What is our response to the world's culture? Our response to the world's culture is rooted in God's Mission. Our response to the world's culture is found in the Original Mandate. God's Mission is 'the praise of God's glory' or 'the work of Christ in reconciling humankind to himself for the praise of his glory.' God's command to man is to fill the earth and subdue it; to civilize it. God wants the entire world to worship him. He wants his culture spread over all the earth.
We are of God's culture. We live in the world's culture which is apparent across the earth. The only way to spread God's culture in the world is to take man's culture and transform it into God's culture. We become an instrument of transformation.
We reside in our own little worlds, our work, family, community, art, school, etc. We transform our portion of the world by living our lives in conformity with God's culture. We help fill the earth with God's culture by transforming the world culture into one that glorifies God. Some examples are: encouraging honesty in the work place, encouraging worship in the home, creating beautiful art, instilling kids with discipline on a basketball team, evangelism, feeding the poor, ministering to the sick, discipleship, being a good example at school, the list is almost endless. If all Christians transform their areas of life the world would change: families, communities, labor practices, economics, welfare, laws, the arts, etc.
What is our response to world culture? We don't retract from it. We transform it. Through transformation we fill the earth with God's culture, we civilize it. We carry out God's Mission.
Interact with Scripture/QuestionsRead Romans 12: 1, 2. What is our act of worship?
See how the Bible says that we worship through service. Transforming the world is worship. What must we do to our minds?
Eph. 6:10-18.
How do we guard ourselves from this world?
What is God teaching about himself in these passages?
Prayer: Ask God to help you think of specific situations in your areas of life where you can start to transform worldly culture into God's culture.
Scripture ReferencesRO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
EPH 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
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