Engaging Culture with a Biblical Worldview

After our wonderful previous posts about worldviews, this post seeks to begin applying a Biblical worldview to our daily lives.

I use many Scripture verses in this article. That’s intentional for two reasons: 1) the Bible is the only infallible book. It is God’s Word directly to us and should be our main source of information in developing a Biblical worldview (go figure) and living out our faith. 2) we need the Bible for the reasons stated previously. We need the Bible more than we need this blog or any other social media ministry. All of this should point to the Bible as the ultimate and superior source.

The Bible, including the verses/chapters I’ve referenced here, gives more specific examples of how we should be engaging with culture, and as we mature in the faith through studying it, applying it, fellowshipping with other believers, and praying, we are further able to better apply what we learn. I highly encourage you to read the references throughout this article.

Every day, we interact with people with different worldviews: they grew up in different places, have had different life experiences, have different goals, and different beliefs. Starting here, our worldview begins to color everything else. First of all, let’s take a moment to appreciate what an awesome God we serve who has created this diversity of life and wonder! Let’s remind ourselves that God created everything and everyone, and he called his creation good (Gen. 1-2). This is part of a Biblical worldview. The next part of the story (Gen. 3) places us where we are now: we live in a world marred by sin, our very natures corrupted, broken, and in every way rejecting our own Creator.

“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” -Romans 3:10-12

However, the Bible also tells us that God sent his son Jesus to earth to redeem the world! 

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” -Luke 19:10

Awesome!... now what? I think it would be useful to break up this very large topic of “interacting with culture” (seriously, tons of books have been written about even small parts of this) into two smaller sections: interacting with people and interacting in society.

At a very basic level, a society is made up of a group of people. The set of shared norms, values, beliefs, creative and intellectual works, and bonding experiences of that society can be thought of as their culture. So when I talk about “culture,” I mean it in a very broad sense: interacting with and living among the people and systems around you.

Interacting in Society

Anyone else feel like it’s kinda weird living in this world as a Christian? We know that the world as it is now isn’t our eternity, even though sometimes it feels like it is. I know that I often ping-pong between stressing out too much about temporal things and disregarding all my worldly responsibilities because I start thinking they have no eternal consequence (neither are good). Scripture does give us commands about how to interact with society.

Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17 clearly tell Christians to respect worldly authority. Following the laws of our society insofar as they do not contradict the higher law of God is a further testament to God’s authority. Fortunately for us as Christians living in a democratically-based society, we can and should exercise our rights under this government.

At the same time, we know we will face pushback for our worldview. The disciples did, the early church did, and Paul tells the Philippians to be faithful, united, and focused in the inevitable suffering and trials that come with being a Christian (Phil. 1:27-30). 

Yet even in the suffering we face, we are to reflect the glory of God. I am not trying to come off as legalistic- if we have given our lives over to Jesus as our Lord (aka Master), the Holy Spirit begins to change us and we desire to live our lives reflecting the glory of God. Paul speaks to this in Titus, as he does in Romans 6.

“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin… 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” -Romans 6:6-7, 12

As one of my pals from my student ministry explained this week, “As a believer, you are dead to sin. That’s a fact, accomplished by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Now act like it. You are righteous through Christ. That’s a fact. Now act like it.”

Interacting with People

Like I said earlier, everyone you interact with may have a different worldview. I don’t think it’s necessary to do special research on every worldview out there, but I do think it is important to at the very least be confident in a Biblical worldview so that you can identify things during conversations with others or posts on social media that do not line up with a Biblical worldview. However, here’s a handy little chart summarizing some major worldviews. The points where worldviews collide make great conversation starters for evangelistic conversations. 

On a daily life level, Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to behave with discipline and sacrifice around others. Around other believers, Paul reminds them to be considerate of their struggles so as not to inadvertently lead them into sin (1 Cor. 8:9-12). Of everyone, Paul acknowledges the freedom we have as Christ followers, but emphasizes the need to be wise and discerning in using that freedom to further the goal of the Kingdom of God to rescue people through the good news of Christ (1 Cor. 9:19, 22-23).

Essentially, we know there are things we should always and never do as Christians. There are other things that we have personal freedom in, but the question we have to ask ourselves as we interact with people is, “does this honor God?” A great example of this is that the Bible doesn’t list any specific words as “bad.” The Bible does say, however, that our speech should be gracious and not used for slander or gossip (James 3:8-10, Prov. 4:24, Eph. 4:29). How many of us avoid “curse words” out of habit, but share the latest “tea” without hesitation? When we do this, we hinder our witness and spread the image that Christianity is without substance and without true power. 

Instead, by interacting with people in obedience to God and continually seeking to honor him, we gain the opportunity to display how Christ has made us new and changed our desires, as I said above. We can share the light that is Christ, which is the gospel, the love that changed us (1 John 4:9-11).

So then, we are to treat people with the love that God shows us. It is only through Christ and the Holy Spirit that we can do this. We are to care for the needy, encourage others to do good, seek God’s Kingdom here on earth, with justice and mercy and righteousness and peace; and the most loving thing we can do is to point people to their Savior.

“How then will they call on him in who they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” -Romans 10:14

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” -Colossians 4:5-6

Taking the big ideas of the Bible, condensing it into a concise worldview, we learn that to engage in culture, just living and interacting in this present day, means to walk out our faith with obedience to God. Another one of my friends has said that living the Christian life is simple, but not easy. We can interact with strangers, friends, and society as a whole with grace and discernment, humility and service, seeking their best in Christ, sharing the joy and hope we have through both our actions and our words.

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” -1 Peter 3:15-16

How are you engaging with the people around you with a Biblical worldview? What are some steps you could take to do this practically?