Category Archives: Culture

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We Behave As We Believe

People behave as they really believe. But our actions are only the tip of the iceberg. What really drives us is our invisible worldview that lives beneath the surface. Our worldview is shaped by a complex collection of broken relationships (with God, parents, and others), a mixture of true and false beliefs about reality, and values that are primarily directed toward the self. Embracing a Christian worldview — thinking Christianly — means growing in our ability to understand and live all of life from God’s perspective.

This becomes possible as our relationship with God is restored in the gospel (and this serves as the basis for restoration of relationships with others), we replace false beliefs with truth as our minds are renewed (Romans 12:2), and we give priority to God over self and come to increasingly love what God loves by the constant enablement of the Holy Spirit.

This process of worldview formation is essential to living well and flourishing according to God’s design.

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What Does the Authority of the Bible Mean?

When we talk about authority we are raising the “who says so” question. Authority is what the FBI agent has when he shows you his badge. Frankly, we all have a cosmic authority problem; we want to do things the way we want, when we want, and how we want. But if God exists and has spoken, then he wins the “who says so” argument hands down:

“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19)

When Scripture speaks, God speaks. Because the source of Scripture is God, it bears his authority. John Stott captures this sentiment well:

“If it is a word from God, it has authority over men. For behind every word that anybody utters stands the person who speaks it. It is the speaker himself (his character, knowledge and position) who determines how people regard his words. So God’s Word carries God’s authority. It is because of who he is that we should believe what he has said.”

Paul celebrated when the Thessalonians came to understand this great truth. “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

As we conclude this brief discussion of the authority of Scripture, it is also critical to note that Jesus of Nazareth submitted to the authority of God’s Word. And if he did, how much more so should we?

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How to Become An Everyday Ambassador

Recently I wrote about the importance of making sure we are relating to our culture with the right tone. This is because we represent the King of kings and his kingdom agenda to the world that Christ died to redeem. We proclaim his message that reconciliation is now available in Christ. If you name the name of Christ, then you are an Everyday Ambassador. Interestingly, the Bible gives us a front row seat to watch Paul live out this mind-set in an unchristian environment:

“While Paul was . . . in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him … Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship — and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.” – Acts 17:16 – 23

First, did you notice that he is reasoning with people about Christianity, not just appealing to blind faith, emotions, and felt needs? He is “contend[ing] for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 3). The book of Acts repeatedly records Paul doing this (Acts 14:15 – 17; 17:2, 4, 17 – 31; 18:4; 19:8).

Second, Paul is greatly distressed by the idolatry in Athens, but he didn’t preach hellfire and brimstone. Rather, modeling the wise engagement he commands believers to employ (Colossians 4:5–6), he compliments their religiosity. Paul translates the right response of sadness and channels it into connection with his audience. His tone is instructive here.

Finally, notice that Paul finds connecting point after connecting point with his audience. He understands the times (1 Chronicles 12:32). He has studied their works and ideas, quotes their poets, and is familiar with Stoic and Epicurean philosophy. He is a student of their culture, not merely an observer (Acts 17:23). He studies it so he can find connections between the true story of Christianity and their cultural story. And then at the end, he subverts their story by naming the unknown God as the Jesus who was resurrected.

Here is what this means for us at our intersection. We have to know our story well—the kingdom story—and we also need to know the major cultural stories at our intersection. This will take effort, study, and intentionality and is part of what it means to always be prepared to give a defense of the hope within us (cf. 1 Peter 3:15). If you are ready to do that, reading this would be a great next step.

What are some ways that you have been able to successfully build bridges with people? Please share them in the comments section below.

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