If you have not yet had the opportunity, I would strongly suggest picking up Niebuhr’s, Christ in Culture. The work seeks to address the role of Christian within secular society. This has always been a foundational question within the church (see I Peter), but finds particular resonance within the current American landscape. Questions of morality and inalienable rights are nothing new, but for the first time, Americans and American-Christians are being asked to explain the definition of marriage and family. How is the church to respond?
Niebuhr's introduction may be a little drawn out, but he rightly takes the time to not only address the complexity and necessity of culture, but also the complex understanding that surrounds the interpretation of what is meant by being a “Christian.” All too often, the church and secular society jump into the great debate with the assumption that the terms are pre-defined and unanimous. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Niebuhr rightly reveals. Living here in "Christian" Lancaster county, I am amazed at the different definitions Christians give themselves in the local daily paper. Truly the term "Christian" means many different things to many different people, even within the faith.
I would like to echo the challenge of Niebuhr, that which calls the world, not just the Church, to reassess what is meant by the term “Christian.” The Church has always been a varied and diverse group. Such is not inherently evil or wrong, but it does complicate our ability to work toward a common good, and to a greater extent distorts and detracts from the message and mission of Christ in the world. I fear that the problem of the world and church today is not simply their response to Christ and culture, but more importantly, their lack of care or concern for the very nature and work of Christ. All assume to know who He was, what He taught, and what the appropriate response of the individual believer should be, but we don’t. Even among those with an Orthodox belief differ in what they believe the consequences of such should be. In short, we not only need to define “Christ,” but also “Church” and “Christian” before we can begin a proper treatment toward the right relationship between Christ and culture.
In other words: Christians and pastors need to spend more time working out their theology before they take to the streets in an effort to convert the masses. I fear that our present condition is not "Christ in Culture," but "Culture in Christ." We look more like the world than the One who has come to call us out of it.
