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Yesterday I started a thought on the interaction of following Christ with culture (any culture—popular, low, high, whatever—and its expressions). The question is: What does it mean for the Gospel to interact with culture? 

The example  I used was Facebook. I probably would have avoided this example if I had researched the popularity of that discussion before (rather than after) I posted…. because this isn’t a conversation about Facebook or social media tools, but about interaction with culture in general. Here’s the question:

Should Christians:

a. Condemn Facebook
b. Create a “Christian” Facebook
c. Critique Facebook (by giving feedback, good or bad, to the creators and users)
d. Use Facebook for something different… 

I hope you see that the most powerful choice is “D.”

The key to this is not just using it and consuming it, but using it thoughtfully and powerfully. Christians can and should exist on Facebook, but should use it in a way that conforms with their holistic lifestyle commitment to the Kingdom of God and the values of Christ. 

And this isn’t a conversation about “internet evangelism,” nor (likewise) is it about how you can lead people to Christ via Facebook wall messages and pokes. 

The conversation has to be about this: when followers of Jesus choose to interact with something, like Facebook (or baseball or science or teaching or social justice or civic responsibilities or clothing), then the way they interact with it should help push the Kingdom of God to collide with the values of that culture.

The characteristics of God should be revealed.

The things God desires should start to manifest themselves.

Others should be provoked to think differently about life, God, and the culture. 

Take teaching. Teaching math. There needs to be good, Godly math teachers in public high schools. Not so that they can win favor with teachers and students and slip in a “Gospel message” occasionally without getting caught. But rather, teachers who see good education and loving on students as a Godly responsibility, and the possibility of good math leading the culture forward in the ways of the Kingdom of God. 

We often think about how these things (Facebook, teaching, math, etc.) can “open doors” for the Gospel. I believe we should be thinking about how these things can drive the Kingdom of God forcefully into culture for the common good. 

In summary, here’s a thought about “stepping into culture” and what it means to critically interact as both citizens of the Kingdom of God and participants in culture:

Be a force for Good. Whatever you’re doing, whether it’s teaching math or using Facebook, think about how you can use it to push others to think/live better.