What in the world?

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (John 17:15-18 NIV).

When the Bible talks about the “world,” it is almost always referring to human culture. And as we’ve been discussing these past weeks, the culture has been bent by human sin. The culture is crooked.

So, what in the world do we do in response to living in a crooked culture?

Almost half a century ago, H. Richard Niebuhr’s book, Christ and Culture, laid down a framework of five typical answers to the question. In the book, Niebuhr gave a history of how Christianity has responded to culture. He outlined five prevalent viewpoints:

• Christ against culture. Following Christ alone, we reject the culture. We become separatists from culture.
• Christ of culture. Affirming both Christ and culture, we become accomodationists of culture.
• Christ above culture. Believing that neither a blank rejection or acceptance of culture is in order, we attempt a synthesis of both.
• Christ and culture in paradox. Believing that we live in dual kingdoms, we attempt to live in both, while at the same time recognizing their differences. We become dualists.
• Christ transforming culture. While similar to the dualist’s view of two kingdoms, this view believes that culture can be improved and that a holy Christian community on earth is possible.

As I studied Niebuhr’s book in seminary, I saw things I could affirm in all five responses to culture. I know Christians throughout history have struggled with this question.

The church of my youth came closest to Niebuhr’s first category, Christ against culture. We heard sermons on the evils of TV and Rock and Roll. We were challenged to watch our hair styles (“The Bible says it’s a shame for a man to have long hair.”) and our dress code (“Women shouldn’t wear pants.”). Our church represented a cultural island within the larger American culture. I tried to live in both, but often felt schizophrenic in the attempt. There had to be a better way to live.

I want to live in the world the way Jesus did. I can think of at least three metaphors that Jesus taught that can shape our response to today’s culture.

• Be like salt. Jesus tells us that we are the “salt of the earth.” Salt does many things. It adds flavor. It has healing properties. It can be used as a preservative.  Like salt, we are to be influencers of the culture’s flavor. We are to be healers of the culture’s wounds and preservers of that which is good.
• Be like light. Jesus tell us that we are the “light of the world.” Light gives sight and exposes the darkness. We are to share the truth about the gospel and expose falsehood in the culture.
• Be fruitful.  Jesus tells us that we are to bear “much fruit.” We are to do good in the world just as He did. We are to bear the fruit of being God’s children, showing the world God’s goodness.

If we’re going to be salt, then we’ll have to mix it up with the world to affect its flavor. If we’re going to be light, then we’ll have to shine bright, so the world can see. If we’re going to be fruitful, then we’re going to have to devote ourselves to doing good in this world of need.

We’ll have to live in this world where Jesus sent us just like God sent Him.