Culture Wars In The Church
In recent years, much has been spoken and written about the “culture war” that exists between the church and the world. As Heritage enters into our November emphasis on missions, the Scriptures will assure us that any such world war will be triumphantly won by Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords! There is however, another more war, close to home and waging in churches across America. I literally mean ‘in’ churches. This is a battle between the culture of custom and the created culture.
The anthropological definition of culture is “the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.” The culture of custom is the indigenous, one might say, customary “ways” of being and doing. A created culture is a new or (often) imposed “way’ of being and doing. In the United States, the struggle between customary and created culture is keenly, sometimes painfully, evident in musical styles or worship experiences; although music and worship are only the tip of the iceberg of the battle for culture supremacy in local churches. Before any discussion of music or worship styles begins, everyone interested in the discussion should recognize that both the culture of custom and created culture have their intrinsic strengths and weaknesses. Neither is what really was (in the New Testament church) and neither is what actually will be (in a glorified, heavenly church).
Caricatures of opposing cultural systems are often slung at those who hold to a differing view. Such easily created exaggerations should be immediately discarded and barred from meaningful conversation about God’s work in the church. In addition, it is far too easy to pass judgment on either without due considerations of the inherent weaknesses of each system. Both run the risk of creating an environment of segregation based on nothing more than the elitism of personal preference and choice. Such attitudes are foreign to the concept of a gospel that saves sinners by grace. As such, both cultures are inherently vulnerable to the same problems although both are redeemable and can be used greatly of God.
Customary culture is traditionally rooted in an historic, treasured, perhaps idolized past. Created culture pins its hopes on a yet-to-be existant future. Customary culture is based on what has worked. Created culture is based on what is working. Customary culture can often be a cover for fear, laziness, comfort or indifference. Created culture tends to base its success on the performance of a few and the large crowds it attracts. In that regard, customary culture uses small numbers to prove its spiritual authenticity while created culture uses large numbers to prove its secular appeal. Customary culture pleads with hearts. Created culture prides itself on intellectualism. Customary culture wants to feel and be. Created culture is passionate about knowing and doing.
In reality, there is little scriptural basis for the supremacy of one culture over the other in the local church. All that we are and all that we do should fall somewhere in the middle of custom and creation. The church needs both to be effective in the Great Commission. Balance is difficult but best. The church should not fall into the rut of the past simply because it is familiar nor should it ignorantly plunge into the unknown, unproven future. In the same Bible we are instructed to “ask for the ancient paths…(Jer 6:16) while God is simultaneously “doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:9). There is appropriate value in both new wine and old wineskins. Our God has historically used both the old and new as a means of reaching the entire world with the gospel. Thank God for His faithfulness to Israel but also praise Him for His acceptance of the Gentiles. The potential strengths and actual weaknesses of each culture should be taken into account in order to best present God’s truth to a maturing church and a watching world. As such, serendipity is certainly in the process and not the destination. We will never arrive at what should be but will always strive for what can be.
As such, there should be no culture war in any church. The existence of such cultural conflict only speaks ill of we who we are. It demonstrates the idolization of self above God’s fame. The Lord is certainly going to win the world versus church culture war. If only He could vanquish our hearts. That would be a victory indeed!