Comments on: The Fear of Cultural Interaction http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:49:36 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: jrogerw http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-497 jrogerw Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:14:56 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-497 What you have written here really seems to resonate with Andy Crouch's Culture Making. He says that all approaches that are based in reacting to or spring-boarding from the surrounding culture are wrong, that believers need to lead rather than react as we have been doing lately. I'm not doing him justice, but he agrees with your analysis of both fundamentalism and evangelicalism. Modern American Christians, in general, have become timid in expressing themselves whether verbally or artistically, as if we must either satisfy the church folks or the non-church folks. Using the gifts God gives us works best when we seek to satisfy him and the gift within that he has given, whether that is art, words, or compassionate ministry. What you have written here really seems to resonate with Andy Crouch’s Culture Making. He says that all approaches that are based in reacting to or spring-boarding from the surrounding culture are wrong, that believers need to lead rather than react as we have been doing lately. I’m not doing him justice, but he agrees with your analysis of both fundamentalism and evangelicalism.

Modern American Christians, in general, have become timid in expressing themselves whether verbally or artistically, as if we must either satisfy the church folks or the non-church folks. Using the gifts God gives us works best when we seek to satisfy him and the gift within that he has given, whether that is art, words, or compassionate ministry.

]]> By: Evangelicals and Populist Suicide « MER Christianity http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-57 Evangelicals and Populist Suicide « MER Christianity Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:25:43 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-57 [...] discussed here and here how believers are afraid of interacting with American culture. Fundamentalists shun the [...] [...] discussed here and here how believers are afraid of interacting with American culture. Fundamentalists shun the [...]

]]> By: mraley http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-56 mraley Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:01:09 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-56 @ the scop, Thanks so much for the link to Resurgence and to your own site. They've both been blessings today. @ the scop, Thanks so much for the link to Resurgence and to your own site. They’ve both been blessings today.

]]> By: the scôp http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-55 the scôp Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:29:20 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-55 ...thanks for the insightful article. Reminds me of some books I've read recently including <i>Jim & Casper Go to Church</i> (Jim Henderson), <i>The Myth of Certainty</i> (Daniel Taylor) and a number of podcasts I've heard off of <a href="http://www.theresurgence.com/" rel="nofollow">Resurgence</a>. …thanks for the insightful article. Reminds me of some books I’ve read recently including Jim & Casper Go to Church (Jim Henderson), The Myth of Certainty (Daniel Taylor) and a number of podcasts I’ve heard off of Resurgence.

]]> By: Worth a Read « Quadrivium http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-50 Worth a Read « Quadrivium Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:19:01 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-50 [...]   Matthew Riley, over at MER Christianity has produced an excellent article dealing with the fear of cultural interaction within the evangelical church.  I recently posted on this same topic but I think Matthew’s post probably proves to be a [...] [...]   Matthew Riley, over at MER Christianity has produced an excellent article dealing with the fear of cultural interaction within the evangelical church.  I recently posted on this same topic but I think Matthew’s post probably proves to be a [...]

]]> By: mraley http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-49 mraley Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:32:25 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-49 Josh, I don't know of any books such as you describe. One very telling primary source is Francis Schaeffer's book, The Mark of a Christian, in which he describes how the necessary battles of fundamentalist Presbyterians poisoned them with a permanent habit of acrimony and bitterness. Schaeffer wrote that their attitudes ruined their future works. As you say, this story needs to be told with well-documented and judicious analysis. I'm going to blog some more in this vein. All, thanks for the encouragement! Josh, I don’t know of any books such as you describe. One very telling primary source is Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Mark of a Christian, in which he describes how the necessary battles of fundamentalist Presbyterians poisoned them with a permanent habit of acrimony and bitterness. Schaeffer wrote that their attitudes ruined their future works.

As you say, this story needs to be told with well-documented and judicious analysis.

I’m going to blog some more in this vein.

All, thanks for the encouragement!

]]> By: Josh http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-48 Josh Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:33:02 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-48 EXCELLENT post. Your analysis is spot on. I too think that evangelical cultural animosity and consequent mimicry is rooted in the liberal/convservative battles of the early twentieth. I would love for someone to present a book on this subject with comprehensive research. You wouldn't happen to know of any would you? EXCELLENT post. Your analysis is spot on. I too think that evangelical cultural animosity and consequent mimicry is rooted in the liberal/convservative battles of the early twentieth. I would love for someone to present a book on this subject with comprehensive research. You wouldn’t happen to know of any would you?

]]> By: len http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-46 len Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:31:05 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-46 Its sad how fear drives us .. may we be ruled more and more by the peace of Christ. Its sad how fear drives us .. may we be ruled more and more by the peace of Christ.

]]> By: NextReformation » stalking the snow-leopard.. and apostolic vocation http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-45 NextReformation » stalking the snow-leopard.. and apostolic vocation Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:29:40 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-45 [...] Matt is also writing about a legacy, and the fear that chained some believers to rigid systems that led [...] [...] Matt is also writing about a legacy, and the fear that chained some believers to rigid systems that led [...]

]]> By: Joe Miller http://tritonelife.com/2008/02/21/the-fear-of-cultural-interaction/#comment-44 Joe Miller Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:03:12 +0000 http://mraley.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-44 hmm.... great observations. You offer much to think on! Thanks! hmm…. great observations. You offer much to think on! Thanks!

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