Living Faithfully Now Class Session 3 © John Stevenson, 2008

Class Objectives To consider the past history of the church to observe the different stances taken toward culture by Christians To reflect upon the commands of the Bible for Christians with regard to culture – and the priorities or tensions which result

What does a review of church history have to do with “living faithfully now?”

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:5-6 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. 6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

1 Corinthians 10:7-10 And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play." 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Compared to the early church, is it harder, easier, or about the same for us to be Christians in our world today?

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Transforming Church Church World

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church When the world recognizes the church as a part of society, should Christians withdraw for the sake of purity or take advantage of the situation and attempt to influence the culture?

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Accommodation Church World Church

Early Church Roman Church 1054 Schism between Rome & East 1517 Reformation Church Transforming Church Church World Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World

Which Model describes your Church? Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World Antithesis Church World Church God’s Realm Transforming Church Church World Accommodation Church World Church

Which model makes the most sense to you? Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World Antithesis Church World Church God’s Realm Transforming Church Church World Accommodation Church World Church

The Priesthood The hierarchical priesthood The priesthood of all believers How does the principle of the priesthood relate to your life?

The Anabaptists Separation from the prevailing culture Paralleled by the Essenes in the first century Antithesis Church World Church God’s Realm

Should Christians be involved in politics? Will engagement in politics necessarily result in a trade-off or some degree of compromise?

Are movements like the Religious Right similar to or different from the medieval papacy?

What is the relationship between the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate?

Great Commission And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18- 20).

Cultural Mandate God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28).

Cultural Mandate The mandate to rule the world as the representatives of God Great Commission The commission to go into all the world and make disciples Commands a fruitful multiplication Based upon a delegated authority conferred to those made in the image of God Based upon a delegated authority to those who are joined to Christ to whom has been given all authority

Bringing the rule of Christ to the entire world Primarily through making disciples of the nations We fulfill the cultural mandate today

Richard Niebuhr Christ against culture Christ of culture Christ above culture Christ transforming culture Christ and culture in paradox (a tension between the two) Professor at Yale 1955

The Five Solas of the Reformation Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone") Sola fide ("by faith alone") Sola gratia ("by grace alone") Solus Christus ("Christ alone") Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")

Christians and the Authority of the Bible Roman Catholic View: The Church is over the Bible Reformed View: Sola Scriptura

How are these manifested in today’s churches? Conversionist Church Church God’s Realm World Antithesis Church World Church God’s Realm Transforming Church Church World Accommodation Church World Church

A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing is a big thing. ― A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing is a big thing. ― Hudson Taylor