Three Approaches to Impacting Culture for Christ

As Christians, we are called to make disciples and impact culture by being ambassadors for Christ in a world that is in desperate need of the light of the gospel. There are many ideas and opinions surrounding how to best go about this, but there are two questions that must come before all of them. [Note: we talk about the contents of this article in depth in our first episode of the In & For Podcast].

How should we define Culture?

There are multiple definitions of culture floating around out there. This is because some hold to more of a dictionary definition while others hold to a contextualized definition they’ve come across from an author or other content creator. Regardless of preferred definitions, here’s what we can all agree upon:

  • Wherever there are people there is culture
  • Culture occurs when people interact with each other and with the world around us 
  • How a group of people interact with each other and the world informs us about their culture

This is important to remember for a very noteworthy reason. While culture on a global scale can be vast, complex, and ever changing, we must remember that culture isn’t just on a global – or even national – scale. Culture exists even where there are only a few people (our own families, neighborhoods, and communities). When we shrink culture down to this size, all of the sudden culture is approachable. It allows us to avoid being paralyzed by scope and to start where we are and with those who are within our area of influence. Only then can we begin to work outward in the larger concentric circles of culture. The question is, how do we approach culture to make an impact for Christ? 

Related: The Biggest Challenge for Christianity in 2025

How should we engage with culture?

Let’s look at three approaches to culture and determine which best fits within a biblical worldview. Throughout each example, I’ll use Paul in Athens (Acts 17) as a reference point to consider since it’s such a powerful example of cultural engagement in the New Testament. 

Cultural Approach One: Against culture

In this approach, there is a desire to withdraw from nearly everything in culture that is not explicitly Christian in nature. There is a problem here though. 

While the desire is well intentioned, in application the result is that the Christian withdraws not just from the products of culture but also the people within that culture; people who need to know the truth of salvation in Christ. 

Imagine Paul having such an approach when he visited Athens in Acts 17. He would not have been “cut to the heart” out of concern for the people when he saw the idols in Athens. He would have just been embittered, spat on the ground and sent word to Timothy and Silas that they’ll be heading elsewhere. 

We, too, must be careful not to be so “against culture” that we just determine to cast it aside and isolate ourselves from the knowledge of all cultural trends as well as from those who need Jesus in order to retreat to only-Christian surroundings. 

Cultural Approach Two: Of Culture

In this approach, the pendulum swings entirely the opposite way. Here there is a desire to show the world that Christianity does not force one into a joyless life of brow beating and rule following. Unfortunately, in an “of culture” approach, that desire is expressed by looking so much like the surrounding culture, there is no longer anything distinctive about being a follower of Christ. 

In application, the result is that the Christian sacrifices too much for the sake of culture. The Christian also ends up being blinded to the sin-stained and corrupt nature of culture. But perhaps the greatest problem with this approach is that peers, family, neighbors and others do not see an “of culture” Christian as someone who can provide wisdom, help or counsel in times of distress. Because there is no distinct and faithful presence for Christ, the only conclusion is, “that person is pretty much like me and has the same answers as me.”

If Paul would have taken this approach in Athens, he would not have been engaging with the people and showing them a more excellent way. He would have been more focused on looking as much like them as possible to fit in and then somehow “surprising” them at some point with the fact that he is a follower of Christ. And here is the conundrum for the “of culture” Christian. The longer you “blend in” so to speak, the more difficult (and hypocritical) it becomes to take a stand for Christ. 

Related: How to Discern God’s Voice in a Loud World

Cultural Approach Three: In and For Culture

The final approach is to be in and for culture – for its ultimate good. In this approach, there is a desire to show the world that we know God has placed in our particular cultural contexts to reach the surrounding culture for its ultimate good. That ultimate good being the essential truths of Christianity (God is real and good, The Bible is trustworthy, Jesus is Savior, our identity/significance is best found in Christ and our purpose is best fulfilled in submission to God’s authority). 

The desire to be in and for Christ and in and for the surrounding culture for its ultimate good perfectly harmonizes the Christian worldview. It acknowledges that we are in a lost and corrupted culture, but it doesn’t fully withdraw from it or fully embrace it. Instead, it steps into that culture with the light of Christ. It understands that culture is made of people who are made in the image of God and therefore have intrinsic value and worth. It approaches others in humility to understand them and then lovingly points them to the God of creation and salvation.

This is the approach Paul took in Athens. He clearly took time to engage with the people (in the streets and within the synagogue), learned more about their culture (writings and artifacts), and then demonstrated all of this in his discussion with the philosophers toward the end of the chapter. He was quoting their writings, citing their poets, and showing a clear understanding of why they built the altar to an unknown God, as well how the real God can be truly known. This is what it looks like to be in and for culture for its ultimate good. 

This, too, is the approach that we should take in our interactions and conversations with others. We must be simultaneously in and for Christ while showing that we’re in and for the cultures where the Lord has given us influence and share of voice. 

Where can you begin to be more “in and for” in the cultural context where God has placed you? It’s a question worth prayerfully considering as you seek to live on mission for Christ and impact culture for its ultimate good.

We discuss this issue in depth in episode one of the In & For Podcast. Subscribe and listen to the podcast

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