(sola)s hattiesburg

         20/20 Collegiate Conference mp3

In the words of Bob Dylan, “Oh the times, they are a changin’.”  We live in a world and a culture that is rapidly evolving.  But despite its constant changes, culture continues to have the same problem of sin, manifested through perversions of all kinds.   As a result, the local church must consider how it is to respond and relate to an ever-changing, yet consistently sinful society.  There have been many approaches taken to this situation.  Some churches have said that we should isolate ourselves from the culture so as to not be influenced by it.  Others have said that we should be so much a part of culture that we end up looking just like it.  Neither of these approaches are helpful.  We cannot influence the culture with the gospel if we’re not in culture, nor can we influence culture if we’re no different from it.  Jesus took another approach. He was in the culture, but he lived counter-culturally.  Jesus was missional.  He hung around sinners (so much so that he was accused of being a drunkard and a glutton), but Jesus did not sin.  Jesus revealed to culture what true life looks like.  And this is the same approach the church must take in the 21st century.  We must demonstrate to society what true humanity looks like, what true culture is about.  The church must be a city within a city – the city of God amidst the city of man.  This is how culture will be impacted by the gospel.  Mark Driscoll recently spoke on this topic at Southeastern Seminary.  His talk is very helpful, you should check it out.