Case Statement for the Center for Christ & Culture

We believe the extension of the kingdom is God’s purpose in the world. We also believe that this kingdom is the reign of Christ, or his supremacy over all things. We further believe the church is the primary outpost for extending Christ’s kingdom. There are two types of ministries that help the church accomplish this kingdom purpose: institutional and prophetic. Institutional ministries include schools, social and mission agencies, publishing ventures, etc.

The Center for Christ & Culture is a prophetic ministry that God raised up in 2001 to directly challenge the spiritual apathy and cultural indifference of the church in our generation through serious research, writing, teaching and speaking. We understand that throughout church history such ministries have had a unique place in God’s plan to bring about the renewal of all things and the completion of Christ’s victory in the earth. We are biblical optimists! We do not know God’s short-range plans but we know that His kingdom will succeed. We humbly believe that He will use this ministry to promote that end (cf. Matthew 13; 16:19; 18:23; 24:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 10:9; 12:31; 17:21; 18:36; 15:24 and especially Revelation 1:6 and 11:15).

The Culture has suffered massive change

The beginning of the twenty-first century has revealed tectonic shifts in Western culture. The marginalization of Christianity in the public square, the growth of religious pluralism, and the pervasive effects of individualism, narcissism, and consumerism have left many churches, pastors and faithful Christians uncertain about their place and purpose in this emerging post-Christendom culture. We believe this ministry has been raised up to confront, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, correct these conditions (to the extent He has determined) within the Body of Christ that have contributed to these detrimental “shifts.”

There are no doubt others within the church that recognize, and are rightfully concerned with these same issues. However their strategy, all too often, is to attack the secular world or worse, others within the Church that do not conform to their particular tradition or approach. We do not believe that this is the best strategy for extending the witness of Christ in our time. The analogy we would use is that of a burning house. We can ill afford to argue with other confessional Christians about where certain furniture ought to be placed in the house while it is on fire. Simply put, the enemy is not other serious Christians. In fact, the enemy is not even secular people and secular institutions. The enemy is really the one who blinds the minds of people and institutions to the truth (Ephesians 6:12). As a result, the strategy of the Center for Christ & Culture is to assist in the opening of people’s minds, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the persistent presentation of biblical truths uniquely applied to all of life.

Truth is ultimately known only by those who love the Truth as revealed in Jesus Christ. This revelation is God’s gift, not our own doing, thus it is given through faith and by grace and is a truth found in Jesus Christ alone. It is not found in our personal notions or theological systems. Our task, as servants who stand humbly under the supremacy of the One who is the incarnate Truth, is to speak truth to power, with sacrificial love. We desire that this ministry, under the leadership and calling of S. Michael Craven, will be an effective agent for removing the incredible blindness of our time through Word and Spirit. And we believe this drastic blindness calls for something far more long term and biblically patient than many of the solutions being offered in our day.

Can Christianity thrive in its present state?

A very real crisis is looming on the horizon for the American church, but few recognize what this crisis is about or that there even is a pending crisis. Most Christians and institutions live and minister as if Christianity remains vibrant and influential within contemporary society and culture. (The fastest growing religious grouping in America is those who have no religion at all.) Others acknowledge the church’s marginalization and write it off to a popular and pessimistic “end times” theology. This “new” eschatology is often then used to justify individual apathy and cultural disengagement. We believe that such a position, regardless of one’s eschatology, is wholly unbiblical.

We believe that some younger Christians see the real crisis much better than those who are older. But many young Christians have the natural tendency to not understand the nature of new movements of the Spirit and how radical orthodoxy and classical Christianity must be joined together in order to sustain real change. Our question then has been well stated by a pastor with similar concern: Can Christianity in America thrive outside of the shrinking enclaves of conservative people and culture?

We are convinced that it cannot in its present state and thus we are committed to working toward the changes that we think will come in God’s time.

The times require new thinking rooted in historic orthodoxy

This is why the Center for Christ & Culture is committed to a theologically sound and thoughtful response to the challenges of our time. We believe that new ministries of communication, as well as new church models that can flourish and grow in the post-Christian West, are clearly called for. But we believe that these ministries and models must not become fads that will quickly pass away under what will likely be growing opposition to vital Christianity. 

We are further convinced that what is needed is prophetic and biblical vision. By this we mean clear vision for God’s glory that is grounded in historic orthodox Christianity. We also mean an enlarged vision for Christ's mission on earth. This kind of vision should prompt the development of new ministries and new Christian education and discipleship systems that capitalize on new communication mediums. Additionally, these approaches should serve to render the church and its message relevant to an increasingly secular culture. This calls for the appropriation of the ancient paths of spiritual formation and worship wedded to a new cultural context. This, in no way, encourages the conformity of Scripture to culture. Certainly not!

We believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and that God’s truth transcends time and cultures. Rather, this means that Christians must better understand the ever-changing culture into which they are pressing Christ’s kingdom, develop the intellectual competency to do so, and assume a subversive role where possible in order to be “wise as serpents” while remaining “gentle as doves.”

Proclaiming the supremacy of Christ

With your help we can proclaim the supremacy of Christ to people and cultures, thereby preparing the earth for the coming of Christ’s kingdom. The case for the mission of the Center for Christ & Culture is found in the petition that all Christians raise to our Father: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Please pray for this work and ministry and join with us in working for the reign of Christ throughout the earth!