I direct your attention to the comments recorded at 36:23 – 41:01 as profitable for reflecting on the relationship between (1) Christianity, (2) the church, (3) preaching, (4) the Bible, on the one hand, and cultural obedience.
Hallowing God’s Name in Public Life (by John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org)
Having listened to that section, I invite you to rewind back to 14:26 – 18:08. Listen and think along with Dr. Piper’s well-crafted analysis.
Now ponder this as well: by the phrase “nested balance,” I have in mind something like what computer programmers call a “nested subroutine.” In this case, it refers to demonstrating the very thing you’re seeking to explain–while you’re explaining it!
Here’s what I mean. While explaining how the gospel impacts cultural structures, Dr. Piper is demonstrating how that happens by speaking these words to law students. He is describing to law students the relationship between (1) – (4) and cultural obedience as a gospel preacher! He wouldn’t be there otherwise. He is modeling the very culture-being-transformed-by-gospel-activity many of us are advocating.
Sadly, the term “transformation” slides across the lips of some people with a sneer, a snort, and a sniffle. What is annoyingly unhelpful is their persistent binary thinking, as though we have only two choices: either (1) we humans/Christians/churches transform culture, OR (2) the church must restrict itself to focusing on “spiritual” things (whatever they are) lest she slip into preaching “the social gospel.”
Here, once again, with Dr. Piper’s analysis, we’re invited to consider a third way.
Leave a comment