Spiritual Warfare and Western Culture: A Gospel Perspective

Western Culture and The Gospel Bruce Clarke 20/03/2025 1

Overview The Spiritual Battle Ground of Western Culture The Autonomous Self of Western Culture The Gospel Challenging Western Culture Western Culture Domesticates the Gospel Genuine Response to the Gospel 20/03/2025 2

Overview The Spiritual Battle Ground of Western Culture The Autonomous Self of Western Culture The Gospel Challenging Western Culture Western Culture Domesticates the Gospel Genuine Response to the Gospel 20/03/2025 3

Spiritual Warfare -1 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:3-5 There is a war which is being fought over the hearts and minds of people. The battle is around truth the true knowledge of God There are strongholds (fortified places) of arguments and pretensions (i.e. beliefs in our culture) that are opposed to God Our weapons have divine power 20/03/2025 4

Spiritual Warfare - 2 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God 26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Cor 1:17-18,26-27 Paul s weapon was the bold proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. Our confidence is not in clever arguments, holding a position of power or higher class It is proclaimed from a position of weakness and humility. See Eph 6:10-20 for our armour 20/03/2025 5

Spiritual Warfare - 3 Rightly handling the word of truth 2 Tim 2:15 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Col 2:8 20/03/2025 6

Overview The Spiritual Battle Ground of Western Culture The Autonomous Self of Western Culture The Gospel Challenging Western Culture Western Culture Domesticates the Gospel Genuine Response to the Gospel 20/03/2025 7

The Autonomous Self Autonomy is about a person's ability to act on his or her own values and interests The autonomous self locates the self at the centre of the world interpreting all things from this self-centred perspective Remember this one term the expressions logically follow Identifying the expressions of western culture should help to detect them and it is for us to address them biblically 20/03/2025 8

The Autonomous Self: Human Flourishing Re-Defined Human flourishing, living the good life, is primarily perceived in terms of self-fulfilment and so involves health, wealth, finding and expressing your true inner self. 20/03/2025 9

The Autonomous Self: Truth The truth about one s self comes from within People are sceptical about any universal religious truth claims Publicly accepted truth must be based on a humanist view of the world 20/03/2025 10

The Autonomous Self: Morality/Sin Since there is no universal truth there is no sin, just mistakes coming from poor past experiences. The problems in one s self and in society are seen to be due to oppressive forces outside of one s self This also gives freedom to engage in any immoral activity with little constraint 20/03/2025 11

The Autonomous Self: No External Authority There is contempt and distrust of any external authorities (such as institutions) which are perceived as oppressive. Moral boundaries of religious institutions are seen as suppressing freedom and controlling 20/03/2025 12

The Autonomous Self: Experiences Primary Reason may be shunned as elitist but more likely shunned if it does not fit moral liberty. Personal experiences are elevated such personal experiences are attractive as they are more open to individual interpretation and gives more authority to the individual. 20/03/2025 13

The Autonomous Self: Shallow Community There is a buffering from those around us to maintain their individually determined views and behaviour. 20/03/2025 14

The Autonomous Self: Expressive Consumerism Identity is expressed through the consumption of products Consumption attempts to meet our need for fulfilment. 20/03/2025 15

The Autonomous Self: Private Beliefs/Faith Faith is largely driven into the private world as this is seen as only subjective values. 20/03/2025 16

The Autonomous Self: The Self- Generation With the focus on self, there is a huge therapeutic industry in self-esteem, self-help, self-assertion, self-fulfilment, self- realisation, self-expression and self-determination courses and materials, which are aimed at individual growth, and which were unheard of until recently. 20/03/2025 17

The Autonomous Self: Haunting But this focus on the self gives a sense of loss, emptiness, and futility. There is a haunting of the transcendent, a haunting that there is something more. 20/03/2025 18

The Autonomous Self: Seeking Uptopia The hope of the Gospel is lost, and human utopias have been created as a replacement. 20/03/2025 19

The Autonomous Self Human Flourishing Re-Defined Truth Morality/Sin No External Authority Experiences Primary Shallow Community The Self- Generation Expressive Consumerism Private Beliefs/Faith Haunting Seeking Uptopia 20/03/2025 20

Contrasting Views - 1 Traditional/Historical Western Cultural God over all, transcendent God of our private consciousness, god inside Self is Enthroned (Jesus my assistant) God s accessibility God is Enthroned (Jesus my Lord) God s Holiness Morality, mystery and meaning found in God Morality, mystery and meaning found in Self To know God requires revelation We can know god by our own effort Sola Scriptura Sola Cultura Right standing with God Right standing with self 20/03/2025 21

Contrasting Views - 2 Traditional/Historical Western Cultural The Bible is about me The Bible is about God s redemptive work in history Theology Therapy, Psychology The Word and Truth Intuition and Feeling Scripture Challenging Scripture providing comfort and assurance Doctrinal Minimalists Doctrinal Richness Spirituality from God through the Word Spirituality from Within Through Experiences, Mystical 20/03/2025 22

Contrasting Views - 3 Traditional/Historical Western Cultural Good and Evil Righteousness Holiness Sin Guilt Regeneration Reconciliation Required Personal Faith Public Faith Character Well-Being Happiness Wholeness Mistakes Shame Recovery Acceptance as we are Individualistic Faith Private Faith Personality (Appearance) 20/03/2025 23

Contrasting Views - 4 Traditional/Historical Western Cultural Ethics Conviction Belief Reason Absolutes Responsibilities Self-sacrifice, self-discipline Feeling good about one s self Opinion Scepticism Emotions, Intuition, Experiences Relativity Rights Self-fulfilment 20/03/2025 24

Overview The Spiritual Battle Ground of Western Culture The Autonomous Self of Western Culture The Gospel Challenging Western Culture Western Culture Domesticates the Gospel Genuine Response to the Gospel 20/03/2025 25

Challenging Western Culture: Community - Opposite to The Autonomous Self? the autonomous self is at the heart of western culture malaise The joining of Gentiles and Jews in one body is the manifold wisdom of God - Eph 3:10,11 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,11according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus formed a community. 1 Peter 2:9-10, 1 John 1:1-3 20/03/2025 26

Challenging Western Culture: Community - Opposite to The Autonomous Self? Jesus prayed for unity as a witness in John 17:11,20-23, John 13:34-35 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one 23I in them and you in me so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23 20/03/2025 27

Challenging Western Culture: Discipleship Challenging and Changing world views Discipleship should challenge the fundamental world views opposed to Christ. If we focus on, say, self-fulfilment, then we will be re-enforcing a cultural belief that conflicts with the Gospel What specifically should be given focus to profoundly affect the western cultural world view? Character of God, the nature of people, the person and work of Christ and the Scriptures Lordship (John 6:22-71) 20/03/2025 28

Challenging Western Culture: Affirming and Subverting Western Culture Bold proclamation in weakness: 1 Cor 1:17-31 Reasoned argument: Acts 17:2-3 20/03/2025 29

Challenging Western Culture: Affirming and Subverting Western Culture - Acts 17 22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TOANUNKNOWNGOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands .28 For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, We are his offspring. 29 Therefore since we are God s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone an image made by human design and skill.30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent 32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, We want to hear you again on this subject. Affirmation and subversion: Acts 17:16-34 Use language, symbols and topics of our culture Take a widely held view and show how Jesus addresses it (subverts the stronghold) e.g. the world is broken (in Acts 17 it was about the spiritual realm) Bold Proclamation (Repent!) Gain a further hearing from some 20/03/2025 30

Overview The Spiritual Battle Ground of Western Culture The Autonomous Self of Western Culture The Gospel Challenging Western Culture Western Culture Domesticates the Gospel Genuine Response to the Gospel 20/03/2025 31

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel Christians are left with the dilemma of how to communicate the Gospel to people within this culture We want to get people s attention by being initially relevant but, when a believer matures, we assist in them holding a more biblical world view But we need to be careful that we are not presenting a distorted Gospel as we help people mature Not only do we need to be concerned about the culture outside of Christianity but we also need to aware of distortions within 20/03/2025 32

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel Health and Wealth (Prosperity) Gospel Personal Power Gospel Therapeutic Gospel Personal Guidance & Revelation Gospel Experiential Mystical Gospel Progressive Gospel Freedom Gospel Liberal Gospel Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 20/03/2025 33

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel: Health and Wealth (Prosperity) Gospel You need to make an investment, put down a deposit, make a financial contribution to unlock God s blessings for you and you will reap a huge reward you will be prosperous and healthy (a flourishing life is a life of wealth and health). God is reduced to a means to your success. 20/03/2025 34

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel: Therapeutic Gospel The Bible is primarily interpreted to be about me and my personal self-fulfilment, self-affirmation and self-love. We are not seen as sinners, but we are encouraged to find the true and beautiful self that is deep within. 20/03/2025 35

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel: Personal Power Gospel Places emphasis on possessing certain spiritual powers and makes a strong distinction between the spirit and the body and soul (a form of Gnosticism). The word of faith movement says that we can use certain key words that Jesus used to activate a spiritual force. Decreeing and declaring are power words used in the word of faith movement which claims we have God-like power and that god is within 20/03/2025 36

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel: Personal Guidance and Revelation Gospel People are looking for specific guidance in their lives and essentially believe that the Bible is not sufficient for such guidance. Supernatural experiences and prophecies are common and can effectively take on more authority than Scripture. The large increase in false prophecies and prophets that we are experiencing is a sign of this gospel. This perspective builds on the cultural desire for personal experiences and significance. 20/03/2025 37

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel: Experiential Mystical Gospel . Emphasises personal revelation and mystical experiences. Such experiences may be attractive because they are non- authoritative, open to subjective interpretation. It is similar to New Age and New Thought spirituality that defines spirituality in non-authoritative experiences. 20/03/2025 38

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel: Liberal Gospel Essential it removed the supernatural elements and produce a gospel that was free of any god. 20/03/2025 39

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel: Progressive Gospel The Progressive Gospel could be seen to be the new version of the Liberal Gospel . Its approach is to take people through a process of deconstructionism, a shedding off of beliefs you may hold. Firm truth discovery is not the real aim, as truth is progressing, and we now know more about God than the Bible portrays. This flexibility with truth allows them to adopt liberal views on current moral issues. 20/03/2025 40

Western Culture Domesticating the Gospel Distorted versions of Christianity no longer challenge the culture and can even support cultural elements in conflict with the Gospel. The problem is that rather than using cultural ideologies to gain interest and then subverting them with the Gospel, the ideologies are upheld by distorting the Gospel to conform to the culture. 2 Tim 4:4 are these cases of responding to people s aspirations, satisfying itching ears? One of our key responsibilities is to rightly handle the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15). Ask Is this really supported by Scripture? Is this a normative text that can be widely applied? 20/03/2025 41

Have we lost our confidence in the Gospel? Have we lost our confidence in the Gospel? Does this domestication of the Gospel reflect a loss of confidence in the Gospel? What will it take to regain or deepen our confidence in the Gospel? Rom 1:16, 2Cor 4:1-18, 1 Thess 2:13, 1 Cor 1:17-24 20/03/2025 42

Overview The Spiritual Battle Ground of Western Culture The Autonomous Self of Western Culture The Gospel Challenging Western Culture Western Culture Domesticates the Gospel Genuine Response to the Gospel 20/03/2025 43

Genuine Response to the Gospel? A superficial initial response to the Gospel is expected It is likely that many will respond to a distorted interpretation of the gospel e.g. Jesus helps me to fulfill my life goals. This may not be a salvation response The problem comes if we continue to present a gospel that re- enforces cultural distortions and does not challenge the immature believer with the true Gospel What must be shared? The character of God, the nature of people and the person and work of Christ 20/03/2025 44

Conclusion Rightly handle the word of truth the goal is to accurately and faithfully communicate the Gospel Reviewed the autonomous self of western culture Requires: Confidence in the Gospel Bold Proclamation; not just clever arguments Affirm and subvert cultural perceptions Clarity on the Gospel (avoiding domestication) Ensuring appropriate focus is given to the Gospel Discipling into Community 20/03/2025 45