Cultural Engagement

Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Cultural Engagement
Monday 22nd March, 2021

Cultural Engagement
Earlier this year a few of us who do some work in the ‘Church and Culture’ space got together to have a chat about, “The Church, Christians and Cultural Engagement”. We identified early on that with all that has been happening over the last 12 months a lot of Pastors (and Christians generally) are much more aware of the importance of having a better understanding of NZ Society and Western Culture in general - about what is going on and how can we as Christians be ‘salt and light’ as Jesus instructed. One thing we quickly realised is that many Christians are either overwhelmed by the issues of the day or are not sure who are the reliable people and books to read. Some Christians are latching on to fringe and somewhat strange utterances from unqualified sources.
So three of us have put a ‘suggested reading’ list together. We hope you find this helpful as we continue to figure out how we might engage thoughtfully with a very secular NZ.

In no particular order and certainly not exhaustive: -

1. To Change the World: The irony, tragedy and possibility of Christianity in the late Modern Age’ by James Davison Hunter, New York, Oxford University Press, 2010
2. Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling’ by Andy Crouch, Downers Grove, Inter Variety Press, 2009
3. Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines that Shape the Church for Mission’ by David Fitch. A how to guide for local church to be faithfully present in its community.
4. The End of Evangelicalism? Discerning a New Faithfulness for Mission: Towards an Evangelical Political Theology, David E. Fitch, Cascade Books, 2011.This is a solid read, but one we would commend as essential reading for Christian leaders interested in politics and public engagement.
5. Protruth - A Practical Plan for Putting Truth back into Politics, Gleb Tsipursky & Tim Ward, Changemakers Book, Winchester UK, 2020
   In this post truth era, where fake news and conspiracy theories abound, there is a great need to restore truth in the public square.
6. Issues facing Christians Today by Dr John Stott. 4th Edition, fully revised by Roy McCloughry, 2006. Terrorism, same-Sex Marriage, debt cancellation, ethnic diversity, caring for creation. These are just some of the critical contemporary issues addressed in this book. Issues Facing Christians Today helps thinking Christians sift through and respond to a sweeping array of complex and pressing topics.
7. Resilient Faith - How the Early Christian ‘Third Way’ Changed the World, by Gerald L. Sittser Ph.D. This book shows how the early church offers wisdom for responding creatively to the West's increasing secularization. The early Christian movement was surprisingly influential and successful in the Roman world, and so different from its two main rivals--traditional religion and Judaism--that Rome identified it as a "third way." Early Christians immersed themselves in the empire without significant accommodation to or isolation from the culture.
8. We Cannot Be Silent: Speaking Truth to a Culture Redefining Sex, Marriage, and the Very Meaning of Right and Wrong by R.Albert Mohler Jr
   Twenty years ago, not one nation on earth had legal same-sex marriage. Now, access to same-sex marriage is increasingly seen as a basic human right. In a matter of less than a generation, western cultures have experienced a moral revolution. Dr. R. Albert Mohler examines how this transformation occurred, revealing the underlying cultural shifts behind this revolution: the acceptance of divorce culture, liberation of sex from reproduction, the prevalence of heterosexual cohabitation, the normalization of homosexuality, and the rise of the transgender movement. He then offers a deep look at how the Bible and Christian moral tradition provide a comprehensive understanding upon which Christians can build their personal lives, their marriages, church ministry, and cultural engagement. Dr. Mohler helps Christians in their understanding of the underlying issues of this significant cultural shift and how to face the challenge of believing faithfully, living faithfully, and engaging the culture faithfully in light of this massive change.
9. Mission Drift: The Unspoken Crisis Facing Leaders, Charities, And Churches
   By Peter Greer, Chris Horst
   Without careful attention, faith-based organizations drift from their founding mission. It's that simple. It will happen.
   "We can't afford not to follow the lessons in this valuable book." -Richard Stearns, president, World Vision U.S.
   "Mission Drift gives a clear message inspiring and challenging us to intentionally keep Christ at the center of all efforts." -David Green, founder and CEO, Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

Contributors
Chris Clarke – CEO, Wilberforce Foundation
Bob McCoskrie – National Director, Family First
Alan Vink – Director, LeadershipWorx

There are NO copyright restrictions on this email update. Got some feedback about this Update, or anything in the news? Would you like us to cover a story then drop me a note at alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz Alan is the Director of LeadershipWorx and writes a letter to Pastors here on leadership and church life issues every Thursday.