Carson doesn't sleap much ( )

The theme of Christ and Culture Revisited is the relation of Christians (and especially groups of Christians-the church!) to culture (pgs. 13ff, 58, 98, 207). DAC provides an analysis of H. Richard Neibuhr's 1951 five generalized "responses" of Christian's to culture (p. 208). Neibuhr's (so influential and helpful-to-"great conversation") framework provides a touchstone for DAC while the (so authoritative) scriptures (systematic theology, what DAC calls the "non-negotiables of Biblical Theology" aka the great turning points in redemptive history, pgs. 45-59) provides the TOUCHSTONE!

DAC's emphasis on our "perspectivalness" is most helpful (pgs. 87-104). We are all perspectivalists, influenced by our culture (p. 113). His defining of terms is also helpful and necessary (culture is "an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols..." pgs. 2, 69, 85, 205).

"Are Christians part of a larger culture (embedded in it and) called upon by God to be making contributions to this larger culture; or, is "the kingdom of God" the larger culture and the only way of looking at the Christian community's involvement in culture?" This helpful framing of the debate flowed out of pages 209-219 (and 98).

His thesis is that it is best not to restrict our responses into just one of five (man-constructed) possibilities, but that different situations call for the application of different biblical principles. We are to apply all truth concurrently, using discernment to apply the appropriate scritpture at a particular time, place, and circumstance (pgs. 42, 43, 45, 59, 60, 62, 67, 79, 85, 145, 172, 206). He would say that these different "man-constructed" possibilites are helpful, to help us grasp different sparkles of truth.

Teaching a Worldview class I found this book a helpful addition to the discussion. Carson gives a thorough analysis of Richard Niebuhr work Chris and Culture. He gives understanding of many of the distortions of this concept in this postmodern world. He shows the relationship of between Christ and the culture based on a biblical approach that focuses on redemptive history. it is a book that makes you think. ( )