Reclaiming the Culture

June 28th, 2008

Well everyone, I know that we promised a “fresh contest” for you all, but sometimes God has other plans. Being “offline” for the past month, we’ve been unable to plan out anything exciting. But we’re still not about to let a contest opportunity (be it ever so commonplace) go to waste!

So, without further ado, we’d like to introduce to y’all the Reclaiming the Culture DVD series! (Did you catch that “y’all”? I’ll be a Suth’ner yet…)

I’ve noticed that when it comes to culture, Christians usually fall into 3 basic camps. First, there are those who allow themselves to be transformed by the world’s culture. Second, there are those who (for lack of a better term), “run away and hide” from the culture, and live in isolation with no influence on society. And then, finally, there are those who make it their business to neither hide from the world nor compromise the scriptures – but to instead reclaim the culture.

Our family strives to be in that latter category. The question then is, “how”? “Where do we start?”

That’s what the Reclaiming the Culture DVD series from Vision Forum is all about. It’s sort of a compilation of some of the best teachings available at Vision Forum – teachings that can transform your family. Although we haven’t watched these DVDs yet, we’ve listened to half of the talks via audio CDs – and they are of the highest quality. We were actually there LIVE in Jamestown when the Providential Nexus of Jamestown and Plymouth was filmed!

So, where’s the contest, you ask? Well, here it is. Leave us a comment, and in the comment, put a practical way we can all help reclaim the culture for Christ. The names of everyone who leaves a culture changing suggestion will be entered into a hat, and then a winner will be randomly chosen. The winner gets to choose any one of the DVDs of the entire collection!

Go ahead, browse through the titles – they’re good. We just listened to The Promise the other day. It was excellent!

To start us off in the comments, I’ll leave a small, practical way we can change the culture – Hospitality. Specifically, inviting people that might even be near strangers to you for dinner and such. Let them see in your family the difference of the Biblical family, and let God have the glory!

Oh, by the way, I am obliged by Vision Forum to end this giveaway no later than June 30th – so you better get your comment in before the end of Monday!

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Posted in blog, fun, God | 17 Comments »

Here there be comments...

  • Camille

    June 28, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    Hi Willi -

    Okay – how can we reclaim the culture for Christ? This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately – although not with that title *smile*. Just yesterday, Sis and I were talking about our every day lives. In our town, it seems, and the teachings in my life, for the most part, are all about just living – Christ is nowhere mentioned. We are taught that it’s okay to get angry, that yes, that would have made me angry too. Or, oh, if that had happened to me I would have _______ the guy (fill in the blank with whatever word you want). Oh, I’m hungry let’s get something to eat because, well, we’re hungry. Oh, don’t be THAT way, that is too legalistic. Come to our church, we’re more laid back and have more fun. Our society, our culture is so me-centered. We say ‘Do all for the glory of God’, but for the most part – as a whole – America falls short. We aren’t willing, able, or trained to put God first.

    So, my idea for reclaiming future is in the every day things of life. Have a doctor’s appointment? Pray with the doctor before and after the appointment. Need groceries? Share Christ with the cashier (she isn’t going anywhere *smile*) while she rings you up. Before you do anything – have a word with the Lord. Hungry? Evaluate that hunger. Are you truly eating to stay healthy and strong to live a life for Christ and spread His word – or are you eating merely to satisfy or indulge your person?

    These are things I have been thinking about. What does a life truly lived for Christ look like? Is it pursuit of personal pleasures (entertainment, fun, food, sleeping, daily living) or is it pursuit of dying to self and spreading the gospel message no matter what? Again, in my lifetime, I have not met a single person who lives their life this way. I have met Christians, but for the most part – their job, their family, their pursuits look just like those who aren’t Christians but are ‘good’ people. You know, the upstanding citizens in our community. The people you can trust. The people who would never think to lie, steal, cheat, or murder. The ‘moral’ people. The ones who never mention Christ. Well, I don’t want to be that ‘good’ person. So, what separates the Christians from the rest of our ‘good’ society?

    We have settled in America. Our gospel message is so incredibly watered down, and we don’t even realize it.

    So, that’s my idea for reclaiming culture. It starts with each individual and how they choose to live their life. It’s in the decisions we make. Are we going to the fun park for our enjoyment or do we see it as an opportunity to reach out to someone in the name of Christ? Do you see what I am saying?

    These thoughts have been simmering for some time…but recently, the Lord has really been filling me up with His living water.

    This has been some difficult learning for me. There are things I want to do that are purely, simply selfish. It is my wants, my desires that I want to fill each day. It’s not a conscious thought. It’s not that I sit around saying, ‘How can I serve me today?’ – but essentially, as I evaluate myself, I see that is exactly how I live. I love Christ – I want to live a life that will bring glory to God, and yet, I fall short because my first thought isn’t – oh yippee I get to ___________________ (fill in the blank with something that happens in day-to-day life that would be considered fun!) and be a witness for Christ and cross paths with people that I normally would not. Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity! Instead my thoughts just end after the blank. (I get to __________).

    Christianity in America, from my experience, teaches this. I have heard more times than I can count – ‘Oh, you are so lucky! I wish I got to do something like that!’ I’ve probably said the same thing myself a time or two. But, the good news? God is working on me! My thoughts are being renewed! The patterns of this world’s thinking are being replaced! I am so incredibly grateful to know that He has begun a good work in me will finish it!

    Okay – that was long – blessings to each of you!
    Camille

    PS – Forgive any typos, please!

  • Esther

    June 28, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    Whoa that was a mighty long comment I will read that later but my simple answer is….

    Love one another no matter what! Love your enemies despite the sins they commit against you.

    Ya thats about it… i could go on and on if i had time to think about it but dont feel like it right now.

  • Susan

    June 28, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    So I was not feeling too bad about not offering this contest on my blog (because my baby might be born between now and the end)–because I knew that the Willi hadn’t gotten their contest up and going either. But now you guys have got it going on, so I do feel guilty! But good for you! :)

  • Anthony

    June 28, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    How can we reclaim the culture for Christ?

    Something that God has been impressing upon me lately, and that is important for each one of us – is my devotional life. Am I spending time in prayer, crying out to God for strength and grace each day… and making supplications for others whom I know? Am I diligently studying God’s word, memorizing it and meditating upon it at all times of the day (and night)? Am I being consistent in worship, realizing that this isn’t just for Sunday but everyday? Also, not doing these out of compulsion or “duty” but asking God to continue to ignite a passion and love for Him and others in my heart.

    I read something today from the ATI (Advanced Training Institute) “Resource Manual”, concerning the importance of our life “on the mountain” and with “the multitudes” – in other words, our time spent growing closer to our Savior, and then loving and serving others.

    One of the sentences that Camille wrote really struck me… I missed the words “to self” and thought she had written “is our life spent in… pursuit of dying”. As I think about it, though, this is what dying to self is – dying. In my mind, sometimes the words “to self” has a minimizing effect on the word “dying”, but I realize that this shouldn’t be.

    Pressing onward,
    Anthony

  • Joann

    June 28, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    In I Peter 3:14-17 it says to set apart Christ as Lord, be prepared to give reason for doing what you are doing.

    Today I had the pleasure of attending an adoption Bible study and we discussed how people are so quick (especially Christians) to condemn you for adopting a child especially a handicapped child. It is so difficult to come up with a response to those people when your mouth is hanging open with their audacity.

    I believe that I and others need to be prepared to give a biblical answer to people. I know in my heart what God is telling me but I can not always convey that to others on the spot especially when they are rude. If we could just be kind and peaceable and honestly say. God tells us to…. I think that would make a huge difference in our culture. People are willing to listen when they see the way that we live our lives.

    That’s my short answer!!
    Blessings!

  • Walter

    June 29, 2008 at 10:03 am

    Wow – good thought provoking stuff everyone! Keep them coming!

    @Susan
    No need to feel guilty Mrs. Peterson. :) Congratulations on your new baby!

  • Krista G.

    June 29, 2008 at 2:02 pm

    In Romans 12: 1-2 it says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

    How can we reclaim our culture? The answer—by renewing our minds. Our focus should be on the will of God. Each day when we rise we should set out to accomplish what God has put us here to do. Part of accomplishing that is through setting our minds on the ways of God, living the way the Bible instructs us to.

    Today our society is infiltrated with the media; it penetrates us from all sides. It tells us how to act, what to wear, which movies to see and TV shows to watch, who to vote for politically, what stores to shop at, even what foods to eat. It has not only taken society, but the world by storm.

    Reclaiming our culture starts with reclaiming ourselves. We must first put away the things of this world, then turn and focus on the ways of our Lord. When we do this, we can become a light to an ever darkening world.

    The Treasure Lies Inside, Krista

  • Valerie (Fellow Jamestown 400 Treasure Hunter)

    June 29, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    One important way we can reclaim the culture is to teach our children the importance of masculine and feminine roles…and that God has a unique plan for each. We can help them to appreciate their own gender and the role God has for them in their future family and we can help them to respect and honor the opposite gender. We can teach our young men to take dominion over the areas God calls them to and teach our young women to delight in nurturing and serving in the home.
    One of the very sneaky plans of the enemy is to blur the distinction between male and female. As people see our Christian homes and each of us finding satisfaction and pleasure in being distinctly male or female, we can point them to the many blessings of following God’s perfect plan for families.

  • Nate

    June 30, 2008 at 7:16 am

    I would suggest that many Christians need to change their perception of what “God’s kingdom” is. No, it’s not just the church. I believe it is all areas of life. Many people don’t realize that no matter where they are or what they do they are in that place for a reason and should strive to fulfill God’s calling in their lives by advancing his kingdom there. Once Christians start living this way, all the different faces of our culture will begin to be transformed. But this will only work in the long term if it results in the changing of the hearts and minds of the people of this nation. Anything other than that will end in failure,

  • Tracy

    June 30, 2008 at 7:57 am

    I think that sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities and forget that we live for a purpose. We should be making the most of our days.

    That has been a specific “theme” for our family this year…

    Thanks!

    Tracy

  • Megan

    June 30, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    I think that health and medicine is a very important aspect that Christians should be involved in. In the Bible God said that he has given us every herb for healing, yet if you look at alternative medicine where do you find Christians getting involved? Instead of trusting God, and using the things he has given for our healing we turn to doctors. Food is something that we need to educate ourselves and others about as well. If we are in poor health, we will not be able to serve Christ as effectually as we would if we had strong, vigorous bodies.

  • Tiffany

    June 30, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    I think we can better reclaim the culture if we can get into better contact with one another. There are hundreds of us out there but it is often very difficult to find like minded families. If we all join forces in a way that would not cut too much out of each individual family’s time we would be that much more effective in encouraging and helping one another. A side benefit would be that when crises like the removal of the Ten Commandments, bad legislation, etc. came up we would already be poised for action. With that kind of organization, plus the vital example of each family in their own community, I think that America would start to see a major turn around.

  • EliasBoudinotismyfriend

    June 30, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    We can reclaim our culture by learning to work together as a family. Not only does this create a bond that helps you get through things together, but this is a great witnessing tool when you are out. Generally a large family alone will make people stare :) , and a large family that gets along is better, but a large family that know how to work together – that makes people start to ask you questions!

  • Julie

    July 1, 2008 at 8:02 am

    Cultures are as diverse as the many cells that make up our bodies. There are cultures within cultures. Take stock of the culture in your own home, within your own family. Then look at the culture in your neighborhood, town, city, state. Share yourselves with others and redeem the time.

  • Walter

    July 1, 2008 at 9:35 am

    @Julie
    Oh, I’m sorry Julie! I’m afraid you missed the Monday deadline! I’m glad you commented anyway, though – great advice!

  • Chronicles of the Willi » And We Have a Winner…

    July 1, 2008 at 10:03 am

    [...] the winner of the reclaiming the culture giveaway [...]

  • Elizabeth

    July 3, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    “She had over him the unconscious influence that every girl, whose ideals are high and pure, wields over her friends; an influence which would endure as long as she was faithful to those ideals and which she would as certainly lose if she were ever false to them.” (From chapter 19 of “Anne of Avonlea” by Lucy Maud Montgomery).
    I have found this to be very true, but like Camille said, you don’t have to be a Christian to have high ideals. They do attract attention, though. I am taking this next verse a bit out of context, but James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation…” this is such a way to witness to people. They really do notice. And when they do remark on it, we need to be ready to share why we have the ideals we have and by Whose strength we are able to achieve them. This gives an opportunity to not only share the Good News of Christ, but also to show what can happen when we ask Him to bless us with His strength.


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