Christ in Culture (Part 1)
I had a fascinating conversation with a member of our church today. It had to do with my personal politics and the perception people have concerning them.
"I think I have a good idea of where you stand," he said, "despite your efforts to hide your political leanings."
"Really?" I said.
"Yes," he continued. "I gather you're liberal, even though I know you try not to align yourself with the democratic party publicly."
As my mind raced to remember all of the things I've said from the pulpit that could have possibly led this gentleman to draw such a conclusion, he said one more thing that helped me understand his perception: "In fact, [another member of the church] subscribed to one of the magazines you subscribe to in order to learn about the voices influencing your views."
Now he really had my attention -- someone in the church has actually subscribed to one of the magazines I read for the specific purpose of understanding the worldview I hold?!
Incredible.
Does this man, or the one who's been reading my mail, have any idea how many publications I read regularly? Does he really think I read magazines (or engage books, or watch the news, or download podcasts, or scan the television, or go to the movies, or listen to talk radio, or surf websites, or talk to strangers) for the same reasons that 99% of the people in America do? Does he have any idea how much of a critical thinker I am, how much of a cultural exegete I am, how much of a missional Christian I am? Does he have any idea that I regularly read Time, World, and Newsweek; Rolling Stone, Spin, and Paste; Wired, Entrepreneur, and Fast Company; National Geographic, Discover, and Popular Mechanics? Does he realize I watch Fox News and CNN; that I tune in faithfully to Sean Hannity and Campbell Brown, Glenn Beck and Anderson Cooper, Rush Limbaugh and Soledad O'Brien; that I keep my eye on Oprah and Phil, Conan and Dave, Jimmy and Jay; and that I skim the Charlotte Observer and the USA Today, the New York Times and the Washington Times? Does he have even an inkling that the periodicals Touchstone, Books & Culture, and First Things exist?
Does this man seriously think that, by reading Sojourners magazine just because I do, he can understand my view on anything, much less on politics, religion, or the intersection of the two? Does he really think that Jim Wallis defines my worldview any more than Newt Gingrich does? That Tony Campolo shapes my thought any more than John MacArthur does? That Barack Obama represents my convictions any more than George W. Bush does?
Come on, people!
And more importantly: Does he have any idea what it means for a faithful Christian to study the scriptures daily, to form a worldview from them alone, and then to take advantage of every resource possible to understand the surrounding culture so that he or she can more effectively proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Do you?
(Please see my follow-up remarks under "Comments" below.)
kyle
Reader Comments (1)
Please do not misinterpret the tone of this post. In no way do I mean to slam a fellow Christian, especially a member of the church I pastor, for not studying the culture to the degree I do. (After all, I am the one set apart in order that I might have the time to do so.) Instead, the issue I am attempting to address with passion is the temptation within all of us to assume that a person is what he reads, to judge a person and his convictions by the covers of the books he reads. I regret that I did not explain this better the first time around and that a follow-up post is necessary. A closer reading of my own words (and a word of caution from a dear brother) has convicted me to clarify the intent of my original post.