Cultivators of Culture

Fellow Labourers-

We are just coming out of our annual youth camp where we experienced the hand of God in action. We got a foretaste of the revival that is about to sweep Jamaica. Within the scope of that revival was the subtle presence of a theme that seeks to challenge the prevailing culture. The presence of a number of our more mature saints was a touchstone of no minor significance.

Indeed we cannot challenge or engage the culture until we understand the culture through our spiritual prism. To ignore the culture or to be impacted by the culture in a negative way is not an option for us. This article touches my very being because of its relevance and timeliness.

Here the words of the author, "First, we exercise cultural stewardship by becoming familiar with our culture through art, music, literature and film. How does one speak into a culture without the knowledge of its language? One need not see, read, or listen to every movie, art exhibit, book, or piece of music in order to learn how to speak into culture. Rather, what are the cultural works that stir discussion in our churches, at our workplaces, or in our social settings? These might be voices to whom we listen as we engage with the language of the gospel.


Second, we exercise cultural stewardship by recovering the doctrine of the Incarnation. The Incarnation of Jesus suggests the total union of the human and divine. Wolfe notes that we apply this Incarnational balance to many of our theological concepts, holding together in union God's justice and God's mercy, God's sovereignty, and human responsibility.(2) In a similar manner, the Incarnation serves as a plumb line for our engagement with the various voices of our culture. If we simply enter into cultural engagement without spiritual discernment, we are driven here and there by every trend and twist in our culture. However, if we remove ourselves from all cultural engagement, we lose our ability to communicate and speak to the culture lacking the vocabulary of faith."

Because of the social dynamics operating around us we may not be able to prevent certain diversions. However, we cannot allow a few deviants to ruin the garden. In our attempt to seem politically correct and unified we are throwing the baby out with the bath water. It's time to call a halt to mindless change that is undermining real spirituality and godliness. Let us arise and begin to cultivate the culture. Remember the Moravian motto we saw on the wall of the chapel "Vicit Agnus Noster. Eum Sequamur - Our Lamb has conquered, him let us follow."

Pax Vobiscum

Robert A. Stewart J.P.
Pastor