Buck on a break point, daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth,

for the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street.

In the beginning of the church, Christians have struggled to understand their relationship

with and their responsibility for the culture around them.

Many have wondered whether we should strive to improve society at all when there are

so many lost souls that need to hear the gospel.

These questions point to important issues about what it means to be a Christian and the

answers aren't always clear.

For one thing, phrases like redeem culture or transform culture can confuse the fact that

God is, as multiple scriptures, especially the Psalms and Paul's testimony and Athens attest,

always at work, and every time and in every place.

Our very best efforts, our most effective strategies, our hopes for change, can never

ultimately determine whether or not a culture collapses or is renewed.

God is the one orchestrating history, and he's had his people in various times and places

according to his will.

So a better question is whether or not Christians should care for culture at all,

or seek to influence it as part of their faithfulness to Christ.

God's word makes plain that God's plan involves not just the saving of souls.

It's about the restoration of his entire creation.

His efforts in various times and places of history are according to this redemptive plan.

The final chapters of Revelation culminate in a new heavens and a new earth.

They restored creation fully realized in the return of Christ.

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