WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.700 Let me pray for us and we'll come and look at this together. Let's pray. 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:16.940 Loving Heavenly Father, we want to pray now just for your help as we consider living life 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:20.640 ! in this world now and engaging in the culture around us. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:27.199 Pray that you give us wisdom, thoughtfulness. Pray that you give us the energy that we need. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:35.240 And pray ultimately that our time together on this topic over the next few weeks just might help us to live lives to your praise and glory. 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:37.820 As we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:49.700 In the mystery of God's providence, he has chosen for us to live out our lives in this fallen, broken world. 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:56.060 Where our plans come crashing down, as we have considered together as a church. 00:00:56.060 --> 00:01:03.060 And where we maybe struggle with various different kinds of sins, various different kinds. 00:01:03.620 --> 00:01:10.079 And where we live in a culture, in a context which sometimes likes the fact that we're Christians. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:14.700 And sometimes, look at this, we're doing many things all at the same time. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:17.400 And sometimes dislikes the fact that we're Christians. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:23.380 If you had been God, you might have chosen a different way to do this. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:31.020 But the Lord, in his wisdom, has chosen for us to live our lives in this world for his glory. 00:01:31.740 --> 00:01:34.840 And he is about the process of your sanctification. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:39.020 God's plan for you is that you grow in Christ-likeness. 00:01:39.019 --> 00:01:43.060 It is not that you might have a successful career. 00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:45.840 It is not that you might be in good health all your life. 00:01:45.899 --> 00:01:47.140 It is not that you might be wealthy. 00:01:47.699 --> 00:01:49.739 Those things may or may not come to you. 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:53.759 But what will be under the hand of God is your growth in Christ-likeness. 00:01:53.899 --> 00:01:55.640 That is what he wants for you. 00:01:56.019 --> 00:01:59.439 And he wants other people to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:01.979 God has not abandoned this world. 00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:05.439 He loves this world, as we've been considering in John 3.16. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.700 So God is at work, isn't he? 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:10.319 He is at work by saving grace. 00:02:11.359 --> 00:02:15.379 He is at work bringing us from death to life through the work of the Lord Jesus. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:18.639 And he is also at work in what we call common grace. 00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:23.460 That is, he has not completely abandoned this world. 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:28.419 His fingerprints are all over what he has made as he is at work in this world, 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:30.060 as he calls us to live in it. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:35.000 Now, that means that one of the most important questions for us as Christians, 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:39.340 the question that I'm really hoping that we get to deal with over these next few weeks is, 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:42.199 is how do we engage with life in this world? 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:46.759 How do we engage with all the things that are thrown at us in different ways? 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:50.099 How do we live godly lives in an ungodly world, 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:53.300 which still retains the fingerprints of God all over it? 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:54.539 What can we celebrate? 00:02:55.539 --> 00:02:56.539 What should we not celebrate? 00:02:57.300 --> 00:02:58.420 What can we watch? 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:00.180 What should we not watch? 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:02.219 What can we take part in? 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:04.360 What should we not take part in? 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:10.940 Now, Dan Strange, in this book Plugged In, is tackling those kind of things. 00:03:11.040 --> 00:03:15.640 And that's, this book is basically forming the backdrop to what we're looking at. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:18.900 And if you'd like to own a copy of this, I have a few copies to sell, 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:20.620 and you can come and ask me afterwards. 00:03:21.660 --> 00:03:25.780 But one of the things he does in the book is he points out that Christians have tended to have 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:31.539 one of three unhelpful responses to the culture in which they live. 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:35.360 The first unhelpful response is to look in. 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:42.560 By this he means that Christians have tended to respond by retreating into some kind of Christian fortress, 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:50.620 behind which we then sort of throw grenades out at the ungodly world in some kind of manner. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:54.259 So we educate our children in Christian schools. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:57.340 The Christian church dominates all our spare time. 00:03:57.420 --> 00:04:02.700 So if we want to enjoy music or play football or eat dinner or get our flat rewired or whatever it is, 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:04.520 we must do that with other Christians. 00:04:06.099 --> 00:04:07.780 Now, obviously, that's not all bad, is it? 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:12.800 This kind of defensiveness, in some senses, reflects some of the scripture's teaching. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:18.019 2 Corinthians 6 reminds us that this world is not our home. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:20.920 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:24.920 For we are the temple of the living God, as God has said, 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:29.399 I will live with them and walk among them and be their God, and they will be my people. 00:04:29.579 --> 00:04:33.500 Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:36.459 Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. 00:04:37.779 --> 00:04:41.500 You have to acknowledge that actually that's not all that the Bible says, 00:04:42.159 --> 00:04:50.299 and it doesn't tell Christians to retreat behind some kind of high fence and just look in at ourselves. 00:04:51.299 --> 00:04:55.500 We should flee sin, but we do still live in this world. 00:04:56.599 --> 00:04:58.919 And besides, actually, it is a terrible lie, isn't it? 00:04:58.919 --> 00:05:03.239 It is a lie that you can just look inwards, build a fence around yourself, 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:05.139 and keep yourself safe from the world, 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:10.879 because actually you bring worldliness with you in your sinful fallen heart anyway. 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:15.620 The second response that Dan mentions is lash out. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:18.459 This, he suggests, is the angry Christian. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:25.219 It is in a sort of fight and flight response. 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:27.259 This is the fight response. 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:28.719 The previous one was the flight. 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:32.839 It's going to fly and run away and set up some kind of fortress. 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:36.039 Here it is the, well, let's get angry with the world, 00:05:36.299 --> 00:05:38.000 finger pointing at the world around us, 00:05:38.099 --> 00:05:40.679 tutting at the bad language on the television. 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:44.219 Dan describes it in his book like this. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:44.639 He says, 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:51.079 At worst, a healthy belief in judgment turns into an ugly judgmentalism. 00:05:51.899 --> 00:05:56.019 Our proclamation of the good news of Jesus is heard as a rant on morality. 00:05:56.919 --> 00:06:03.919 And then we wonder why people out there don't want to come and be with us in here. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:07.740 Well, they think that we're angry with them and that we hate what they're doing. 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:11.159 Perhaps you've seen or heard some of that. 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:16.820 The third unhelpful response that he outlines is looking alike or looking like, 00:06:17.520 --> 00:06:21.700 which is just that assimilating the world around us. 00:06:22.200 --> 00:06:25.860 See, we see that the culture is different to the Christian culture, 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:28.800 so we just sort of do everything that we can to blend in. 00:06:28.960 --> 00:06:30.560 We just do the things that everyone else is doing, 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.680 assuming that the opposite of angry judgmentalism 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:36.960 is just living for the same priorities as those around us. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:41.579 At its worst, it's just kind of conforming to the pattern of this world, isn't it? 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:44.599 And the church just becomes an extension of the world. 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:46.199 It has the same sexual ethics. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.500 It has the same material ambitions, 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:51.500 the same core beliefs about what life is for 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:53.339 and what a good life looks like. 00:06:54.019 --> 00:06:57.219 I don't know whether you've had this conversation with other Christians 00:06:57.219 --> 00:06:58.199 where they say of their children, 00:06:58.279 --> 00:06:59.799 they've done very well for themselves. 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:02.100 And you ask what that actually means, 00:07:02.180 --> 00:07:06.120 and you realize that they mean in the sense of the same aspirations 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:08.680 as anybody would have for their children, 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:10.639 which is not necessarily all bad, is it? 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:13.540 But actually, our aspiration is more than that. 00:07:14.900 --> 00:07:16.699 Now, in his book and in this series, 00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:20.379 I want to suggest that actually none of those three responses are good ones. 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:21.819 Instead, the better response, 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:24.120 which again is Dan's thing in his book, 00:07:24.220 --> 00:07:25.800 is we are to engage. 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.759 Here, his thought is that really, as Christians, 00:07:28.900 --> 00:07:33.379 we are called to think seriously and live responsibly in the world. 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:35.340 Yes, we need to retreat from sin. 00:07:36.020 --> 00:07:38.699 Yes, at times we need to speak out against the evils in the world. 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:43.100 And yes, at times we need to enjoy the things of this world, 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:47.100 but we do so for reasons that we have thought through and understood. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:52.060 Ted Turnow, I don't know if anyone's heard of Ted Turnow. 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:57.720 Ted Turnow is a guy who is a professor somewhere in Europe, 00:07:58.439 --> 00:07:59.259 an American guy. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:01.180 He's written a book called Popologetics, 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:05.379 which is how you get from popular culture to talking about the gospel. 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:09.959 He's written a book which is very similar to Dan Strange, 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:11.180 this book Popologetics. 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:12.379 And he says this, 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:15.939 the main question that drives this book then is this, 00:08:16.019 --> 00:08:20.079 how should we as Christians engage in non-Christian popular culture? 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.060 I wrote it for thoughtful, 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:26.219 everyday Christians who believe that these issues are worthy of serious reflection. 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:30.560 This resource is intended for Christians who want to reach people where they live, 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:33.699 who want to be able to talk about popular culture with their friends, 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:39.019 spouses, and children in a way that has spiritual health, not death. 00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:40.079 That was a typo. 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:42.279 But that won't scare folks off. 00:08:42.620 --> 00:08:44.240 Either in short, 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:46.940 this book is for those who want to be able to give an intelligent, 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:47.840 warm-hearted, 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:52.120 biblical answer back to the worldviews presented in popular culture. 00:08:53.060 --> 00:08:53.759 That's what we want to do. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:54.820 We want to engage, 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:55.279 don't we? 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:59.340 So that we can speak to the world and explain the gospel. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:00.379 In his book, 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:04.560 he talks about how you want in the office to be able to go from a conversation about the football 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:07.519 into a conversation about Jesus really naturally, 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:12.659 because you understand what it is that is the relationship between the lordship of Christ 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:15.279 and the football results from yesterday, 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:16.639 because you've thought about it. 00:09:16.699 --> 00:09:18.439 You're engaging in the culture of this world. 00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:20.759 You know why you're interested in certain things, 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:22.419 and you know why you're not interested in others. 00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:24.399 Now, 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:25.259 what I want you to do, 00:09:25.319 --> 00:09:27.159 just so that you can think on those things for a moment, 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:30.519 is think about which one of those three you are most inclined to do. 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:31.419 Look in, 00:09:31.599 --> 00:09:32.059 lash out, 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:32.839 or look like. 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:34.819 And why do you think that's the case? 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:39.019 And why do you think it's important for Christians to engage in culture? 00:09:39.179 --> 00:09:41.479 So just have a think about that with the person next to you for a few moments. 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:43.419 If no one was sat next to you, 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:44.279 you can think on your own, 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:44.759 if you like, 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:46.839 and then we'll feed back in a moment. 00:09:51.500 --> 00:09:51.819 Okay. 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:55.439 Sorry to interrupt your discussions. 00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:58.279 What do we think? 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.240 What do we think we're most likely to do? 00:10:04.439 --> 00:10:04.959 Look in, 00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:06.719 lash out, 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:07.679 look like. 00:10:08.979 --> 00:10:09.699 Anyone want to? 00:10:13.699 --> 00:10:14.219 Come on. 00:10:14.219 --> 00:10:14.959 Can I ask a question? 00:10:15.079 --> 00:10:15.500 Of course you can. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:17.500 Oh, 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:22.940 that's the next bit. 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:24.159 I see. 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:24.419 Yeah. 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:24.519 So, 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:24.679 no, 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:24.940 that's, 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:25.399 it's fine. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:26.100 You're not being thick. 00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:26.559 That is, 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:27.860 but I'm going to come. 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:31.919 So you're just making some assumptions at the minute. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:32.479 But yeah. 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:34.699 Yeah. 00:10:34.839 --> 00:10:35.279 Yeah. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:38.059 Do you think it's necessary to propose? 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:39.179 Yeah. 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:42.679 Sometimes it's right to react. 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:44.000 Great. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:45.539 Yes. 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:46.319 I think you're right. 00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:48.159 So I think at times it is right to, 00:10:48.599 --> 00:10:52.979 to be angry about what's going on in culture. 00:10:52.979 --> 00:10:58.799 I think if you look at the change in the law about euthanasia and the decriminalization of abortion, 00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:00.839 I think it's right that we're angry about those things. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:01.340 Yeah. 00:11:05.800 --> 00:11:06.240 Yes. 00:11:07.560 --> 00:11:08.000 Yes. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.399 Yes. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:12.899 Yeah. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:13.639 Yeah. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:18.240 It's difficult to understand culture when you live in a city where they're all different cultures knocking at your door. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:18.620 Yeah. 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:20.560 Yeah. 00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:22.440 Anybody else? 00:11:25.560 --> 00:11:25.879 Do you think, 00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:26.240 go on. 00:11:26.400 --> 00:11:26.580 Sorry, 00:11:26.680 --> 00:11:26.879 Samin, 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:27.040 go. 00:11:27.040 --> 00:11:28.100 I was thinking, 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:35.180 my tendency might be so much to try to give as much time of agreement, 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:36.620 like, 00:11:37.540 --> 00:11:39.019 try to explain it as possible. 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:39.360 Yeah. 00:11:40.060 --> 00:11:42.159 So I don't know if you get interested. 00:11:43.220 --> 00:11:46.540 I'm almost like saying nothing. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:48.320 I disagree. 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:48.879 Yeah. 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:49.840 Yeah. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:49.840 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:53.060 Yeah. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:55.320 This is what I actually believe. 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:55.600 Yeah. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:56.580 Yeah. 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:58.160 That's really helpful. 00:11:58.280 --> 00:11:59.200 Thanks for being honest like that. 00:11:59.259 --> 00:11:59.400 Yeah. 00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:01.600 They're just trying to kind of look like, 00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:03.420 and the assumption there is, 00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:06.720 the more like my non-Christian friend I can appear, 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.560 the more likely they are to become a Christian, 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:08.980 which is, 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:09.320 of course, 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:10.560 not necessarily true, 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:10.820 is it? 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:11.100 But yeah. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:12.600 Clifford, 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:12.740 yeah. 00:12:12.900 --> 00:12:14.080 So if you're starting to know, 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:15.920 you can become unquicit. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:16.660 Yes. 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.040 Yeah. 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:17.700 That's what we're saying. 00:12:17.780 --> 00:12:17.920 Yeah. 00:12:18.020 --> 00:12:19.440 So you just end up just falling, 00:12:20.280 --> 00:12:21.020 falling into the world. 00:12:21.800 --> 00:12:22.000 Teddy, 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:22.720 were you going to say something? 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:26.399 I would probably lean towards lashing out. 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:27.620 I mean, 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:27.960 I'd rather, 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:28.860 if I'm saying, 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:36.660 but it probably looks more like similar, 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:41.000 I think it would be a more sort of quiet lashing out. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:41.420 Right. 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:41.699 Yeah. 00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:41.740 Okay. 00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:43.659 There's another frustration, 00:12:44.479 --> 00:12:46.539 where you see someone believing something, 00:12:46.839 --> 00:12:47.759 agreeing to something, 00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:48.599 following something, 00:12:49.339 --> 00:12:51.939 that once you know the gospel is so obvious, 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:54.419 futile and sick, 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.000 Yeah. 00:12:55.479 --> 00:12:56.419 and dangerous, 00:12:56.839 --> 00:12:57.360 it can be, 00:12:58.599 --> 00:13:00.240 I can definitely lead to a lot of, 00:13:00.319 --> 00:13:00.979 just sort of, 00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:02.439 I'm so annoyed with that, 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:04.179 but I don't even know how to address this. 00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:04.459 Yeah. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:05.059 Yeah. 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:05.500 So I, 00:13:05.719 --> 00:13:07.079 instead of addressing it with them, 00:13:07.219 --> 00:13:08.299 I'm just going to point them apart. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.059 Yeah. 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.599 That's really helpful, 00:13:10.719 --> 00:13:11.019 isn't it? 00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:11.659 I, 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:15.079 it's sort of the internal frustration and anger. 00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:15.299 I, 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.539 I think you see that thing with the, 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:17.340 well, 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.079 say for me, 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:20.299 you look at the world's sexual ethics, 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:23.059 and you see the carnage that it just brings in people's lives. 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:23.639 And you're just like, 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:26.779 the whole thing that you're assuming about what your body is for, 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.220 is ruining you, 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:28.519 you know, 00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:29.139 and yeah, 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:30.699 how do we even begin to answer that? 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:30.879 Yeah. 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:34.319 It's actually very interesting, 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.220 but these four, 00:13:35.439 --> 00:13:35.639 you know, 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.120 it's a little, 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:37.720 like, 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.980 you and I are saying the same thing, 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:41.899 that people see us as following, 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:42.980 you think, 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:43.700 you're just wondering, 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:45.680 you know, 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.779 almost a mixture of, 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:46.920 Yeah. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:47.720 Yeah. 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:48.279 Yeah. 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:49.440 Yeah. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:49.600 Yeah. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:54.720 You're getting a lot of nods around the room. 00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:55.480 So we all fall, 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.480 we all fall into all of those, 00:13:57.800 --> 00:13:59.240 any one of those three at any time. 00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:00.940 And it can be exhausting, 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:01.320 can't it, 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:01.840 to engage, 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:03.740 because actually what we're saying is, 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:07.960 that living the Christian life requires just more thought about the world, 00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:09.879 than perhaps our non-Christian friends. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:10.139 We, 00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:10.460 we, 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:12.399 we're not going to be just thoughtless consumers, 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:15.480 nor are we going to be thoughtlessly angry, 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:22.240 or thoughtlessly just defending ourselves by building sub-Christian cultures that the world doesn't penetrate, 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:22.899 although it does. 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:25.360 But actually we're going to engage deeply. 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.720 So if we're going to engage, 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:29.360 the first thing that we need to answer is Ray's question, 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:29.820 which is, 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.840 what is culture? 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.659 So what is culture? 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:34.740 What do we mean by it? 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.139 Now, 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.500 the term is very slippery, 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:36.879 isn't it? 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.620 So the word culture could mean, 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.840 you could mean high culture, 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.919 can you cultured? 00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:41.879 As you say, 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:43.439 someone is very cultured, 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.200 by which we mean, 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.379 they enjoy classical music, 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.939 or something like that. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.179 They, 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.259 they wear fine, 00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:50.340 smart clothes. 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.679 It's something elite and distinguished. 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:56.019 But I don't think that's what we're really talking about now. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:57.740 But we, 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:00.879 we see that we use the word culture more broadly than that, 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:01.039 don't we? 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:04.259 Cultural studies has become quite a big thing in social sciences. 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:10.039 And we have acknowledged to be in a period of significant cultural change. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:10.939 Now, 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:17.340 Dan Strange goes into lots of wordy explanations of all those different cultural studies and that kind of thing. 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:19.200 And you can get his book if you want to learn about that. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:20.600 But the definition that he lands on, 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.740 which I think is really helpful, 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:24.539 and we're going to use in this series is this culture, 00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:25.139 he says, 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:30.799 are the stories we tell that express meaning about the world. 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:32.120 Now, 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.639 let's think about that definition. 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:34.939 In other words, 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:42.120 culture is a way of expressing ideas that we already have about the world, 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:42.439 right? 00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.179 We, 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:45.679 we all have what we call a worldview, 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:46.139 right? 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:51.480 A way of a big story that we think explains the world, 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.500 how we got here, 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.019 what's good, 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.600 what's bad, 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.480 what life is for, 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.819 what's going on and what matters. 00:15:55.820 --> 00:16:03.680 And our culture is simply the way that that those assumptions and those beliefs are expressed in our day to day activities. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:04.120 And, 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.919 you know, 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:09.839 if you think that the big story of life is evolution, 00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:15.500 it's the result of selfish forces of biology and physics that ends in oblivion, 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:18.759 you might expect your culture to be highly individualistic, 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.779 to be about self-fulfillment, 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:23.659 to be a little bit depressing when viewing death. 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:28.919 If your culture's worldview says that actually the highest good is community, 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:32.740 and our contribution to that, 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:38.120 then you would expect your culture to express loyalty and the sharing of resources and all those kinds of things, 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:38.299 right? 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.599 The other thing though, 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:45.559 is that as culture expresses my ideas about the world, 00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:46.500 my worldview, 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.719 it does it in stories, 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.579 but then reinforce or subvert that worldview. 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:53.960 So I've put a little diagram on there, 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:56.920 which is absolutely sensationally revolutionary, 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.240 isn't it? 00:16:57.259 --> 00:17:06.319 But you get this idea that basically what I think about the world and my ideas about the big story of the world are expressed in culture. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:21.839 Is my microphone gone off? 00:17:21.919 --> 00:17:22.039 No, 00:17:22.419 --> 00:17:23.319 you're just wondering about that. 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:30.500 And then culture displays itself in the stories that we all listen to and think about. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:36.299 So I think it's helpful that culture in this definition is about stories, 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.879 not just about actions and activities. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.179 In other words, 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:45.259 the things that we enjoy culturally are saying something or not telling a story. 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:46.559 So, 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:47.759 for example, 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:53.439 our cultural obsession with superhero stories not only expresses a view of the world, 00:17:53.439 --> 00:17:56.899 but it also tells a story that shapes how we live in that world, 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:00.419 which then cements or alters the things that we think are true. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.079 Now, 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.439 with those things in mind, 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.519 here's the next big step. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:07.639 And I'm trying to condense what's quite a large section of the book. 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:09.299 So if this is confusing or doesn't work, 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.539 then it's my fault, 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.960 not Dan's fault. 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.720 And you can ask me later. 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.940 But cultural stories, 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:16.879 in fact, 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:20.319 all stories have essentially three main parts to them. 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:24.139 Our cultural stories express an ideal. 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:28.020 They then express that that ideal has somehow been broken. 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:31.180 And then they express how that ideal can be fixed. 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.820 So, 00:18:32.820 --> 00:18:34.340 the ideal, 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:34.840 perhaps, 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:37.500 is that this world lives in ecological harmony. 00:18:37.840 --> 00:18:40.700 It has been broken by human exploitation of the planet. 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:43.220 And we can fix it by reducing, 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:43.779 reusing, 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.580 and recycling. 00:18:44.860 --> 00:18:45.680 So that's what we do. 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:48.019 Or perhaps life is for family. 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:51.759 What has broken it is busyness and employment pressure. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:54.180 So we can fix it by buying a van, 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.220 living off grid, 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:57.019 and spending all of our time together. 00:18:57.299 --> 00:19:00.379 So that's what the YouTube algorithm tells me I should be doing. 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.180 Now, 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.039 if you're still awake, 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.559 and you're still thinking this through, 00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:07.279 so cultural stories, 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.420 state and ideal, 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.680 they say how the ideal has been broken, 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:13.160 and then they say how the ideal is restored. 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:13.640 Right? 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.379 Those are the main points of stories. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.259 You might think, 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:16.460 well, 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:16.680 actually, 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.940 that sounds quite familiar. 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:20.039 It sounds like creation, 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:20.920 fall, 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.840 and redemption, 00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:22.440 doesn't it? 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:26.559 And this really is going to be the heart of these Sunday evenings, 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:28.660 is that the cultural stories that we tell, 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:31.620 which are expressions of the worldview that we all have, 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:37.539 are really shadows of a big story about God making the world, 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:40.180 us rebelling against that God, 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:42.759 and God redeeming that world in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:44.660 So there is a bigger, 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:47.039 truer story in our world 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:50.319 that our cultures don't tell us, 00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.920 but are shadows of. 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.200 So God made the world, 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:54.819 made us, 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.139 didn't he? 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.859 And made us for him. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:00.859 The ideal is being with God who made us, 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:03.139 living in the Garden of Eden, 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.220 developed and grown by humanity in relationship with him. 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.299 And the breaking of that ideal, 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:08.879 the fall, 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.920 is human rebellion, 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.500 the disobedience of Adam, 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.299 who was our representative, 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:15.559 reached out for the status of God himself. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.919 He said, 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.119 no, 00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:18.659 I don't want to be with God, 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.200 I want to be God. 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:24.819 And that fall not only broke Adam, 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.700 but also broke all of humanity. 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:30.200 And the world is placed under a frustrating curse of God's judgment, 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:32.359 because we are not God. 00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:39.839 So the world is troubled by sinful rebellion and righteous judgment from its holy creator. 00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:43.299 And redemption is the return of that ideal, 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:45.039 that we might be with God. 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:47.500 And how might we be with God in redemption? 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:56.039 By God coming in the person of the son to be with us and to save us through his death on the cross, 00:20:56.200 --> 00:21:01.900 living in submissive obedience as a man and dying as a sacrifice for our sin on the cross, 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:10.680 so that the ideal might be returned and even bettered as this world is transformed by God's power and his glory 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:16.360 from a garden to a city that covers the world and not just a corner of it. 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.240 Now, 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.860 we've covered loads of ground. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.360 Just gather this up with me for a moment. 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:25.460 Culture is the stories that we tell that express meaning about the world. 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:28.259 But this world already has a story. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.880 And it's the story of what God is doing. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:33.580 And it's the story written by him in his word. 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:40.539 And that means that we should expect our culture to either accidentally echo the true story 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:44.460 or try and undermine it and subvert the true story. 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:48.579 And so that means cultural engagement for the Christian 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:55.679 is that we need to see and show where the big story of who Christ is and what he is doing 00:21:55.679 --> 00:22:01.039 either fulfills the aspirations of our culture because they are echoes of it 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:04.079 or subverts them because they're going against it. 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:04.819 Now, 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:06.180 you can see how this might work, 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.680 for example. 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:14.480 The search for intimacy that we have is an echo of this fact that we were made not to be individuals, 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:16.759 but we were made to be with God. 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:24.480 The desire that we have for relationship with one another is a reflection of this fact that we are made by God 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.039 for him, 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:28.759 that we might live together for his glory. 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:33.220 But we pursue that intimacy in all sorts of broken ways in our cultures, 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:33.660 don't we? 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.019 And actually, 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:37.879 the Bible speaks against those ways, 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:40.500 but it doesn't speak against the search for intimacy. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.379 And so as a Christian, 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.759 we can see, 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.240 can't we, 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.599 how Jesus really is the, 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.579 what Dan would call, 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:49.519 the subversive fulfillment of the aspirations of our world. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.640 He both subverts the wrong 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:54.420 and fulfills the true and the good. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:23:03.200 And that the key to cultural engagement really is seeing how Jesus does that in every little aspect of our culture and our world. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.920 Now, 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:07.559 we're going to do more of this in weeks to come, 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:11.180 but I want just to give you an opportunity for questions or comments, 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:14.980 and then I'm going to give you two challenges before we finish. 00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:20.000 Anyone want to ask a question or make a comment? 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.600 Any bit that was confusing? 00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:24.960 Any bit that maybe was clear? 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.700 That might be a shorter question, 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.019 but yeah. 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.019 Sorry? 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.420 Subversive fulfillment. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.299 Okay, 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:40.140 so this is the idea that there's this big story about what God is doing in our world, 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:43.700 and because of his common grace and his fingerprints all over the world, 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:49.079 you see this big story both echoed and undermined in our cultures. 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.120 So, 00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:52.400 Jesus is the subversive fulfillment. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:57.759 He says he's working to sort of go against some of our cultural things, 00:23:57.880 --> 00:24:00.200 but he also fulfills some of their aspirations, 00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:00.700 right? 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:01.780 So, 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.400 yeah, 00:24:03.040 --> 00:24:04.000 so I said about intimacy, 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:06.740 you could do it with all sorts of different things, 00:24:06.840 --> 00:24:07.000 can you? 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:07.300 So, 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.800 yeah, 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.340 I know, 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:11.240 trying to think of examples on the spot. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:20.740 Anyone want to help me out with an example of subversive fulfillment? 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.579 So, 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:27.019 yeah, 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.620 we could do, 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.839 we could do something about, 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.359 say, 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.700 music, 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:31.680 yeah? 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.500 So, 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:36.319 music is an echo of the fact that we are made by God, 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.660 we're made to be creative, 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:40.319 we're made to enjoy life, 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.799 we're made to enjoy him, 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:44.980 we're made to sing and praise what is praiseworthy, 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:45.680 right? 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.080 And so, 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:51.759 the fulfillment of that desire to make music is because we're made in the image of God, 00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:53.680 his fingerprints are all over us. 00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:55.560 But, 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.680 in our fallenness, 00:24:57.420 --> 00:25:01.140 lots of the things that we sing about and praise are not praiseworthy, 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.140 and are not good. 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.019 And so, 00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:08.660 Jesus both fulfills the desire for us to sing and praise what is good, 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:14.000 but he subverts this idea that we sing and praise what is ungodly and unholy. 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:17.340 And that's, 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.580 it's really helpful. 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.840 Once you start to get your head around it, 00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:23.540 it's really helpful because it means that you can ask questions about what is, 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.680 what is in here that is, 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.720 is good? 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:31.940 What is here that reflects the fact that we're made in the image of God and that the desires are not all terrible? 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:36.680 But what is here that is working against the Lord? 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.620 What is immoral? 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.200 What's wrong? 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:38.700 What's bad? 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.440 What is Jesus saying no to? 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.559 I'm in this. 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:42.460 Okay. 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.259 And you can see, 00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:44.519 can't you, 00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:45.000 how the, 00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.299 wait, 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:49.740 the look in and the look alike, 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:54.920 basically one is all subversion and one is all fulfillment, 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.360 isn't it? 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:55.820 Yeah. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:57.160 But we need to hold the two together. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.220 Okay. 00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:00.600 We're going to talk more about that. 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.779 So next week, 00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:08.419 I'm hoping that we're going to dive more deeply into some examples and we're going to think carefully about that. 00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:11.099 But let me just give you a couple of things, 00:26:11.179 --> 00:26:14.799 which I think may make this even more difficult than it's already seems. 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.839 The first is this, 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:19.240 the stories of our culture are hidden, 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.039 right? 00:26:20.139 --> 00:26:23.839 So as our culture expresses the stories, 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.539 they are, 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:28.639 they are assumed they're not necessarily written out for you. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:31.160 So if you want, 00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:38.259 you can call it like the presuppositions or the big ideas of the story are by definition presupposed. 00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:39.660 They're not expressed. 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:43.920 So the worldview of the TV series Friends, 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:44.519 for example, 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:47.200 the box set does not come with a warning that says to you, 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.519 listen, 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:51.560 what's wrong with the world is that it's full of broken friendships. 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:54.080 The ideal of the world is that we have friends. 00:26:54.440 --> 00:27:00.180 What will fix it is a loft apartment in New York and friends living next door to each other, 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.480 right? 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:02.640 It doesn't have that on the box. 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.759 So because the story is hidden, 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.259 it's beneath the surface. 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:07.779 And so you need to think about it. 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.599 It just assumes that story. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:12.140 And it assumes not only that you will agree, 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.500 but it assumes that by consuming it, 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:17.079 you will begin to agree if you don't at the beginning. 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:20.119 And so you begin to sort of think along with that. 00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:24.799 And that means that if you and I are going to be people who engage in culture, 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:29.259 we're actually going to have to think quite deeply and ask questions about what we're watching 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:33.559 and what we're consuming and the world in which we're engaging in a way that others won't. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:36.779 And that's going to be tiring at times, isn't it? 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:37.819 So why would you bother? 00:27:38.659 --> 00:27:38.960 Well, 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.299 ultimately, 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.639 I think because Jesus is bothered. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.579 This is his world. 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:47.279 He is returning here and he wants the people that you and I live around to know and understand the gospel. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:51.819 And he wants us to explain it clearly across all sorts of different cultures. 00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:59.240 So we need to be good at reading the stories that culture is telling us about what is the ideal, 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:02.279 how has the ideal been broken, and how can the ideal be restored? 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:06.279 Second challenge, though, is that stories are religious. 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:14.379 I think what you get to see in Dan's book is that because culture is the expression of stories of meaning, 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:18.920 it means essentially that culture flows from faith, right? 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:23.799 In other words, culture flows from statements of belief about what the ideal is, 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:25.599 how it is broken, and how it can be fixed, 00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:30.220 that are not necessarily empirically true, 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:33.660 but are just statements of faith that are believed. 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:37.660 Ted Turnow in his book says that worldviews are fundamentally religious. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:40.360 That is, they are types of faith. 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:43.460 They deal with life at the level of deepest commitment. 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:49.660 Now, that religion might not be a strictly orthodox expression of Islam or Judaism or secularism. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:53.100 And I think this expresses one of the challenges that Mike was mentioning earlier, 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:56.060 which is that we meet all sorts of different people, 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:59.320 but they are often a mix of all sorts of different cultures as well, aren't they? 00:28:59.360 --> 00:29:00.180 Especially in London. 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:03.120 It's not that they are just holding to one worldview. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:07.019 They're holding to three or four all at the same time and not seeing the contradictions of them. 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:09.379 And that's a challenge as well, isn't it? 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:16.339 Because really what you are inviting people to is a new set of beliefs, a new faith. 00:29:17.219 --> 00:29:19.479 And what we need to understand is that you and I, 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:22.379 even if we're the most culturally engaged and thoughtful Christian 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:25.419 who sees these worldview stories more clearly than anybody else, 00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:29.720 you cannot change someone's beliefs by yourself, can you? 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:36.039 Even clever sounding arguments and cultural engagement cannot save people. 00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:38.940 We need God to be at work by his spirit, 00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:42.160 because without that, our work is futile, 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:44.920 because we're in the realm of faith, aren't we? 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:53.060 We need God to be at work for them, as we were thinking about this morning, 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:55.400 to be born again by the power of the spirit. 00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:58.660 So we're not thinking about magic solutions that mean 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:01.480 you'll be able to explain the gospel in a culturally appropriate way 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:04.039 and live in such a way that everybody around you becomes a Christian, 00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.840 because that's not how it works, 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:09.779 because these are expressions of deeply held beliefs. 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.379 Great. 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.859 That's, I think, where I'm going to finish for this evening. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:17.619 Any questions or comments before we sing to close? 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:30.700 It's like last period maths, isn't it? 00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:32.680 And the teacher says, any questions? 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.639 And you're pleased to ask. 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.799 Pleased to ask a question. 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.720 The bell's about to go. 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.259 Don't ask a question. 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.099 Great. 00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:42.219 Let me pray for us, and then we'll stand and sing together. 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:53.699 Heavenly Father, we thank you that the true story of our world 00:30:53.699 --> 00:30:56.059 has been told to us by you in your word, 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:58.740 that the ideal is that we're with you, 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.899 that it has been broken by our sin, 00:31:02.219 --> 00:31:03.439 and we're under a curse, 00:31:04.219 --> 00:31:07.859 and that the ideal is restored in the person and work of the Lord Jesus. 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:18.099 We want to pray that you would help us as Christians to be really good at understanding how that true and bigger story 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:22.119 both subverts and fulfills the stories of our culture. 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:29.839 So we want to thank you for all that is praiseworthy and good here in this city in which we live. 00:31:30.479 --> 00:31:35.519 We thank you for this desire that there is in our city to reflect all sorts of diverse cultures. 00:31:35.679 --> 00:31:38.139 We thank you that difference is valued. 00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:41.919 Difference ultimately comes from being made by you. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:51.940 But Lord, we want to see and show how the gospel subverts the idea that actually there's no truth, 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:55.980 because there is a true story told by you in your word. 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:59.779 Lord, there's countless ways that this engages with the lives that we live, 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:03.700 and we want to pray in these coming weeks as we think through what we watch on TV, 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:08.019 the music that we listen to, the places that we go, the things that we do for fun, 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:09.500 the places that we work. 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:14.240 We pray, please, that in each of these places you'd help us to live lives of praise to you, 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:19.860 that others might see this truer, bigger story of Jesus Christ and his work for us, 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:21.559 as we pray in his name. 00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.380 Amen. 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:22.559 Amen. 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.980 Amen.