The Culture Wars vs the Christian Mission
Oct. 2020
Is the Christian mission to combat the culture wars? This essay will attempt to answer the aforementioned question. Entangled with the question is the mixing of secular ideologies with how we commonly view culture wars. First, we must define the terms “culture” wars and the Christian “mission.” The term “Culture Wars” was coined by James Davison Hunter in 1991 in his book “Culture Wars: The Struggle To Control The Family, Art, Education, Law, And Politics In America”[1] Christians typically think of the culture wars as disputes over biblical moral concepts related to such concepts of abortion, gender definitions and practices, definitions of marriage and the family, unacceptable depictions of morality in art and movies and similar related practices. The “culture wars” are more than differences over morality. They are a fundamental confrontation between social conservative and progressive forces in American Society. “Not since the Civil War has there been such fundamental disagreement over basic assumptions about truth, freedom, and our national identity.”[2]
What is the Christian mission? Though on the surface the definition may seem obvious, it is not. The word “mission” does not occur in the Greek biblical text. Until the 1950’s the term mission referred to the sending of missionaries to a designated territory. From a theological standpoint this has referred to the propagation of the faith. These are relatively recent usages. Until the 16th century the term was used exclusively for the sending of the Son by the Father and the sending of the Holy Spirit. The Jesuits were the first to use the term for the sending and spreading of the faith among non-Catholics in the 1590’s. The term comes from the Latin missio. Missio is the “act of sending.” [3] In 1934, the German missiologist Karl Hartenstein first coined the term missio Dei to distinguish it from the missio ecclesiae, that is, the mission of the church.[4] Missio Dei is the mission of God. David Bosch in “Transforming Mission”[5] describes six major paradigms of mission as:
- The apocalyptic paradigm of primitive Christianity
- The Hellenistic paradigm of the patristic period
- The medieval Roman Catholic paradigm
- The Protestant (Reformation) paradigm
- The modern Enlightenment paradigm
- The emerging ecumenical period.
All of these have had distinctive approaches to “mission” and its definition. In our era there has been a viewing of mission as “mission dei” –the mission of God to the world. As such the church (and thus members) are the instruments of that mission. Therefore, there is church because there is mission and not vice versa.
What does this mean for the church , its individual members and the practice of “mission”? The church is thus by its very nature “missionary.” The church does not “send missionaries,” but it is the one sent. And its members are also the ones sent. Then, by its very nature to be true to missio dei—the Mission of God, the church and its individuals must be missional. [6] [7] Each Christian is then God’s instrument for “seeking and saving the lost.” Each Christian is to reflect the transformed life enabled by the gospel story of redemption. Does this mean each Christian is to be an “evangelist”? “The traditional-attractional church thinks about evangelism as sending our church members to share their faith with others and to bring them into the church.” 7 That is not the picture at all in the New Testament. Yes, there were gifted evangelists who were sent out by local churches. In Eph 4 we are told Christ “has given gifts to his people.” Among those gifts are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip his people for works of service” to build up the body so that we can all become mature. There is a minimum of the following spiritual gifts given in scripture[8]: Administration, Leadership, Discernment, Encouragement, Faith, Giving, Helping , Knowledge, Leadership, Mercy, Pastoral Care ,Prayer, Prophecy, Service, Speaking Teaching And Wisdom. No, each Christian is not gifted for “evangelism.” Each Christian is to use their gifts for the “incarnational filtration of society.” 7 This is done by using their God given gifts to demonstrate holy lives, though prayer, socializing, and supporting evangelists and in everyday conversation sharing Jesus and their faith. I Peter 3:15 tells us we must always be ready to give an answer for the hope we have. It seems clear this is in the context of ordinary social conversations and not formal “evangelizing.” Therefore, the practice of being the instrument of God is exemplified differently depending on the gifts we have been given.
Is the Christian mission to combat the culture wars? The current culture wars are fundamental disagreements over basic assumptions about truth, freedom, and our national identity.” 2 It should be clear that this is NOT the Christian’s fundamental mission in the world. Determining our national identify is not the Christian’s primary duty. This does not mean resisting ungodly secular ideologies is wrong. But the Christian should recognize the dangers. The problems are threefold: 1) Confusing the state and its functions with the mission of the church 2) Confusing participation in political activism with personal Christian responsibilities and 3) Letting the allure of political activism become your personal idol. [9] (Note this is explored more fully in the essay cited. )
Christians should always keep their focus on reflecting the Kingdom of God and not confuse earthly nations, whether based on Christian moral principles or not, with God’s Kingdom.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Wars-Struggle-Education-Politics/dp/0465015344
[2] https://iasculture.org/research/publications/culture-wars-struggle-define-america
[3] https://www.etymonline.com/word/mission
[4] https://everything.explained.today/Missio_Dei/
[5] Bosch, David. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in the Theology of Missions. Orbis Books, Mary Knoll, N Y., 1991
[6] Guder, Darrell L. Missional Church-A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1998.
[7] Frost, Michael and Hirsch, Alan. The Shape of Things to Come-Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century. Hendrickson, 2006.
[8] I Cor. 12, Romans 12, I Peter 4, Eph 4and 6, Acts 20
[9] Nored, Lynn S. “The Siren Allure of Political Activism,” Sept 2013 http://www.essaysonchristianity.com/2013/09/