by Pastor James Harleman

From pastors to service team volunteers, whether they’re at the Mars Hill campus or the coffee shop on the corner, there are familiar things you’ll hear from any Mars Hill member: Jesus. Cross. Grace. Bible. God. Love. The consistency, we hope, is unmistakable. However, there is a variety of other terms you’re likely to hear from Mars Hill members, liberally sprinkled in Sunday sermons and scattered in community conversation: Last Friday’s movie release. The newest game on Xbox Live. College football. Reality TV. City art walks. Comic books. The hottest download on iTunes. A smash hit series on AMC. The latest teen fantasy novel. In many cases, these won’t be things you’ll find discussed on Christian radio or in Christian bookstores.

"They were taking an off-ramp from the cultural interstate into a Christian cul-de-sac, located somewhere near Irrelevance Avenue and Self-Righteous Street."

The church I grew up in was very much like this: it was all about isolating itself from "that ungodly culture," creating a "safe harbor" for Christian consumers, a metaphorical gated community of surrogate, sanitized entertainment. I grew up thinking dancing would make me depraved and rock music might infect me like some British zombie rage virus. Some of my friends weren’t allowed to enter a movie theater and were told E.T. was a demon. The only culture my pastor could speak on was the Bill Gaither Trio and Highway to Heaven. For a goodly portion of the church, the latter half of the 20th century wasn’t traveling a highway at all – they were taking an off-ramp from the cultural interstate into a Christian cul-de-sac, located somewhere near Irrelevance Avenue and Self-Righteous Street. Mars Hill, on the other hand, engages culture: secular culture, pop culture, local culture, non-Christian culture. This often causes two distinct reactions: curious conversation with non-Christians, or confusing conflict with other Christians. But we as a church are committed to regularly and relationally engaging the culture around us for three very specific reasons:

1. Jesus did.
2. Jesus prayed that we would.
3. Jesus’ disciples modeled it for us in scripture.

"Paul notes how he engaged and took on aspects of the cultures he ministered to … 'all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.'"

Speaking to a primarily agrarian culture in the time and place chosen for His incarnation, Jesus spoke in parables referencing farmers and fishermen, planting and catching. He hung out with sinners in places the self-professing holy folks were disgusted by. In John 17, Jesus prays that his disciples will be in the world but not of it, surrounded by the cultures they engage yet secure in God’s Spirit that unifies them. This was notable in the apostle Paul, who was a quick study on Athenian art and familiarized himself with the people's pagan altars. He even redeemed a chunk of their poetry in Acts 17, standing on a rock called Mars Hill, quoting godly characteristics most likely directed at Zeus but redirecting them to the true God of the Bible, recognizing a right view of a creator while creatively pointing them in the right direction.

"Today we live out that heart by becoming as a guild leader to win gamers … as a jock to give Jesus a sporting cheer, and as a geek to geek out on the gospel."

At Pentecost, the disciples started speaking different languages; people were amazed to hear the gospel story spoken in a tongue they understood. It’s amazing today how two Americans can both speak English, yet completely misunderstand one another apart from cultural context. We want to speak their language. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul notes how he engaged and took on aspects of the cultures he ministered to: he became as a Jew to win Jews, as non-Jews to win them, "all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." Today, we live out that heart by becoming as a guild leader to win gamers, as a movie buff to win film aficionados, as a jock to give Jesus a sporting cheer, and as a geek to geek out on the gospel. There are often self-righteous, single-verse voters who object to cultural engagement. They’ll quote Philippians 4:8 – "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" – to warn against engaging "secular garbage." They’re not entirely wrong – there’s a lot of rubbish out there, we must be discerning, and we don’t have license to sin – but they’re missing the context in the culture of their own scripture.

"As we are free in Jesus to identify with culture, we find opportunity to illustrate our identity in Him."

The preceding verse assures us that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Question: what do we need guarding from in a Christian cul-de-sac of cultural supplements? The implication is that we’re sailing rough waters in hostile territory. Philippians 4:9 adds "what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Paul is telling us what to think, not dictating our surroundings. He’s commanding where our minds should be regardless of our stimuli, on mission in the time, place, and culture God has prepared us to glorify Him. While we engage culture, we’re even allowed to enjoy it. 1 Corinthians 10 instructs "whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." That means, if we’re mission-minded and not kidding ourselves regarding reasons for our engagement, prayerfully following the Spirit’s prompting on our hearts and minds, then we can level up, change the channel, roll 20s, rock out, dress for Comic-Con, download iPhone apps, compare fantasy football teams and talk Tarantino to the glory of our Father in heaven. Our prayer in doing so is that, as we are free in Jesus to identify with culture, we find opportunity to illustrate our identity in Him. Pastor James is a regional executive pastor out of the Shoreline campus, who also hosts the popular Film & Theology series. You can read his film commentary on his blog, cinemagogue.