Essay On Culture Of Culture

Culture and the Mission, Form, and Function of the Church

From its inception, the Church has presented the timeless truth of the gospel through the lens of culture. As early as the book of Acts, God called upon Peter to deliver the gospel to a group of Gentiles, a thought that was inconceivable up until this point (Acts 10). Throughout the history of the church, God has sent His servants to proclaim the message to thousands of different people groups of unique cultures. However, at times cultural differences can cloud the delivery of the message, whether on the part of the hearer, or the speaker. These barriers may occur among people of different nationalities, or within the same neighborhood. Assessing the cultural differences of any target group is essential in order to minimize needless distractions, as this can occur anywhere.

This author was serving as senior pastor in the ministry scrutinized in this essay. The time-period in question served as a turning point for this church, and the cultural factors warrant an examination of how they played a role in its eventual success. In an effort to determine culture’s influence on a local congregation seeking to fulfill the Universal Church’s mission, an analysis of its core goals in relation to this unchanging mission, its efforts toward its target culture, and its cultural foundations affecting ministry efforts revealed culture’s ability to both enhance and usurp the Universal Church’s mission.

The Mission and Goals of the Local Ministry

Just before Jesus ascended, He gave His disciples their mission, commonly known as the Great Commission, to make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). As the church has developed, this charge is central to its mission. Making disciples is not just an activ...

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...nel, approach, expectations, intended results, and essential values. A common mistake is to assume the culture and individual grows up in is correct. Failing to analyze any culture against biblical standards can prove disastrous.

References

Dada, A. (2014). Old wine in new bottle: Elements of Yoruba culture in Aladura Christianity. Black Theology, 12(1), 19-32.

Grace Church (2014). Statement of faith of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Retrieved from: http://www.gracemesa.org/statement.html

Guder, D. L. (2005). Worthy living: Work and witness from the perspective of missional church theology. Word & World, 25(4), 424-432.

Hull, B. (1996). T-Net. Training Net. Aurora: Evangelical Free Church of America.

Hull, B. (2010). A reluctant prophet: How does professor Willard propose to take over the world? Journal Of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care, 3(2), 283-295.