizing that these things neither define them nor determine their actions. That is, Christians are pilgrims, or sojourners, who live in the present with eternity in mind, who prepare best for eternity by making the most of the present. In regard to this, there are two aspects to be addressed: In the world, and not of the world.
In the world: The Christian’s response to culture, then, is not to reject it or attempt to isolate from it, but rather to engage in it and learn from it and appreciate it, to adapt to it insofar as he or she can with a clear conscience and to interact with it in a positive manner for the glory of God.
Not of the world: At the same time, the Christian must recognize that insofar as culture might influence him, it must not define him. He or she is ultimately defined by the their new identity in Christ, and therefore they are called to navigate through live with a sober mind, ever vigilant for the threat of temptation and being ever-willing to sacrifice personal liberties for the sake of others out of love.
This is why, oftentimes, conservative evangelicals have a difficult time with culture. Having one’s defenses constantly at the ready—intentionally striving to live a holy life—tends to lend towards a view of hostility rather than love. This isn’t a culture problem; it is a sin problem. If I could sum up the problem, it would be this: By failing to hold in tension our calling and our culture, we have forsaken our commission.
Humans have never been very good at holding two things in tension—it is far easier to drift to one extreme or the other than to strive for both—and therein lies the crux of the issue. We are called to live holy lives, but we are likewise called to take the gospel to the nations: How can we accomplish both unless we engage with our culture while at the same time recognizing our calling? We are called to be lights in the world, but we cannot do this (1) if we have distanced ourselves so far from the world that they can no longer see the light, nor (2) if we put the light out in order to fit into the world. “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house” (Matt 5:14b-15). If we want to be lights, we need to engage in the culture around us, yet maintain a certain level of distinction that comes not from false piety or self-righteousness, but genuine love.
A WORD OF CAUTION
Interestingly enough, the Pharisees were the ones who were the closest to the truth. Whereas the Sadducees took advantage of both religion and culture for their own personal gain and the Essenes withdrew from culture altogether for the sake of maintaining monastic, religious piety, the Pharisees managed to maintain their religious zeal while engaging with their culture around them, standing for God while living in culture. However, when one examines the ministry of Christ, they will see that it was the Pharisees that he was most critical of; the Sadducees are mentioned on occasion and the Essenes are never mentioned at all, but the Pharisees are his constant opponents and the subject of his many woes (Matt 23). This is because those who are the closest to the truth can do the most damage whenever they turn aside; as C.S. Lewis pointed out in Screwtape Letters, “ The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
It is easy to see the fault of those who go to extremes: A goody-two-shoes-turned-murderer need not question where his error lie. In the same way, it is easy to caricature the Sadducees and see their primary issue as being embracing culture too much, just as it is easy to caricature the Essenes and see their primary issue as being rejecting culture too much. With the Pharisees, however, it is a bit more difficult: They were so close to the truth, yet it is that very closeness that merited Christ’s most ardent rebukes, for something which bears the veneer of truth, while not being truth, is the most dangerous danger of all.
What, then, was the Pharisees issue? The issue lie in their motivation, in their hearts. Yes, they engaged with culture. Yes, they served God. But what was their purpose for doing these things? From the perspectives of the Gospels, it was largely motivated by a sense of self-righteousness and pride. They were the people’s people, admired by all as the righteous of the righteous, as the faithful to God, and in that spotlight, they grew prideful and lost their pure motivations. Much of their service to God flowed forth from a desire to be seen for their righteousness and must of their service to people flowed forth from a desire to be seen as righteous by God. For this reason, they began adding extra stipulations to God’s law, which flowed forth both from their desire to be seen as righteous before man and by God. While they did all the right things, they sought to be made right before God and man by their actions, not by their faith. Thus Jesus could say, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20), and he called them “hypocrites” and “whitewashed tombs” (Matt 23:27). Unlike the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the Pharisees did the right things; they simply had the wrong motives.
So, too, I would caution you as you engage with culture in the world. Why do you do the things you do? It is not as simple as engaging in culture and living a holy life; more important than this is the motives that drive you do such things. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). What motivates your service to God and man, your engagement with Christ and with culture? Is it love for God or love for self, the glory of God or the glory of self? What causes you to put on the cross necklace each morning or to post that Bible verse in your Instagram bio? What motivates you to see those movies with your friends or to run for student body president? If live were a simple “Do this” or “do that,” it would simply be a lot easier for us, but God isn’t nearly as concerned with what you are doing as He is with why you are doing it.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1). Do not engage with culture to be seen by culture, nor serve God merely to be seen by God. Do both of these not to exalt yourself not to approve yourself, but rather do them out of love—love for God and love for culture. Engage with culture so that you may reach out to them with the love of God; serve God so that you may express to Him how much He is worth to you. You are called to be in the world, not of it; as Christ was sent, so you were sent.
Don’t be a Sadducee.
Don’t be an Essene.
Heck, don’t even be a Pharisee.
Be a Christian.
