Culture, Christendom and Christ

We live in complex times. The culture is changing in significant ways. Within Christendom our teachings, rituals, and beliefs distinguish us from the general culture and often even from one another. All of these forces have tremendous influence on our lives. In the midst of it all stands the Lord of heaven and earth who has called us out of the shaping influences of culture and history even while he has left us here in their midst. In this series we will consider those temporal things which subtly mold us in the light of the written word and the Word made flesh with the hope of seeing him who is invisible more clearly so that his likeness in us is witnessed by the watching world.

Featuring

Dr. Diane Langberg, PhD

LECTURE 1 - Culture and the Power of Words
It is relatively easy for us as Christians to list things that we think are wrong with our culture and what we long for in its place. But can we also list ways in which we are seduced by the very same culture we are quick to criticize? In this first session we will look at the surrounding culture and consider ways in which it might be shaping our use of words, our categories and our arguments and thereby seducing us from what we believe is truth.

LECTURE 2 - Christendom and the Seduction of Systems
It is easy to be deceived when we assume we are with those of like minds. The culture of Christendom and the massive system it has become can subtly and quickly blind us to wrongdoing in our efforts to preserve the system. We can incorrectly equate our human systems with Christ. In this second session we will consider the concept of systems, the culture of Christendom and our uses of power, and how our hearts are lured away from from our First Love.

LECTURE 3 - Christ and the Power of Person
Our lives are meant to be a true expression of the Word made flesh. When we confuse Christendom and Christ we pursue and protect many things but Christlikeness is generally not the “one thing.” In this session we will fix our eyes on the Person of the Word, both the written Word and the incarnate Word, considering what it means for Christ to truly have preeminence.

LECTURE 4 - Therefore: Our Response to the World
We have considered systems, both secular and Christian, which can easily and even unknowingly draw us away from the Person of our Lord and Christ. We have also considered how these systems can turn our hearts and minds from focusing on the call to love and obedience to Christ at all costs. We will finish this series with the question raised by Francis Schaeffer many years ago: “How shall we then live?”

Q&A