No matter where they live, Christians inevitably find themselves squeezed between, on the one hand, the claims of culture and its obligations, and on the other, their allegiance to Christ. The tensions between Christ and culture are both diverse and complex. There are different models of the relationship between Christ and culture, each seeking to describe how this relationship can be experienced in reality.
In this book, DA Carson overviews a number of important issues that Christians need to think about when considering their relationship with culture. The author examines H. Richard Niebuhr's thinking on culture in light of biblical theology. He points out that Niebuhr presents his five approaches as ideal options in competition with each other. However, according to Carson, this emphasis on choosing among different propositions does not correspond to a canonical reading of Scripture. He suggests that these possibilities are not options to choose or reject, but that they are part of a more unified and comprehensive understanding of the relationship between Christ and culture. Ultimately, Carson demonstrates why no single approach, even the most insightful, should serve as the ultimate benchmark, and he suggests returning to a comprehensive approach that allows for a wide variety of emphases.
ISBN: 9782924743072