Contend
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
As Christians we ought to engage the culture with the powerful, transforming, life-changing, message of the Gospel while being faithful to the content of unchanging Biblical doctrine.
Contextualize
1 Corinthians 9:22 to the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
“Churches and Christians should continually reform their ministry methods to most effectively reach the changing culture(s) to which they are sent by God as missionaries.”
Culture: Confront or Engage?
I am most grateful for what God is doing through the ministry of John MacArthur and have great respect for the man. About a year ago, while attending a different church, it was a lot of his teaching that led me to search out the scriptures… I was struggling with our church’s direction and its structure. (CEO model, seeker friendly, felt needs, mega church) We eventually left and sought out a new church home. With that being said, and learning more about “what it is I believe, and why I believe it” I have to disagree with MacArthur’s methodology as it pertains to “confronting culture”. Yes, I believe some parts of culture that are openly contrary to God are to be rejected, but I am also learning many parts of culture can represent Christ-likeness characteristics and are redeemable.
So… “As generations come of age, the Gospel of Jesus Christ must resurge to meet the needs of people and their continually changing cultures. The time has come for the church to move forward into the time and place for which God purposed us and to meet our day with unchanging, vibrant, unabashed truth.”
Quote from Resurgence
Read John MacArthur’s article first: How to Confront the Culture
David, the preaching elder (pastor) at our church does a much better job at a response than I do.
Read his response.
John MacArthur’s answer to culture- Confront it!
I say, engage!
