Theology of Cultural Renewal
Committed to Renewing Culture
Two responses to the salvation Christ offers have historically led the Church awry.
One school of thought is self-centered. The Evangelical Protestant church can, at times, myopically view the work of the cross solely as fire insurance, something that "saves my soul from hell" and secures eternal salvation. This can be seen as the sum total of Christ’s salvific work until He returns, which leaves us to tell others, wait for Jesus’ return, pursue holiness, and alleviate the suffering of others where we can.
Another school of thought is the ‘Social Gospel’ movement of the twentieth century, where Christians, and accompanying allies, attempted to bring heaven on earth through political policy, social movements, applied science, and sustainable technology. The thinking being, "If only we can get things in order and educate the masses towards higher ends, a more just, peaceful, and harmonic world will evolve."
The Collaborative for Cultural and Economic Renewal eschews either extreme.
Christ, and Christ alone, is sovereign and brings about the restoration of Creation.
He will do so fully upon His return, for which we wait eagerly.
Yet, in the meantime, He invites His covenant people to co-labor with Him towards a world of peace, justice, and love. The people Christ calls to Himself receive salvation and the charge to co-labor with Him in the restoration of Creation.
Co-Labor With God
The Collaborative is about doubling down as the Church to do our part to "put his whole world right", and yet recognizing we do so at the Lord’s invitation, reliant upon His leading and transformation along the way. This is what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 3:9 when he writes, "By our labor, we co-labor with God..." (Here, we've utilized the original Greek word for co-labor in this passage, sunergos.)
Cultural and economic renewal are so badly needed in the American context. Within the culture, we find more and more that values and virtue are divorced from the marketplace, the arts, and government.
Economic distress, embodied in impoverished communities and impoverished souls, prevents a human flourishing that brings dignity, purpose, and clarity both to one’s labor and community. Once restored and placed within the larger context of God’s design and desire for creation’s renewal, our union with Christ unfolds and transforms both us and those around us.
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