Gospel, Church, and Culture: Three Urgent Issues for the 21st

Century

Michael GoheenMichael Goheen

Geneva Professor of Worldview StudiesGeneva Professor of Worldview StudiesTrinity Western UniversityTrinity Western University

Who gets to narrate the world?

. . . the most pressing spiritual issue of our . . . the most pressing spiritual issue of our time is the question “who gets to narrate the time is the question “who gets to narrate the world?” (Robert Webber)world?” (Robert Webber)

• Liberal humanist?Liberal humanist?

• Islam?Islam?

• Bible?Bible?

A Call to an Ancient Evangelical Future

• Today, as in the ancient era, the Church is Today, as in the ancient era, the Church is confronted by a host of master narratives confronted by a host of master narratives that contradict and compete with the that contradict and compete with the gospel. The pressing question is: gospel. The pressing question is: who gets who gets to narrate the world?to narrate the world?

• In a world of competing stories, we call In a world of competing stories, we call Evangelicals to recover the truth of God's Evangelicals to recover the truth of God's word as word as thethe story of the world, and to make story of the world, and to make itit the centerpiece of Evangelical life. the centerpiece of Evangelical life.

Lesslie Newbigin: Syncretistic accommodation or missionary

encounter?

• Western church is “an advanced case of Western church is “an advanced case of syncretism”syncretism”

• Missionary encounter: “a clash between Missionary encounter: “a clash between ultimate faith-commitments or stories” ultimate faith-commitments or stories”

Newbigin on missionary encounter

It would seem, therefore, that there is no higher It would seem, therefore, that there is no higher

priority . . . than to ask the question of what would be priority . . . than to ask the question of what would be

involved in a genuinely missionary encounter involved in a genuinely missionary encounter

between the gospel and this modern Western between the gospel and this modern Western

culture.culture.

England is a pagan society and the development of a England is a pagan society and the development of a

truly missionary encounter with this very tough form truly missionary encounter with this very tough form

of paganism is the greatest intellectual and practical of paganism is the greatest intellectual and practical

task facing the Church.task facing the Church.

What is needed for a missionary encounter with Western culture?

• A recovery of the gospelA recovery of the gospel

• A missional understanding of the A missional understanding of the

churchchurch

• An understanding of the religious An understanding of the religious

roots of Western cultureroots of Western culture

Accommodation of the gospel to Western culture?

The gospel is like a caged lion; it doesn’t The gospel is like a caged lion; it doesn’t need to be defended, just released.need to be defended, just released.

- Martin Luther- Martin Luther

Recovering the gospel . . .

• As As truthtruth• Vs. relativism of liberal wing of churchVs. relativism of liberal wing of church• Vs. rationalism of conservative wing of Vs. rationalism of conservative wing of

churchchurch• Person and events which reveal and Person and events which reveal and

accomplish the end of universal historyaccomplish the end of universal history

Recovering the gospel . . .• As As truthtruth• As a As a storystory

•Unchanging ideas of pagan Greek thoughtUnchanging ideas of pagan Greek thought•Or the meaning of history in Hebrew thoughtOr the meaning of history in Hebrew thought

I do not believe that we can speak effectively of the I do not believe that we can speak effectively of the Gospel as a word addressed to our culture unless we Gospel as a word addressed to our culture unless we recover a sense of the Scriptures as a canonical recover a sense of the Scriptures as a canonical whole, as the story which provides the true context whole, as the story which provides the true context for our understanding of the meaning of our lives – for our understanding of the meaning of our lives – both personal and public. both personal and public. (Newbigin)(Newbigin)

Recovering the gospel . . .

• As As truthtruth

• As a As a storystory

• In its In its comprehensive scopecomprehensive scope

• As the As the powerpower of God unto salvation of God unto salvation

I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power

of God for the salvation of everyone who believes . . . of God for the salvation of everyone who believes . . .

(Rom. 1.16)(Rom. 1.16)

What is needed for a missionary encounter with Western culture?

• A recovery of the gospelA recovery of the gospel

• A missional understanding of the A missional understanding of the churchchurch

John Power on mission and church

Mission is not a fringe activity of a strongly Mission is not a fringe activity of a strongly established Church, a pious cause that [may] established Church, a pious cause that [may] be attended to when the home fires [are] first be attended to when the home fires [are] first brightly burning. . . . ‘so am I sending you’—brightly burning. . . . ‘so am I sending you’—the very word ‘send’ means mission and so the very word ‘send’ means mission and so the whole Church is on mission, and cannot the whole Church is on mission, and cannot be otherwise. . . . Missionary activity is not so be otherwise. . . . Missionary activity is not so much the work of the Church as simply the much the work of the Church as simply the Church at work.Church at work.

Mission and church

““. . . the church exists by mission as fire exists by . . . the church exists by mission as fire exists by

burning.”burning.” (Emil Brunner) (Emil Brunner)

“ “ . . . the church can exist only to the extent that it is . . . the church can exist only to the extent that it is

the mission.”the mission.” (Werner Elert) (Werner Elert)

““Because the church and mission belong together Because the church and mission belong together

from the beginning, a church without mission or a from the beginning, a church without mission or a

mission without the church are both contradictions. mission without the church are both contradictions.

Such things do exist, but only as pseudostructures.”Such things do exist, but only as pseudostructures.”

(Carl Braaten)(Carl Braaten)

Jürgen Moltmann on the churchWhat we have to learn is not that the church What we have to learn is not that the church ‘has’ a mission, but the very reverse: that the ‘has’ a mission, but the very reverse: that the mission of Christ creates its own church. mission of Christ creates its own church. Mission does not come from the church; it is Mission does not come from the church; it is from mission and in the light of mission that the from mission and in the light of mission that the church has to be understood.church has to be understood.

Yet up to now the European churches have Yet up to now the European churches have found it hard to discover Europe as a found it hard to discover Europe as a missionary field or to see themselves as missionary field or to see themselves as missionary churches.missionary churches.

Mission in the biblical story

• Role we are called to play in the biblical story gives Role we are called to play in the biblical story gives the people of God their missional identitythe people of God their missional identity

• ““God’s mission involves God’s people living in God’s God’s mission involves God’s people living in God’s way in the sight of the nations.”way in the sight of the nations.” (Chris Wright) (Chris Wright)

• Mission is not primarily about Mission is not primarily about goinggoing. Nor is mission . Nor is mission primarily about primarily about doingdoing anything. Mission is about anything. Mission is about beingbeing. It is about being a distinctive kind of people, a . It is about being a distinctive kind of people, a countercultural . . . community among the nations. countercultural . . . community among the nations. (Howard Peskett and Vinoth Ramachandra)(Howard Peskett and Vinoth Ramachandra)

• Backward, forward, outwardBackward, forward, outward

Return to the biblical story

• Blessed to be a blessing (Gen. 12.2-3; Gal. Blessed to be a blessing (Gen. 12.2-3; Gal. 3.6-14)3.6-14)

• Chosen for the sake of the world (Ex. 19.3-6; 1 Chosen for the sake of the world (Ex. 19.3-6; 1 Pet. 2.9-10)Pet. 2.9-10)

• Light for the nations (Is. 49.6; Acts 13.47)Light for the nations (Is. 49.6; Acts 13.47)• Sent to continue the mission of Jesus (Jn. Sent to continue the mission of Jesus (Jn.

20.21)20.21)• Witnessing identity (Acts 1.1-11)Witnessing identity (Acts 1.1-11)

Acts 2.42-47

• Devoted to means that nourish life of Devoted to means that nourish life of kingdom (Word of God, prayer, fellowship, kingdom (Word of God, prayer, fellowship, and Lord’s Supper)and Lord’s Supper)

• Attractive contrast communityAttractive contrast community

• Lord adds to their numberLord adds to their number

Living in the midst of other stories

• Old Testament: A political, ethnic, geographically Old Testament: A political, ethnic, geographically rooted nation in the midst of the nationsrooted nation in the midst of the nations

• New Testament: A multi-ethnic, non-New Testament: A multi-ethnic, non-geographical community in the midst of the geographical community in the midst of the various cultures of the worldvarious cultures of the world

• Pressing dilemma: How to live at the crossroads Pressing dilemma: How to live at the crossroads between two stories?between two stories?

Living at the Crossroads

What is needed for a missionary encounter with Western culture?

• A recovery of the gospelA recovery of the gospel

• A missional understanding of the A missional understanding of the

churchchurch

• An understanding of the religious An understanding of the religious

roots of Western cultureroots of Western culture

Two Grand Stories in the West

In our contemporary culture . . . two quite In our contemporary culture . . . two quite different stories are told. One is the story of different stories are told. One is the story of evolution, of the development of species through evolution, of the development of species through the survival of the strong, and the story of the rise the survival of the strong, and the story of the rise of civilization, our type of civilization, and its of civilization, our type of civilization, and its success in giving humankind mastery of nature. success in giving humankind mastery of nature. The other story is the one embodied in the Bible, The other story is the one embodied in the Bible, the story of creation and fall, of God’s election of the story of creation and fall, of God’s election of a people to be the bearers of his purpose for a people to be the bearers of his purpose for humankind, and of the coming of the one in humankind, and of the coming of the one in whom that purpose is to be fulfilled. These are whom that purpose is to be fulfilled. These are two different and incompatible stories.two different and incompatible stories.

- Lesslie Newbigin- Lesslie Newbigin

Urgent Task

Incomparably the most urgent missionary task Incomparably the most urgent missionary task

for the next few decades is the mission to for the next few decades is the mission to

‘modernity’... It calls for the use of sharp ‘modernity’... It calls for the use of sharp

intellectual tools, to probe behind the intellectual tools, to probe behind the

unquestioned assumptions of modernity and unquestioned assumptions of modernity and

uncover the hidden credo which supports uncover the hidden credo which supports

them...them...

- - Lesslie NewbiginLesslie Newbigin

Religion at core of culture

Religion is not one aspect or department of life Religion is not one aspect or department of life beside the others, as modern secular thought beside the others, as modern secular thought likes to believe; it consists rather in the likes to believe; it consists rather in the orientation of all human life to the absolute [God orientation of all human life to the absolute [God or an idol]. or an idol]. (John Hutchison)(John Hutchison)

Culture is religion made visible; it is religion Culture is religion made visible; it is religion actualized in the innumerable relations of daily actualized in the innumerable relations of daily life.life. (J.H. Bavinck) (J.H. Bavinck)

Core Place of Religion

. . . the core place of religion in the structuring of . . . the core place of religion in the structuring of culture’s meaning and usage.’ Religion is ‘not an culture’s meaning and usage.’ Religion is ‘not an area of life, one among many, but primarily a area of life, one among many, but primarily a directiondirection of life . . . Religion, then becomes the of life . . . Religion, then becomes the heart of culture’s integrity, its central dynamic as heart of culture’s integrity, its central dynamic as an organism, the totalistic radical response of an organism, the totalistic radical response of man-in-covenant to the revelation of God.man-in-covenant to the revelation of God.

- - Harvie ConnHarvie Conn

religiouscoreSTORY

Bob Goudzwaard: Ideology as Religious Idolatry

• Absolutises Absolutises societal endsocietal end or goal which takes exaggerated or goal which takes exaggerated importance because of context [e.g., economic growth and importance because of context [e.g., economic growth and prosperity]prosperity]

• Selects certain Selects certain socialsocial meansmeans [e.g., free market and [e.g., free market and innovative technology]innovative technology]

““An ideology will “recruit and invest certain social forces with An ideology will “recruit and invest certain social forces with significant new power, and these forces then serve as the significant new power, and these forces then serve as the essential tools used to achieve the prized objective” essential tools used to achieve the prized objective” (Goudzwaard).(Goudzwaard).

• Takes form of story [progress] Takes form of story [progress]

• Organise and unify society around goalOrganise and unify society around goal

Organisation of society around religious beliefs

• Illustration of queen bee in beehiveIllustration of queen bee in beehive

• Queen bee’s task to produce eggsQueen bee’s task to produce eggs

• Whole hive functionalised and directed Whole hive functionalised and directed toward that tasktoward that task

Western story or religious core• Humanism: Must we not become gods? Humanism: Must we not become gods?

(Neitzsche)(Neitzsche)

• Rationalistic humanism: Scientia potestas estRationalistic humanism: Scientia potestas est

• Enlightenment story: Progress by science and Enlightenment story: Progress by science and technology to paradisetechnology to paradise

• Economic version: Materially prosperous Economic version: Materially prosperous paradise by market and technology (Adam paradise by market and technology (Adam Smith)Smith)

• Today: Globalisation, postmodernity, and Today: Globalisation, postmodernity, and consumerismconsumerism

What time is it?

• Globalisation: Spread of economic form of Globalisation: Spread of economic form of Enlightenment humanist story around the Enlightenment humanist story around the worldworld

• Postmodernity: Loss of faith in Enlightenment Postmodernity: Loss of faith in Enlightenment storystory

• Consumerism: Society directed toward a Consumerism: Society directed toward a consumption of experiences and goodsconsumption of experiences and goods

Consumerism as “Our Story”

If there is an overarching metanarrative that If there is an overarching metanarrative that purports to explain reality in the late 20purports to explain reality in the late 20 thth century, century, it is surely the metanarrative of the free-market it is surely the metanarrative of the free-market economy. In the beginning of this metanarrative economy. In the beginning of this metanarrative is the self-made, self-sufficient human being. At is the self-made, self-sufficient human being. At the end of this narrative is the big house, the big the end of this narrative is the big house, the big car, the expensive clothes. In the middle is the car, the expensive clothes. In the middle is the struggle for success, the greed, the getting-and-struggle for success, the greed, the getting-and-spending in a world in which there is no such spending in a world in which there is no such thing as a free lunch. Most of us have made this thing as a free lunch. Most of us have made this so thoroughly ‘our story’ that we are hardly so thoroughly ‘our story’ that we are hardly aware of its influence. aware of its influence.

- Susan White- Susan White

The Religion of Our Day?Consumerism appears to have become part Consumerism appears to have become part and parcel of the very fabric of modern life. . . . and parcel of the very fabric of modern life. . . . And the parallel with religion is not an And the parallel with religion is not an accidental one. Consumerism is ubiquitous accidental one. Consumerism is ubiquitous and ephemeral. It is arguably and ephemeral. It is arguably thethe religion of religion of the late twentieth century. (Steven Miles)the late twentieth century. (Steven Miles)

. . . we cannot fully appreciate the depths of . . . we cannot fully appreciate the depths of materialism unless we understand how materialism unless we understand how economic behavior supplies us with meaning, economic behavior supplies us with meaning, purpose, and a sense of the sacred order. purpose, and a sense of the sacred order. (Robert Wuthnow)(Robert Wuthnow)

What would a missionary encounter look like in the 21st century?

• A community of justice in a world of economic and A community of justice in a world of economic and ecological injusticeecological injustice

• A community of generosity and simplicity (of ‘enough’) in a A community of generosity and simplicity (of ‘enough’) in a consumer worldconsumer world

• A community of selfless giving in a world of selfishnessA community of selfless giving in a world of selfishness• A community of truth (humility and boldness) in a world of A community of truth (humility and boldness) in a world of

relativismrelativism• A community of hope in a world of disillusionment and A community of hope in a world of disillusionment and

consumer satiationconsumer satiation• A community of joy and thanksgiving in a world of A community of joy and thanksgiving in a world of

entitlemententitlement• A community who experiences God’s presence in a secular A community who experiences God’s presence in a secular

worldworld