"In sum, the twin dangers that cultural engagement seeks to avoid are 'cultural capitulation,' on the one hand, and 'cultural irrelevancy,' on the other." In every case of cultural engagement, there must be a yes and a no, a being in but not of, a continuity and a discontinuity with accepted cultural practices"From John D. Witvliet's Worship Seeking Understanding (p.119).
Desert Pastor and creator of Paradoxology blog, Chris Monroe -- an ordained elder in a Free Methodist Church writes, "As the product of an evangelical megachurch (chapter 11 was quite spot-on), I have grown increasingly suspicious of how evangelicals have frequently favored culture-pleasing evangelism over culture-shaping theology. Worship Seeking Understanding was therefore a refreshing read for me for many reasons, not the least of which being its emphasis on how important theology is (biblical, historical, systematic) in the shaping of liturgy -- not just the "what and how" of liturgy but the "why."
Within many denominational structures, there seems to be a persistent "push" and pressure to employ culturally proven and effective practices in the "growing" of the church. Such an emphasis has, in the past, driven the seeker-sensitive model of how many evangelicals "do" worship and church. Despite some heartfelt retractions by evangelical leaders, the role which culture should play in the worship and life of the church is not always an easy or cut-and-dry endeavor.
Check in on Paradoxology to see how the conversation continues. Feel free to comment here too.
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