Withdrawal and Engagement

From before the time of Christ, there have been religious groups who saw their role as standing apart from society, maintaining a pure system with minimal engagement. The Essenes in intertestamental times are thought to be such a group. While there was some positive functions - the preservation of Scriptures, for example - these groups played much less a role in daily society than groups such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, who tried to be intentionally involved in their cultures.

Other groups have always wanted a top-down structure which enforced a set of beliefs on all within their sphere of influence. The conquistadors who baptized all the natives and claimed them as believers exemplify this type of cultural "engagement".

Ultimately, both those who withdraw and those who force engagement minimize their effectiveness in a society. The pattern that shows the most success - the pattern we even see among the early church - is a group of people whose relationship to each other and to their God impacts every aspect of life and through the resulting actions, "turn the world upside down".

Lesslie Newbigin presents the role of the Christian in Biblical engagement as beginning with opening up underlying assumptions, asking unasked questions, and probing unrecognized presuppositions. A biblically solid believer will have something solid to stand on when engaging society in such a manner. A lifestyle that is consistent with teachings, solid scholarship, authenticity, and credibility will go a long way toward significant cultural engagement.

Ultimately, we have the same contribution to make as the early church. We can provide both support and challenge, challenging toward truth. We can show the truth of the message by its impact in our lives, and demonstrative how reasonable and logical it is. We can tell our story.