Christ & Culture: Exposing the Lies of Abandonment Theology

There is a critical need to destroy some of the bad ideas that plague the common Christian mindset in regards to how Christians are to relate to the culture. There are four different paradigms that have generally characterized how the church has related to culture. Each have truth to them and must be appreciated for what it has to offer, but too often we see ministers emphasizing one to the exclusion of the others resulting in error.

  Jesus Above Culture

One view says Jesus is only concerned about spiritual things. Christianity is above and removed from cultural concerns. Ultimately, Jesus is most concerned about spiritual matters, which includes the eternal fate of mankind. This is ultimately most important as Heaven and Hell are in the balance. But, to then argue Christ has no concern in matters of worldly things is to go too far.

For example, Jesus was very concerned about the very real worldly plights of the poor, the sick, and victims of injustice. In Matthew 25, He told us that we are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the sick and imprisoned in their distress.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ [37] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? [38] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ [40] And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (ESV)

As we show compassion and concern for the least of our neighbors we are doing so to Him! In Micah 6:8 we find a summary of our Christian duties: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Our real-world expressions of charity and justice are eternally significant and ethically required.

  Jesus In Culture

This is a very interesting perspective that affirms the immanence of Christ in culture. If the error of the first position is an overemphasis on the transcendence of Christ apart from creation to such an extent He is virtually absent from culture, this perspective errs by identifying Jesus with culture.

They rightly affirm that Jesus is at work in the world, as well as in Heaven. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18 However, from this they argue culture reflects Christ’s will.

The obvious problem with the “Christ in Culture” position is you are left affirming that Christ is ordaining and approving of sin and injustice in clear violation of His own revealed Word. They are correct in acknowledging the absolute power of Christ in Heaven and Earth, but they wrongly forget there is a process of spiritual warfare whereby He is bringing His will to-pass incrementally. That is why He taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

  Jesus Against Culture

This position argues the duty of the church is to confront the world prophetically and rail against it as witnesses of God’s righteousness, man’s sinfulness and the world’s corruption. The assumption is the world is irredeemably lost. There is some truth in this position because of the fallen nature of mankind and the creation.

Jesus came preaching, Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” So there has to be a bold witness to the truth by the followers of Christ, but it is not in vain. Rather, it is by the means of proclaiming both God’s grace and truth that Christ advances His greater Kingdom.

This world will never be heaven because the corrupting presence of sin is felt in all aspects of creation, even in Christians and the church. We don’t advance the church by pretending that sin isn’t the insurmountable problem Christ had to come and die for.

  Jesus Transforms Culture

This position is one that best envelopes the truth of the preceding views and corresponds to the biblical truth and the historical orthodox position of the church. No one disputes believing the gospel transforms a person’s life. Part of saving-faith includes repentance from sin. If a man is transformed, then his marriage and family are impacted for the good. If enough people in any community are saved by God’s grace, the community is transformed, as are nations. This is the way Christ has been working in the world for centuries.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” 

Matthew 13:31-33

Where the Gospel has successfully gone and been widely received, Christian laws are adopted and there is order, peace and prosperity. This is not to suggest there is ever going to be a perfect man, family, community or nation in this world, but Christ does and has truly, substantially transformed men, families, communities and nations, and still does.

The good news is it only takes relative few genuine Christians to have a huge, disproportionate impact for God’s Kingdom and righteousness. Christ IS King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He IS the ruler over the kings of the earth (Rev. 1:5). Christ is both fully transcendent in His Heavenly power at God’s right hand, and fully immanent by His Spirit in the earth. We can do what the church through the centuries has done and prophetically bear witness to the gospel with great confidence as we call all people everywhere to believe and repent. Then teach the nations all He has commanded with great effect.

  CONCLUSION

Since Jesus is Lord of all, including the culture, what is His will as it relates to those who have civil authority, whom God calls His “ministers,” (Rom 13:4) and to whom citizens are called to give proper honor, support and submission? What we see is a very simple, but profound principle. We are to submit to all proper, lawful authority and we are to resist unlawful, tyrannical authority.

Must the civil magistrates be obeyed unconditionally? Can civil magistrates biblically be held accountable to “We the People?” How are “We the People” to know if laws are just or unjust? How far can we go to defend ourselves from an unjust ruler? Fortunately, God’s Word has the answer to all these urgent questions.

  ACTION:

Pray for God’s Kingdom to come and His will be done.

Share the Good News of Christ’s forgiveness and mercy.

Obey Christ’s Law of Liberty and teach it to your family.

Be the “Salt and Light” in your home, workplace, school and community.

Speak up and do something practical this week to alleviate injustice and unrighteousness!