Often times I hear of a tension between cultural relevance and correct theology.
Could the study of Culture and the Study of God be similar?
If we are really honest we will find God at work amidst culture regardless of the efforts of the 'Church' So does the church study systematic theology more in order to educate the world better on things that God is already doing without the 'Church's' help?
The script of culture will have markers that point to Him. The Scriptures help us interpret those cultural markers and say 'this is that'... or this is God at work as an active agent in the world we live in. There are many redemptive metaphors throughout society, biology, arts, culture, law that point to the human recognition that God is amoung us and active. The importance of the Scripture and theology is to study so we can see these sign posts and know what they mean [and I do not mean eschatologically]. But our efforts should be to study both with equal diligence.
If God is at work amoung us and not 'out there' then theology must encompass a wholistic view where culture has markers to find God already built within it. There is really no such thing as a godless person except for those who understand who He is and choose to ignore Him.
Could it be that there is more godlessness in those that 'know Him' [through disobedience] than through those that some would say have no knowledge of him? When we fail to recognize that God is amoung us and still an active agent in all manner of life, culturally, and otherwise [even in places where some would say he is not] we actually propogate a form of godlessness.
Thoughts?
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