Culture is the way we, as a people, live and think. It’s the way we relate and communicate to each other. It’s the activities we participate in, the art we enjoy, and the things we believe. Our language, movies, and music; our morality and laws; our food and our drink, are all part of our culture. How is a Christian supposed to relate to culture? Should a Christian’s culture be the same or different? Theologian and author Richard Niebuhr described several ways Christians relate to culture. First, Christ against Culture.
According to this model, Christ and culture are in opposition. Christians must reject culture and isolate themselves from culture. Some Christians believe this is how we should relate to culture. However, if you could totally isolate yourself from culture, you would isolate yourself from people. Everyone is a part of some culture, if not this culture, then their own. Separation gives a person a false sense of purity and holiness. Culture isn’t what makes you impure, it’s sin inside you.