Niebuhr Answer to Christ and Culture

The Problem

• Debate between Civilization and Christianity

• 2000 year old problem• Niebuhr – Christ answer bigger

than any humans, but incorporates different human answers

Five Models

• Christ Against Culture• The Christ of Culture• Christ Above Culture• Christ and Culture Paradox• Christ Transforming Culture

Christ Against Culture

• Christ’s authority above all else• First Christians experienced this

model• Book Of Revelations promotes

this model• Tertullian• Potential Problems with this

model

The Christ of Culture

• Seek Christ, but also foster community among brothers and sisters

• Christ’s prayer of Unity in John• Duo role of Christ: Priest and

Prophet• Christos Rex• Medieval notion of

Christendom Cathedral Church of Christ, located in Durham England

Christ Above Culture

• All nature rightly ordered by Christ-God

• Need Grace to order and perfect culture

• Reality of Christ above all cultures

Christ and Culture in Paradox

• Paradoxical relationship between humans and Christ

• Righteousness of God and flawed nature of humanity

• Cannot escape humanities flaws• Paradox between Law and Grace• Paradox between Divine Wrath

and Mercy

Christ Transforming Culture

• Culture is corrupt• Transformation of culture• Gospel cannot perfect

culture, but can improve upon it