I've just heard of a book by a man named Os Guiness called "Prophetic Untimeliness". Apparently, it's about the American church's preoccupation with relevance and how this is destroying our ability to stay close to the gospel. I'd be interested to hear from anyone on a review of this book if they have read it.

1Cor 3:10-15 is a blistering indictment about cultural relevance and remaining true to the gospel. We must be careful about what we build upon the foundation of the church (Christ Himself)with or risk destroying the church.

So Jim, how culturally sensitive should the church be? What do you see are sound rules of thumb that you think believers need to think about when engaging the culture around them?

People (Christians) can't help but be affected by their culture. You're a product of American culture, no matter how long you've lived in Thailand (even though you and your family are adapting). We all bring our culture with us. We bring it to the study of scripture as well, though there are some techniques that can help us as we study to at least make our cultural biases more visible to us.

You know, it's funny, as I was sitting here writing, I just thought about how there have been some arguments that I've read about the need to hear from other cultural perspectives in regard to Christian Theology. Sometimes, it seems that there is almost a sense that these other "perspectives" are purer. As if Americans don't have a clue about Christianity and we need to really "get it together" by listening to other Christians from other cultures in order to change. There is a little truth to that actually, but my point is that none of us, no matter the cultural perspective, escapes some sort of sinful bias that taints our ability to see Jesus and to know the truth of the scriptures. The fact that any of us knows anything of Jesus and can even try to tell others of Him is by His grace to us!!! Paul says himself that "...we look through a glass dimmly..." and "...we know in part...". I think that could relate to our sinfulness and this sinful world-system that affects our ability to fully know Jesus. Not only that, but now is not the time to fully know Jesus. There will come a time when we will fully know Jesus (as best as non-sinfulcreated human beings can). Until then, this particular age is affected by sin and keeps us from being able to truly reflect the real Jesus. One day it will happen, but until then, we need to our best, with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jim, I think you're right. The world is confused enough about Jesus without us adding to the confusion. I think our emphasis on "packaging" shows the church's own confusion, sadly enough. The analogy that Paul uses about Jesus being the head and us being the body in 1 Corinthians should at least give us a clue about what the church should look like and be about. Yet, we live in a world where cultural representation is important. I'm sure that worship music, for instance, is much more accepted in more of a Thia cultural expression, to some extent than if it was souther gospel hymns or Gregorian chant or black gospel.

Do you remember Jim when I used to come to you talking about creating Christian House-Music back in the late 80's - early 90's, and then Scott Blackwell came on the scene? I remember when Christian Hip-Hop was far-fetched, and now sometimes I can't tell the difference between the Christian rappers and those from the world! Talk about hiding Jesus!!