– D. A. Carson
A Call to Spiritual Reformation
I ran across this quote as I’m rereading Carson on Paul’s prayers after being stunned when Keller reminded me in Prayer that Paul prayed for people to know God better.
I am challenged that I need a deepening prayer to know and glorify God more.
In the first post I stated that for one to serve Christ well in a culture other than her own, one should become a student of that culture. In this post we think about the question: What is Culture?
The best place to start is with definitions. According to “The Willowbank Report,” the word ‘culture’ “…means simply the patterned way in which people do things together.” To get a broader definition, we turn to scholar and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition, D. A. Carson, who, in his Christ and Culture Revisited, relied on the widely used definition of Princeton cultural anthropologist Clifford Geertz. Geertz defined culture as
an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic form by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about life and attitudes towards life. (Carson, p.69)
Symbols were key in the work of Geertz and, as I consider the word ‘symbol,’ I realize my gesture with the tissue (in the previous post) was just that, a simple, living cultural symbol. One that communicated sensitivity because the unknown sniffler and I understood that it was unacceptable in Hungary to sniffle. Having previously observed strangers giving people tissues , I learned that this was generally viewed as an acceptable gesture. This may well have been used, on another occasion, as an open door for conversation.
I think Geertz’s definition also relies on the word ‘historically’ as a kind of fulcrum on which the leverage of culture depends. American author and social activist George Weigel described the importance of history as it is contained in “literature, music, and dance;” … “painting, sculpture, and architecture;” … as well as “theology and ethics and religious ritual;…” Thus history is the basis for the means by which culture is passed down and even changed via “relationships between men and women, young and old, parents and children, teachers and students, the powerful and the powerless.” Hense, according to Weigel, history is culture. At the very least I will agree that ‘history’ is essential to the transmission of culture. To clarify, history, in this context, is not just an academic subject or a book, it is the inter-generational transmission of culture, whether it be from my mentor to me, or from me to my grandson.
Weigel brings specificity to our discussion when cataloging “painting, sculpture, and architecture” and then “theology and ethics and religious ritual.” In the modern (postmodern? is that still a thing?) West, some argue against the value of religion, but Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, a leading thinker on the subject of culture and Christianity, disagrees: “In most human cultures, religion is not a separate activity set apart from the rest of life.” Indeed religion is central to culture.
It would be inappropriate to go further in our exploration of ‘culture’ without considering the work of Richard Niebuhr. He provided a cornerstone for the study of culture in the Christian context over half a century ago (even though many have contended that this cornerstone was not well laid). In the early pages of Christ and Culture we may glean a definition that is embedded in five pages of elaboration: “Culture is…” “…always social”… “…human achievement…” “…a world of values…” “…for the good of man…” and “…is concerned with the temporal and material realization of values.” Timothy Tennent, president of Asbury Theological Seminary and missiologist, provides a helpful summation of Niebuhr’s position on culture as “…that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capacities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.”
Further, Tennent asserted that Niebuhr “inadvertently secularizes culture, creating an unbiblical dichotomy between human cultural activity and Christ.” His assertion is that “Niebuhr’s understanding of culture was constructed on the foundation of secular anthropology.” Tennent later stated that his own “…central concern is whether secular anthropology can really provide an adequate foundation for Christian anthropology to build upon…” Perhaps this is a fair critique of the philosophy behind Niebuhr’s work, but I assert that one should not throw the anthropological baby out with the secular bathwater. Let us not discard research simply because it is ‘secular.’ Tennent stated that “every culture is dynamic, adaptive, and changing.” Thus, while I consider his work extremely helpful, I will not discount Geertz or Niebuhr’s work on the basis of ‘secular’ anthropology. Looking now from definition to roots of the word, we continue with Tennant’s work.
Tennent’s etymological research is helpful: “the English word culture is derived from the Latin verb colere (to cultivate or instruct) and the noun cultus (cultivation or training)….” These Latin roots undergird the importance of the intergenerational passing on of culture. As culture passes from one generation to the next, the natural outcome is change. Some call this progress because it, ostensibly is development for the good of the people. Whether considered progress or not, culture is dynamic, not static.
Finally, I would submit a working definition: Culture is the dynamic collection of beliefs and norms that are passed down (history) and cultivated (development) regarding the language and actions (behavior) of a people. These characteristics distinguish one group from others. That said, how does this line of thinking help us in our mission within God’s Kingdom? That question will be foundational to the next posts in this series.
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*This is part two of a series of posts that are the fruit of some work I am doing toward a doctorate in cross cultural ministry.
There is growing controversy over Obama’s nominee to be ambassador to Hungary. Watch John McCain, from the Senate floor, list why his choice makes no sense and call out Victor Bacsi (as Hungarian Strongman Orban is called by some) at the same time. I’m pleased McCain understands the trouble in Hungary so well.
Filed under Eastern Europe
Jesus commanded us to make disciples. He told no one to fill buildings with converts. One who wishes to answer the call to make disciples needs to gain understanding of how culture impacts thoughts and actions. In this essay we will examine how understanding culture is essential for disciple-making.*
I was on Budapest bus number 134 which was unusually crowded for a summer Saturday afternoon in 2010. There were many tennis enthusiasts aboard on their way to a tournament at a tennis club on the Danube. I sat alone reading and was surprised to hear English being spoken, and much too loudly for a typical Hungarian conversation, which is usually just above a whisper. Glancing to my right at the commotion, was a local man, in his late 20s, who was acting as a guide for a couple who, based on their accents, were from a Spanish speaking country. They were discussing the match they were going to see. I also noticed that the Hungarian fellow was sniffling from a cold or perhaps an allergy, and from his mannerisms it was clear that he was growing rather self-conscious. Sniffling can be offensive among Hungarians, especially older folks, so I reached into my backpack and handed him a small package of tissues. Had we been in the United States, this might not have been so well received, indeed the young man may have been embarrassed by such a gesture. But, in Hungary, for an older person like myself, to offer a tissue to a younger person would likely be seen as a kindness. Thinking me a local, he thanked me in Hungarian. He then used the gesture as an example of Hungarians kindness in conversation with his friends..
How was I aware of such a cultural nuance? Years ago I was taught about this and many other differences between Hungarians and Americans. I learned not to sniffle from those who had come before me. I passed it on to those I trained as a warning against confirming what so many Europeans (including Hungarians) believe, that Americans are rude. Why? Because American culture is far more relaxed and is the result of a national and cultural melting pot. Hungarian culture, too, is changing (relaxing is the way some describe it), particularly among the young. One can see this in politics and by behavior on public transportation that change is rapid. Change in culture is normal.
Numerous scholars affiliated with the Lausanne movement met in Bermuda to collaborate on ‘Gospel and Culture.’ Their final work was ‘The Willowbank Report,’ in it they agreed that: “Cultures are never static; there is a continuous process of change.” Thus, for one to serve Christ well in a culture other than her own, one should become a student of that culture.
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*This is part one of a series of posts that are the fruit of some work I am doing toward a doctorate in cross cultural ministry.
As many Americans gather with family and/or friends for a big meal tomorrow, many will be asked to state what they are thankful for. Many, unprepared for such, might stutter and stammer and say they are thankful for their family or for the cranberry relish or their dog or whatever. Now these are valid and in many cases honorable things to be thankful for, they are probably even heartfelt. But, that we stutter and stammer may mean we have to think about something we have not thought of to date. Which leads me to the question. Why are we not more thankful more often?
Perhaps if we made a more regular practice of being thankful, we might have better outlooks on life in general. Paul said to “give thanks in all circumstances;” (1 Thess. 5:18a) he did not say give thanks for everything. The idea is to look to God and be thankful. In his very recent book on prayer, Tim Keller exclaims: “It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his friends contain no appeals for changes in their circumstances.” (Keller. Prayer, p. 19) Paul’s emphasis is the inner life and that if we focus on it, the outer life will take care of itself. This is how he can say “give thanks in all circumstances.” If we are viewing the circumstances of life filled by and strengthened by Christ living in us, we have much to be thankful for.
So, take a moment and give thanks. Not sure for what? Your heart is beating, right? You just took a breath didn’t you? Did you have to plan either of those? Someone taught you to read didn’t they? Or is this being read aloud to you? If so, be thankful for that person. Look around, in the midst of the pretty awful stuff that is going on, we really do have much to be thankful for, especially those of us who already have Christ in us.
In everything, give thanks.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Filed under Uncategorized
Last night I heard about, found and read the college rape story that many are talking about. I have thought about it many times today and was ranting about it with friends this evening. I was reminded of an article a few weeks ago about why kids sext.
It took the author of yesterday’s article 9000 words (according to the local news) to tell the story. It would take more than that to think through and express all that needs to be said about this horror.
For me, figuring out who to blame is not helpful right now. Rather, I wish to think through some bigger questions.
Who are the less-than-obvious victims?
Who has victimized them?
How did the young men who committed this crime learn that there are no consequences for their actions?
Or worse
How have these young men come to the conclusion that what they did is acceptable?
What, in their upbringing, taught them (through explicit or implicit means) that this behavior is acceptable? or at least that they could get away with it? or that someone could get them out of trouble?
How have violent video games, porn and certain types of music and film that is exploitative of humans, especially women, taught them that this behavior is acceptable?
What are the factors in their upbringing that have taught these young people that it is not just acceptable but expected that they would behave in the ways described?
Why were the victims ‘friends’ debating her need to go to the hospital after her assault verses her reputation and future popularity?
Why has a government placed the privacy of individuals over the good of the community through enacting ‘privacy laws’ that have the result of protecting rapists?
Why does the reputation of an institution outweigh the well being of even one rape victim? let alone scores? hundreds?
What is it about the human being that causes him or her to look at another human being as an object to be oppressed?
How long does it take a person to become so desensitized by these kind of stories that they shrug with indifference?
Why are we not outraged?
If we are outraged, why do we keep it to ourselves?
Why are the outraged not protesting against this culture of violence on our college campuses?
Why is it that this will likely fade away with the news cycle?
Why are we so apathetic?
Who, that has a voice, will speak out against this culture of drunkenness, violence, rape and murder that seems to be an ongoing story in this community?
This is a problem of culture and is like a gigantic out of control barge of trash that no one has any control over and no one seems to know how to stop it as it destroys one life after another.
A friend reminded me of this:
All that we call human history–money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery–is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. – C. S. Lewis
The last 24 hours since I read this article makes me realize the importance of the brief talk I was pointed to and posted yesterday afternoon… how we were meant to be. I urge you to take 17 minutes and watch and think.
Filed under crisis at UVa, culture, shifts
