Missionaries and Monks
Why faithfulness requires engagement and withdrawal
“Too many Christians are studying our culture rather than the Word of God.”
– Burk Parsons
This idea may sound right at first but I believe it’s ultimately wrong-headed. It creates a false conflict: should we study culture or be students of God’s Word? The answer is both.
Monks and Missionaries
From earliest days, sincere Christians have struggled to know how engaged they should be with the world around them. A spectrum has always existed between engagement and withdrawal: Every generation has its missionaries and monasteries.
But to be faithful we must know how to engage and withdraw.
We are set apart from the world—therefore we must be students of God’s Word.
We are sent to the world—therefore we must be students of culture.
Faithful and Effective
As followers of Christ, we want to be faithful to him. This means we must be students of Scripture. Only then can it shape our thinking, values, and lifestyle.
As ambassadors for Christ, we want to be effective for him. This means we must be students of culture. Only then will we know the issues, speak the lingua franca, and have a voice among those outside the church.
Our eyes are fixed on Jesus. Our mind is set on things above. But our message is for the world.1
Learn, Listen, Live
To be faithful as followers and effective as ambassadors we must Learn, Listen, and Live.
Learn the Word of God
Listen to the culture we are embedded in
Live the faith God has called us to
If you are a student of culture but not God’s word, you have nothing to offer a world starving for truth.
If you are a student of God’s word but not culture, you won’t be able to deliver the message God has given you.
Hebrews 12.2, Colossians 3.2, 2 Corinthians 5.11