Not A Cultural Christian

When we lived in Dominica there was another couple from our hometown of Portland, OR. Like many Portlanders, they were staunchly, fiercely atheist. They believed that religion was responsible for all the conflict in the world. But we were still able to bond over our common love of the Pacific Northwest. 

     The husband was facetious and liked to strike up fiery debates with American Christians who lived on the island. There were more than a few public debates that were on the verge of turning violent. One day, we were shocked to see him at a Christian event and actually participating with a non-combative, positive attitude. At first I was cautiously excited – could this person who had hated Christians have actually become saved? He proudly approached me and declared that he had realized that he was a “cultural Christian” and my heart fell.

     The concept of “cultural Christian” is attributed to infamous atheist Richard Dawkins. It’s the basic acceptance that much of the good in Western culture is tied to Christian heritage, like our architecture, laws, and social justice. Dawkins points to his love of hymns, cathedrals, Christmas traditions, and community potlucks. “I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos. I do think we are culturally a Christian country. I'm not a believer, but there is a distinction between being a believing Christian and a cultural Christian.”

     Dawkins is actually expressing a fondness for the aesthetic and nostalgia of Christianity, not it’s core beliefs. He likes the cultural components of Christianity and even feels at home in them. And yet he still recognizes that there is a distinction between culture and belief.

     The staff took some time this week to attend the Damascus Road workshop along with several other churches (which we hosted for two days on the Oak Haven campus). Cultural values versus Kingdom values was one of the focuses of our time together. I was struck by the recent study that found that 15-19% of Muslims consider themselves “evangelical.” The theory behind that is that term has come to mean “religious conservative,” not specifically Christian. So culturally, they align with evangelical social & cultural ideas, but not Christian beliefs. 

     This made me think about how much of my own view of what makes me a Christian is actually based on cultural ideas rather than what I believe. When I look back on the Christian aspects of my life, I’m afraid of the aesthetic and nostalgic parts being disproportionate to my beliefs. What percentage of my time, energy and attention is spent caring more about “Christian cultural activities” than fervently being an apprentice of Jesus? Am I even able to separate the two? Does my life look different than Richard Dawkins’ or 19% of Muslims?

     In Romans 12 Paul writes for the church to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of our minds because we are the body of Christ. Each of us have impact as individual people, but we have even greater impact as a church. And the church’s mind should be the mind of Christ. If Oak Haven Church disappeared today would our neighbors miss us? Are we representing this new creation community to the world around us, are we bringing more of Heaven to Ham Lake? Are we praying for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven? The church is not here to meet our needs. We are the church and the church is here to meet the needs to the world.

     At Oak Haven, there are so many cultural things that can and do unite us. But I want to be bonded by something deeper, something richer. I do not want to just be a “cultural Christian,” I want to be a follower Jesus, care about the things He does, continue His work, to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. Be with Jesus, become like Him, do as He did (from Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer). And this is something I am going to have to work on getting better at on every day.