Culturally Relevant

The following is an attempt to address an ignorant understanding of being culturally relevant in a dialog I had on a recent forum.

There are several words or statements you used that may have been directed toward me so I am going to attempt to make sure you understand correctly what has been said.

You said: 1. "I hear a lot of talk about being relevant."

You wrote this statement as if it is a bad thing to be relevant. You write as if being relevant means not preaching the Bible. This is an ignorant understanding of what it means to be relevant. One def. of "relevant": having significant and demonstrable bearing on facts or issues To me to be relevant in the context of church and preaching means to preach the Bible and make the right application to the ones listening. I preach through books of the Bible usually, therefore being relevant to the audience is very important. If I have children or teenagers in the audience and I never make an application or address their age group in my messages I am failing in meeting their needs. If you were chosen to speak to a group of senior citizens and you decided to preach on "Sexual Abstinence" besides being stupid it would be irrelevant! We need to make proper application to particular audiences. If you were to preach "all things work together for good...(you know the verse)" and not break down "ALL" into different areas and issues you would be very general and miss the opportunity to meet relevant needs in your congregation. We need to be relevant in our preaching!

You said: 2. "bend the Word to culture"

I never said anything about bending the Word to a particular culture. I believe the Bible was written and is applicable to every culuture. However there are things that change in different cultures that we must understand and adapt to. There are different tools that can be used for ministry depending on the culture. For example-How many pastors had cell phones 50 years ago? How many churches had vans 100 years ago? How many churches had pianos and organs 1500years ago? We better get some harps and get rid of some stuff in our churches if we are not going to use anything not mentioned in the Bible.Is it wrong to use electricity? Is it wrong to have heating and air? Is it wrong to use media equipment like projectors and microphones? Is it wrong to have a kitchen? Is it wrong to have toys in the nursury? What kind of toys should we have in the nursury? Should we get rid of electronic toys and go back to marbles? What should the dress code be? Would Jesus wear a suit and tie? (NO, but the pharisees did!) Should we use guitars or pianos? What about language? Should we use Old English in our preaching or modern terminology? I can hear it now, "Thou shouldest not forget to take thy Son with thee tomorrow." If you go to Mexico and preach in English without an interpreter you are not being culturally relevant! All of these kinds of things have to do with culture to name a few.

You said: 3. "Why do we need to change our preaching and methods?

"First, no one said we need to change our preaching of the truth. Second, if you think that the church at Jerusalem met at 9:45, had Sunday School, then opened with a prayer to begin the worship service, sang two songs (with a piano), had another prayer then received the offering, then sung two more songs (with a piano), had preaching, and ended at 12 noon, you have been brainwashed. This is a method used by many today, but it was not the method of the first church. There are many different times that could be chosen to meet, different locations/houses/buildings, different ways to arrange the order of a service, different instruments could be used in a service, and things could be added to or taken away if needed. Sunday school could be used or home bible studies could take the place of Sunday School. Do you have to have a pulpit? Do you have to have a steeple? These are all examples of using different methods and preferences in the church. Your mold and order is not the only method or even the most effective. I cannot understand why some people do not get this stuff!!!! No one is talking about getting rid of preaching and the Bible. If you think changing the way we do church is the "falling away" I don't know what to tell you. I'm probably wasting my time.

You said: 4. "Hey, if you don't like the way we do things, we have free association, which means you are free to leave."

The association has a doctrinal statement not a list of rules and regulations, times, and methods churches must submit to in order to associate with the ABA. There are many churches in this association that use different methods, meet at different times, and still believe the 21 statements of faith (they could be shortened if some of them where lumped together and you want to add more?). This association is not based on "What we do" but what we believe!

LAST THING- I do not believe that all traditions are bad. However when a tradition (if not founded in scripture by example) becomes the only way to do something and you insist on this tradition that may be out of date-you have not fallen away but you do fall into the category of teaching the doctrines of men as the doctrines of God. Be careful!