Christians and Culture (1)

A culture is much more than a set of ideas and values, although it includes them. It includes a system of entertainment, artistic and educational institutions that support the prevailing worldview. Efforts to change ideas and beliefs has a very limited effect, if these institutions remain in place. The culture can be a friend or foe of the church depending on the institutions that shape it.

Through the Middle Ages and up into the 19th century, the culture was a friend of the gospel, because the church was the dominant institution shaping culture. The most influential message in society was the Sunday sermon. People sang the songs and listened to the music that they heard in church. The best artists were employed by the church to decorate its buildings. The institutional church had an immense impact on the culture.

That has all changed. The institutional church has lost its influence over the culture, so it has now becomes an enemy of the gospel. At the same time, new communication technologies have immensely increased the power of culture to influence society. The main influencers in western culture are television, popular music and social media. The music and songs we listen to come over the internet. The main messages that influence our thinking come through television and social media. These powerful technologies and institutions have combined to create a worldly culture that is hostile to Jesus and the gospel.

This had been going on for longer than we realise. Through most of the 20th century, people were coming to faith, so the situation looked fine, but the culture was going the other way. In the 1960s, the new culture burst out in full power.

Modern technology makes culture the most powerful influence on our lives. Despite this change, the church continued to operate as if could change the world by sharing the gospel, but this ignores the influence of the surrounding culture. Changing hearts and minds of people is not enough, because the behaviour of people is shaped by the surrounding culture, as much as by what they believe.

Modern culture is supported by a network of entertainment and educational institutions that support the prevailing worldview. These networks of institutions are often controlled by powerful elites and influential businesses. Changing ideas and beliefs has a very limited effect, if these institutions remain in place.