I have to admit, I’m a little confused.

Trying to understand the role of culture within church has got my head spinning.

Let me explain. I went to a conference recently about developing church around culture. Promoting the idea that churches should meet people where they are at, and aim to remove barriers that inhibit people experiencing the message of Jesus; a culturally relevant Christianity and church.  

My heart was singing, this is my idea of church, a living and exciting place where people feel free to come and explore what it means to have a relationship with Christ.

Yet I am brought down to earth when I see many Christians my age, who have fallen in love with the culture. Young people, who want to follow Jesus, yet struggle to draw a line as to where culture ends and Christ begins. Temptations like materialism, pornography, sex and many others the world throws our way that distract us from being God’s light in the world.

Thus my confusion! Is it possible to be culturally relevant as a person and a church, while continuing to be faithful to the life Jesus called us to?

Now I hear the voice of my Sunday School teacher repeating the good old saying, “Be in the world, not of it”. But what does that mean?

In John 17:15 Jesus prays to His Father for those who have chosen to follow Him. He says, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” Jesus was sending His followers into the culture that was about to crucify Him. He knew there would be temptations, pain, death and that many would turn away. Despite this, into the world He sent them, sends us, as His witnesses.

Yet, He doesn’t expect us to struggle with this alone. In verse 19 Jesus says, “And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so that they can be made holy in your truth.” It seems Jesus calls us to be in the world, and of Him through His sacrifice.

By allowing Jesus to shape our lives, we can dive into our culture and proclaim His name while resisting the temptations as a people set apart by God.

I’m now a little less confused.

Haylee Freudigmann

Youth Pastor

Reedy Creek Baptist Church

haylee@rcbc.org.au