Redeeming the Culture

"Now, class ... define 'culture'".

While we often use the term and don't have much trouble understanding each other, it turns out that defining the term is a lot more difficult than one might think. However, we typically use it in three standard senses. One is to say that someone is "cultured". That is, they have a good sense of the arts. You know, they go to operas and they enjoy art galleries and that sort of thing. That's not the "culture" I'm trying to get to. The other two are somewhat similar to each other. Wikipedia puts it this way. It is either an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning or the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group." That is, it's how a particular group lives. It is the values of a particular group.

So ... when we hear that the "New Calvinism" want to "redeem the culture" ... exactly what does that mean? Generally, the notion is making a better world out of the one we have. Now, before we jump on that, let's keep in mind that, just as "culture" is difficult to define, so is "redeeming the culture". That is, "making a better world" is one notion, but not the only one.

Rober Meyer has written an article on why it is so difficult for Christians to redeem the culture. In his version, it means to place Christian rules on society. Another version simply mean to reconcile the culture to Christ. In this version we could judge the culture (fundamentalism) or synchronize with the culture (emergent church) ... or "redeem the culture". In this view it is "gospel-motivated critique and change of cultural forms and content." That is, you want to make these things ... better. You redeem your neighborhood by making it a better place to live. You redeem politics by voting for better things. You redeem education by getting better salaries for teachers. This version, then, is primarily what is also referred to as "the social gospel" -- do good to the world around you. Dodson writes "To practically redeem, identify what is broken, what is in need of redemption and take restorative actions."

It's an odd thing to me, the notion of "redeeming the culture". Since biblical redemption is in terms of making right with God and standard human culture is, by nature, opposed to God, it would seem that redemption isn't in view but replacement. Since God never actually has a relationship with culture, but rather with people, it would seem that redemption of the culture is irrelevant while redemption of humans is important. And since humans determine culture and the human heart is the core of human culture, it would seem that changed hearts produce changed culture. To me, then, "redeeming the culture" would be tied directly to two functions for Christians. First and foremost, we are to spread the Gospel and make disciples. Second, we are to let our lights so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify God. Redemption of culture is not achieved by making our world a better place any more than redemption of humans is achieved by making people better people. There must be a fundamental change for both to occur.

Should Christians engage their culture? Sure, in so far as we are to be good stewards of what God has given us. But trying to make our world a better place is like putting a band aid on a wound. It might staunch the bleeding, but it won't fix the problem. We probably should put the band aids where we can, but that cannot be our primary emphasis. Culture depends on the people that dwell in it and they need much more than a band aid. In their case, simply binding their wounds when we have what is necessary to heal their hearts would be, in the final analysis, a cruelty rather than a kindness.