Category: Culture

Culture
In the Culture category, I seek to cast light on things that are good, beautiful, and true. Christians are dual citizens of heaven and earth. We should expect to face trials as we persevere in this broken world. But we must not lose our way. We must keep our focus on the values of the Kingdom that are not of this world. In doing so, we create things that resemble the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Creator.

This is the Cultural Mandate that God gave to His people–fill and subdue the earth (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:15). We fulfill this mandate by pursuing things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable in the midst of this broken world (Philippians 4:8-9). Followers of Jesus seek excellence. In many contexts, this is counter-cultural.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of viewing church work as the only honorable calling. It’s as if “secular” vocations are a waste of time. This is simply not the case. Believers who are called to work outside the church should do so unto the Lord. Every task we are called to do is sacred work. We should do so to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17, 23).

If you enjoy the topic of Culture, you may also enjoy my Biblical Studies category. For more on the areas of music and worship, check out my Worship Studies topic.

I am open to other points of view, but please understand that my position is offered from a theologically conservative, Baptist perspective. I hope we can find common ground and enjoy respectful dialogue while encouraging one another to be dedicated followers of Jesus.

Lastly, you’re likely asking, “What does A Thing Worth Doing mean?” I have an answer! Maybe. Check out this post for an explanation.

Christian College Admissions—or any Vocation—as an Opportunity for Ministry

I wrote this essay for my denomination’s magazine, One Magazine. Many Christians have created an unnecessary and even dangerous separation between the “spiritual” and the “secular.” Perhaps nowhere is this more prevalent than in the area of vocation. Whether it be engineering, business, the arts, journalism, public service, education, technology, farming, medicine, or sales, every […]

Culture & the Arts from the Perspective of Leroy Forlines

In describing the profound impact of F. Leroy Forlines on students, pastors, and laypeople, one writer said that “his most valuable contribution was a theology that is big enough, deep enough, and meaningful enough to impact all of life.”[1] One way in which Forlines has had a big, deep, and meaningful impact in my own […]

Seek Truth, Beauty, and Goodness . . . but Avoid “Cultural Snobbery”

The first time I heard the quote, “A thing worth doing is worth doing badly,” was from Robert Picirilli after I presented a paper on Leroy Forlines’s view of the arts. Much of what follows below on the topic of cultural snobbery is from that paper. The chief duty of man is, as the Westminster […]