In my first two blogs in this series inspired by Rev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa, we discussed Christian thanksgiving and loving others in the three estates of Christian vocation. In this post, we’ll continue the discussion by looking at how Christians can live out faith that engages the culture.
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. (John 6:29)
This blog is the third of a series based on what Rev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa treats in his book series on faith and culture. This blog will explore Dr. Espinosa’s engagement triangle, a device Christians can use to properly think through their connection and interaction with culture. The triangle is broken down into three parts: perspective, people, and place.
The Engagement Triangle
Engagement’s Perspective: Law and Gospel
1. Teaching God’s Word in two ways.
As Christians, our perspective when engaging culture is the Word of God, Holy Scripture. As Dr. Espinosa explains, however, there are two basic themes in the Bible: Law and Gospel. The Law shows us our sin, and the Gospel shows us Jesus. The Law acts like a mirror, convicting us sinners of the need for salvation; a curb, keeping sin in check; and a guide, showing us how the Lord would have us live. The Gospel, on the other hand, shows us the mercy of God, what Jesus did to redeem the world, and the work of the Holy Spirit in creating our faith and making us righteous before God.
2. Is the Law necessary?
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Christian’s task is to determine what an individual in culture needs to hear. Certainly, everyone needs to hear both Law and Gospel, but the Christian needs to ascertain if the other person sees his or her need for forgiveness. In some cases, he or she does not. Dr. Espinosa writes, “If a person is in this position, then engagement must at some point offer God’s Law that identifies that whatever is against God’s Law as sin” (p. 13). As the author explains, offering God’s Law will normally produce an adverse reaction. However, if someone is already convicted of sin, that person is ready to hear the Gospel.
3. When applying the Law, what should be emphasized?
The author writes, “Our goal, however, is to get to the point in the engagement that needs the Law and not overreact to something that makes us uncomfortable or something we disagree with along the way” (p. 16). With engagement, a Christian seeks to initiate and maintain a connection with another person. While it is tempting to point out someone’s particular sins, it is ultimately more profitable to use the Law to convince and convict the person of his or her sins. The other person must understand that sin, an offense first and foremost against God, means physical death and everlasting hell without the work of Jesus Christ.
Engagement’s People: One-on-One
1. Which problem do all people share?
An important point of connection between Christians and unbelievers is the shared problem of having a sinful nature and sinning every day. The sinful nature inclines the person against accepting the Gospel. This is why no one is ever able to “make a decision” for Christ. Although Christians, by the work of the Holy Spirit, repent of their sins, they do not have the capacity not to sin. Keeping this shared problem in mind protects the Christian from falling into an attitude of arrogance and self-righteousness. It is only the work of God in the Holy Spirit that separates a Christian from an unbeliever.
2. What is the extent of this problem?
There are several Christian denominations that teach that man’s nature is merely broken, not destroyed. This theological error leads to the teaching that sinful man can reach faith in Christ by reason and effort. It is possible, some teach, for the most devout Christians to cease sinning altogether. God’s Word teaches that, in the sinful nature, people are spiritually blind, dead, and enemies of God. An unbeliever is lost, unable to find Christ; dead, unable to rise or move toward God; and always turning away from God. There is no spiritual neutrality.
3. Engagement that is intentional and noninvasive.
Dr. Espinosa writes, “The key here is that Christians are not trying to foist their agenda, but rather, they are trying to love people: notice, greet, smile, be kind, and be ready to help!” (p. 31). Such engagement is intentional in that it remains mindful of the needs of the other person and works deliberately to improve that person’s condition in life. It is noninvasive in the sense that it does not seek to recreate the other person in a particular image but, rather, shares the Law and Gospel, allowing the Holy Spirit to do the changing.
Engagement’s Place: Culture
1. Christians in the culture.
The author writes, “On account of this exposure to evil, culture is also the setting for much that is against God. These things also negatively distract and try to stop our best efforts to engage for the sake of the Gospel” (p. 42). Although the world and everything in it belongs to God, Satan is the prince on earth. Man’s fall into sin has corrupted not only humanity but also creation. For this reason, Christians must anticipate struggle with engagement. What is more, the struggle of engagement in culture means temptations for the Christian internally. God’s children must be mindful that they retain the sinful nature and are thereby susceptible to fall.
2. Using culture to engage with others.
Nevertheless, the devil is God’s devil, and this fallen angel can do nothing outside of the Lord’s allowance. Ultimately, Jesus is Lord, and He has won the victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil. Dr. Espinoza writes, “We must trust that God knows exactly what He is doing in and through His engaging people” (p. 43). The key is for the Christian to use the culture to engage. As a child of God, the Christian is no longer of the world, but remains in the world. Sharing the experience of life alongside the unbeliever, a Christian can employ culture to connect and build relationships with those who need to hear of God’s love in Christ.
3. What can the Christian expect from culture?
The author highlights three important aspects of culture: individualism, relativism, and skepticism. The first promotes the unique identity of the individual and downplays the importance of relationships. Relativism holds that truth is relative; each person can decide the truth for him or herself. Skepticism is antagonistic to any suggestion of a final, universal truth. Despite these challenging aspects, Christians are mindful of the fact that through faith in Christ, they share in His victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil. It is exactly this truth that strengthens a Christian against the temptations of sin and the challenges of culture, and engenders such love as to engage for the sake of the Gospel.
Read the other installments of this blog series, What Does Christian Thanksgiving Look Like? and Shining the Light of Christ in Family, Church, and State.
Quotations from Faith that Engages the Culture copyright © 2021 Alfonso Espinosa (italics in original). Published by Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Scripture: ESV®
Further explore the engagement triangle to learn how to witness to all people effectively in Alfonso Espinosa’s book Faith That Engages the Culture.
