Welcome to episode 207 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue in our series on Christian citizenship.  Today, we tackle the topic of cultural engagement. 

Key takeaways:  

• As followers of Christ, we're called to a distinctive way of life that sometimes aligns with and sometimes challenges the prevailing culture.   
• Three principles for cultural engagement: 
• Christians should be distinctively Christian. 
• Christians must be engaged. 
• Christians should be thoughtful about our influence. 
• Three models of cultural engagement: 
• Critical consumption - examine cultural content thoughtfully.  
• Common grace collaboration - God's common grace enables non-believers to create good things, discover truth, and promote justice. 
• Counter-cultural community -  some aspects of our faith and practice will inevitably stand in contrast to the surrounding culture. 

Quotable:  

• Compromise for the sake of relevance ultimately leads to irrelevance.  

Application:  

• A balanced approach to cultural engagement requires wisdom and discernment. It means constantly asking questions like:  
• What aspects of this cultural element reflect God's truth, goodness, and beauty?  
• What aspects distort or contradict God's design?  
• How can I appreciate the good while respectfully challenging the problematic?  
• How can my engagement bear witness to a more excellent way?  
• Cultivate deep biblical knowledge. The better we understand Scripture, the more clearly we can discern what in culture aligns with or contradicts God's design. 
• Practice intentional cultural awareness. Pay attention to the messages in the media you consume, the assumptions in the education system, and the values celebrated in entertainment. 
• Build relationships with non-believers. 
• Find like-minded community. Cultural engagement is challenging to sustain alone. 
• Recognize that our ultimate goal isn't just cultural analysis or even cultural transformation, but pointing to Christ through our engagement. 

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