Christ in Paradox with Culture

Richard Niebuhr described several ways Christians relate to culture. First, Christ against Culture. Second, Christ of Culture. And third, Christ in paradox with Culture. Christianity and culture are not opposed to each other, they just exist in separate realms. According to this point of view, Christians shouldn’t reject culture but keep it in its place, keep church and culture separate. Though most of us wouldn’t articulate it this way, I think this is how most of us function. Dancing is okay, just not in the church. Drinking is okay, just not at church. I can watch that movie, but we shouldn’t show it to the youth group. I enjoy modern rock music, but at church we should just sing hymns.