Christ and Culture: Examining Christian Values and Society

This essay explores the intricate relationship between Christ and culture, examining various perspectives and their implications. It begins by defining the conflict between Christ and culture, where Christ is seen as above culture, and then moves on to discuss the merging of Christian values with cultural elements, highlighting the potential for distortion. Furthermore, the essay delves into the concept of Christ above culture, where both are recognized as gifts from God, and the role of law and virtues are explored. It also examines the evangelical Protestant teaching, which acknowledges the sinfulness of humans and the need for divine grace. Finally, the essay touches upon the idea of transforming culture through the presence of God. Overall, the essay emphasizes the importance of balancing religious teachings and cultural practices to avoid discrepancies and maintain a harmonious relationship between faith and society.

Running head: CHRIST AND CULTURE
CHRIST AND CULTURE
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CHRIST AND CULTURE
Christian teaching and culture are two aspects that have been widely debated. The
essay aims to focus on how Christian values and learning go hand in hand with the changing
environment.
Christ against culture means that Christ is above everything and denies all forms of
culture. It does not believe in influencing the evil world. Tertullian, a theologian, too said that
Christ and his laws are above all and some aspects of culture should be rejected. Christ of
culture has a scope of merging Christian values with human ideas and civilisation (Hollinger,
2002). It means that an individual can accept cultural norms but minimally. It is willing to
take cultural realities. However, it has its limitation that the merger of the two gives rise to
distorted faith and the emergence of false gods. In Christ above culture, both are recognised
as gifts of God. Believers agree that society has life and institutions are good, and it is God
who gave culture (Hollinger, 2002). However, Christ above culture, according to Aquinas, is
evident in the teaching of law, virtues and thinking. Christ above culture is also apparent in
the evangelical protestant teaching. The fourth argument states that sin is found in all human
beings, and the righteous act of humans are tainted by other sins (Hollinger, 2002). The
solution can only come from God’s grace. According to Martin Luther, God here rules
differently than in his kingdom. In this paradox, sin is taken seriously as a result of which
earth can never become heaven. The issue here is its failure to accept redemption and
holiness in the believers and their interaction with the society (Hollinger, 2002). Christ
transforming culture approach believes that the evil in the world can be removed. As God is
present everywhere, the world can change, as the creator and redeemer are one, and therefore,
redemption will be achieved (Hollinger, 2002).
Therefore to conclude the relationship between culture and Christ is quite significant
for Christians. People need to balance their religious teachings and culture to avoid
discrepancies.

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References
Hollinger, D. P. (2002). Choosing the good: Christian ethics in a complex world. Baker
Books.