Dancing in the Kingdom- Table of Contents
Dancing In the Kingdom – Part 3 – Dancing in the Kingdom– Chapter 17 – Finding our place
Strategies in cultural engagement
[Bible references: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Colossians 1:1-23]
This leads us to the question of how the church shall, as a community, engage with the surrounding culture. The two main poles of strategies are: 1) the church has a positive view of the world and encourages individuals to engage in various dimensions of civic engagement, and 2) the church has a negative view of the world and thinks that the church will best influence the world by being the church. The first position developed when the church had a high degree of influence within the government while the second view developed when the church was under persecution.[1]
Over the years, governments have changed along with the influence of the church on the state and civic society. With those changes, the question of how, in each era, the church can best be the church. Other ways to phrase the question are:
- “What is the best way for the broken church to minister to the broken world in the time and place allotted to it by God?”
- “What is the best strategy in our own time and place to fulfill the cultural mandate given in Genesis and the Great Commission given by Jesus before his ascension?”
- “How can we, as the body of Christ, best serve the poor and the hungry and bring healing to the world?”
It does not seem appropriate that any one strategy could expect to work for all individuals for all congregations for all times and all cultures. It does seem more likely that there is much to learn from each other and that we all can sharpen one another’s discernment and call one another to humility.[2]
Even when we understand that we are called to engage with the world, continuing the process of bringing the Kingdom of God into the world that was begun by Christ, our efforts will always fall short. It is only Jesus that will is able to transform us and the world, and that process will not be completed until Jesus returns and makes all things new. Our confidence in Jesus will free us to thrive in a pluralistic culture, because we can share our convictions in a loving way, confident that changing hearts is not our task, but the task of the Holy Spirit.
“Our engagement in the world in an anxious age is made possible by our confidence in the gospel in a pluralistic society where people have profoundly different beliefs. We won’t always be able to persuade those around us that our beliefs are right and theirs are wrong. Indeed, some of our most important beliefs stem from contested premises that others do not share. But recognizing the existence of these disagreements should not prevent us from holding to what is ultimately true. Our beliefs can be true, and we can hold these warranted beliefs confidently even though others reject them. For this reason, recognizing the social fact of difference should not be mistaken as relativism. To the contrary, a greater awareness of our distinctiveness that comes from confidence in the gospel can encourage us to work to strengthen the social fabric for the good of others. This kind of posture is what one of us has called “confident pluralism.” As Christians, we can engage with the pluralism around us because our confidence lies elsewhere. We can acknowledge genuine differences in society without suppressing or minimizing our firmly held convictions. We can seek common ground even with those who may not share our view of the common good.” [3]
[1] Kyle, Richard. “Anabaptist and Reformed Attitudes Toward Civil Government: A factor in Political Involvement.” Direction: A Mennonite Brethren Forum, Spring 1985. Vol 14. No. 1 pp. 27-33
[2] Fitch, David. “Finding Things to Love About Reformed People: An Anabaptist Dialogues with a Reformed” MissioAlliance 6 Feb /2017 www.missioalliance.org/finding-things-love-reformed-people-anabaptist-dialogues-reformed; Wax, Trevin; “Three Reasons We Need Today’s Anabaptists” The Gospel Coalition 6 Feb 2017 www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/3-reasons-we-need-todays-anabaptists
[3] Inazu, John D. and Keller, Timothy. “How Christians Can Bear Witness in an Anxious Age” Christianity Today 6/20/2016 www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/june-web-only/tim-keller-john-inazu-christians-gospel-witness-anxious-age.html
Reflect
How can you best serve as an ambassador of Christ to those around you?
Observe
Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Colossians 1:1-23. What is the best way for the broken church to minister to the broken world in the time and place allotted to it by God?”
Dancing In The Kingdom 