Brent Thomas reflects on Mark Driscoll’s perspective on how many Christians interact with culture.
In commenting on his approach to connecting with the surrounding culture, Driscoll likens culture to the “house” that people live in. In other words, culture is where we live, it is the context in which we operate. Driscoll then laments that too many Christians “interact” with the surrounding culture by throwing rocks at people’s houses; we critique this or that aspect of people’s lives without ever really either trying to understand or connect. As the article notes: “Driscoll distinguishes between missionaries who study culture and fundamentalists who try to avoid culture.”
It’s admittedly difficult to move beyond just throwing rocks at culture but it is a worthwhile process. It’s not enough to just point out all of the problems with the arts when we’re not putting anything positive forward. It’s not enough to poke holes in people’s worldviews when we’re not shining the light of the Gospel through the openings. It’s not enough to throw rocks when we could be building.
- Read the rest of Brent’s Quit Throwing Rocks at People’s Houses here
- Check out Mark Driscoll’s books here
Life Together 
September 20, 2007 at 4:01 am
Thanks for this good post, Doug.
It is so easy to throw rocks – it is comfortable to feel we are right about something and someone else is wrong. It is much more difficult to understand why someone else is doing something we think is wrong or strange. I realize that asking questions and admitting my own failures is the best way to start building people from other cultures up toward a Biblical mindset. This article reinforced that for me.
September 21, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Good thoughts bro. I’m learning along with you in this. It’s difficult to strike the balance between being incarnational and confrontational with the gospel. But we must be both because Jesus was both. It also assumes that we are rubbing shoulders with those who are not like us–something that convicts my heart personally!
September 21, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Doug, I think the confrontational part usually should only be directed towards the Pharisees – the legalistic, moralizers. Even then we need to be sure to take the plank out of our own eye first, since we are not Jesus. Of course we can stand up for what is right, but the main way to do this is to be gentle, rather than rude. Just my two cents.
September 22, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Yeah, I agree with you about not being too confrontational. But I think it depends on how you define “confrontational.” You can confront someone with the truth in love and humility by asking good questions. I think it’s good to be challenged with the idea of being both a friend of sinners and a bold witness with your life and words. Would you agree that we need both the humility and the authority of Jesus to carry out the Great Commission? Again, I pray that I could live more of what I believe in this area.
September 23, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I think you are right. Confrontational seems to stir up wrong images – I prefer your word, “bold” – with love. Also, like you said, QUESTIONS and not just answers are key in personal evangelism, I believe. (This was Jesus’ model with non-Pharisee types.) Jesus’ authority shows up in our confidence in God to sovereignly work, not in our arguments to gain an upper hand.
September 23, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Hey Doug,
I just heard some great stuff on Evangelism by Mark Dever. If you haven’t been there already, check out JT’s page. For anyone else, you can find these free messages at: http://www.theologica.blogspot.com
Mark addresses these issues very well.
September 23, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Thanks bro. Bold is perhaps a better word. It is amazing how often the Scriptures tell us to stand up for the truth, something difficult to do in our society today especially with love. I saw Dever’s stuff … I’d love to get his new book on The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. Looks challenging. Thanks for your “iron sharpening iron” comments.