Is it biblically true?: We have to reclaim culture for the sake of Christ

Introduction

According to the Oxford dictionary, culture is defined as "the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group." Today, there are church leaders who proclaim that we must reclaim culture for the sake of Christ. Others believe the Church should be LGBTQ-affirming. Is it biblically true? What does reclaiming culture look like in the eyes of men? What does God say about our life in Christ and reclaiming culture for the sake of Christ?

What does reclaiming culture look like in the eye of men?

play the video with William Murphy

Lack of self-denial

Compromise and partnership with the world

Affirming unbiblical practices

Denying the Word of God

What does God say about this?

What will naturally happen if people of one kingdom comes into another and proclaim theirs is better?

Matthew 10:34–38 ESV

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 16:24–28 ESV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Search other Scripture with using “sacred with profane” for warnings about doing so.

1 Corinthians 9:18–23 ESV

18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Conclusion

You belong to Jesus (1 Co 3:16-17; 6:19).

Your identity is in Jesus (practice self-denial; walk in God’s purposes; follow Jesus’ pattern)

Culture is not for us to reclaim but Christ to redeem.

We are set apart and Scripture is the norm.

Use your freedom in Jesus Christ to remove barriers necessary to proclaim the gospel, without compromise.