Link of the Weekend...

Check Mark Robert's series on how Christians should be or should not be involved in the secular culture of the world around us. So far there have been 4 posts with the first one titled, Super Bowl Decadence & the Challenge of Culture. This is an interesting series because Mark addresses what I consider to be the crux of the matter with regards to not only the PoMo / Emergent Church movement but to any other movement that wishes to sincerely address how Christianity should react to secular culture. Consider this quote from part 3 in his series:

What Paul demonstrates in a few verses of Philippians is his willingness to engage the culture of his day, to grasp its concepts and employ its language. Yet, at the same time, he is not dominated by that culture, but reshapes it in light of Christ. When secular values are consistent with Christianity - as in the case of things being truly pleasing or commendable - then these values can be embraced. But when secular values are inconsistent with Christianity - as in the case of Stoic self-sufficiency - then these values are either rejected or fundamentally reinterpreted.

Mark is right on target. A problem inherent in a reaching the culture mentality is that the message is too easily transformed into a feel-good sentiment. However we relate to the culture we must strive to be clear with the Gospel message: Admit you have sinned (Romans 3:23), Believe in Jesus (John 3:16) and, Confess and leave your sin behind (1 John 1:9).