Pros and Cons of Cultural Christianity

If you live in the West you live in a part of the world that is, culturally speaking, quite Christian.

And there are a lot of opinions about that.

Today, we’ll explore some of those opinions, seeing both the good and bad that come from cultural Christianity. 

Cons

We live in a polarized world, and cultural Christianity is a part of that.

In his book, The Godless Crusade, Cambridge scholar Tobias Cremer explores cultural Christianity's role in the rise of right-wing populism in Germany, France, and the United States.

In these movements, Christianity is little more than a cultural identity marker used to exclude those who are different, fuel nationalistic myths, and support polarizing politicians.

Being disconnected from the morality of the Gospel enables these movements to use cultural Christianity to support a message that is, in many ways, non-Christian.

And that's one of the biggest issues with cultural Christianity - it wants the fruit but has no interest in the tree.

We’ll talk more about that tomorrow but, in my opinion, it essentially sets cultural Christianity up for failure. 

You see, Christianity didn’t become culturally significant because of nice church buildings and lovely songs. Christianity became culturally significant because of the Gospel’s life-changing power.

Remove that from the equation and you’re left with only a pale imitation.

Pros

The Gospel is beautiful.

Evidence for that beauty is found not only in the message itself but in what that message has produced:

• Handel’s The Messiah

• Barcelona’s Sagrada Família

• Michelangelo’s Madonna della Pietà

• Dante’s Divine Comedy

Though cultural Christians deny the Gospel, they can’t deny the beauty it inspires.

Of course, just because the Gospel inspires beauty doesn’t mean it’s true, but it does lend credibility.

Cultural Christians open themselves to this beauty and, as a result, the Gospel themes it carries. Even if they don’t believe those themes, I think the exposure to and influence from them is good - very good.

I believe it is, for many, the first step towards an authentic encounter with God - and that’s great!

Furthermore, cultural Christianity helps the most unlikely characters realize they have more in common than expected.

Richard Dawkins, in the interview I referenced in part one, described himself as being on “team Christian” when it comes to Christian versus Muslim missionary work.

Sure, Dawkins doesn’t believe a lick of the theology but, because of cultural Christianity, one of the world’s foremost atheists has at least one point of commonality with even the strictest fundamentalist. 

So long as we’re willing to let it, I think a lot of good can come from that.

Cultural Christianity can bring a lot of good, but that good is a starting point, not a place I’d recommend someone to stay.

Why is that?

Because of what Jesus Himself had to say on the matter.

More on that tomorrow.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

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