Christian culture shaped by the head of the Church

There is a flow and direction throughout the Scriptures. This flow is covenantal. I will define what I mean by covenantal through this and the pursuing articles as it is a loaded word. Scripture flows from the gracious promises of God ( Acts 2:39 , Romans 4:12-21 , 2 Corinthians 1:19-21 ). First, we need to go back to the foundation of the world. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” ( Genesis 1:1 ). This is where the rich tapestry of life, meaning and history began. Understanding creation helps us recognise Biblical flow and rhythm. In the beginning the personal God created the universe in fiat. Through the power of His Word ( Psalm 33:6 ) all things were created ex-nihilo. “All creation is inescapably personal and theocentric”1( Romans 1:20 ). The universe is not some impersonal cosmic chaos where the species struggle for survival. Our world was not wound up and left to run according to the laws of nature. Rather the personal God created, maintains and directs the universe ( Colossians 1:17 , Hebrews 1:3 ). All things work together for good of those who love God ( Romans 8:28 ). The God of the universe is personal; He directs His creation according to His will ( Matthew 10:29-30 , Ephesians 1:3-14 ).

Man was created by God and is tied to Him, fellow men and nature via bonds or relationships. The Creator made man in His image and likeness. Man’s bonds reflect the Creator’s nature and character. God has eternally existed in trinity, the one and the many.2Within a Biblical framework both individual and community are important. One aspect cannot be over emphasised against the other. An unbalanced focus on individual relationships encourages individualism; while an over exertion of corporate identity destroys individual, obedient faith. God has always existed as the one true God, in which exist the three (i.e. many) persons of the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus man is an individual who was created to operate and thrive in community. Scripture’s flow is familial and corporate, but never ignores the individual. Sin entered the world by one man, the first Adam, ( Romans 5:12 ) and then flowed through his genealogy (i.e. it flowed from the one through the many - his offspring/family). Likewise, salvation came through one Man and is applied to many ( Romans 5:15 ). The individual is always couched within the many. Biblical flow is thus covenantal or corporate. The focus of this flow is headship. There are two heads; the first Adam and the second Adam. These covenantal heads (i.e. the one) have bodies made up of members (i.e. the many). These communities reflect their corporate, covenantal head. As members of the Church we are to reflect the image of God in all that we do. As members of Christ’s body we are to be an antithesis to those who are under the headship of the first Adam. There is to be a clear, noticeable and salient difference. Those within the Church are to keep covenant with the Head. This can be objectively seen through obedient faith that expresses itself both internally (i.e. the heart) and externally (i.e. the actions). In other words the two waring bodies should be clearly identifiable. Unfortunately modern Christendom looks, smells and acts so similar to those who are breaking covenant with God that a difference can scarcely be seen.

This is difficult ground to tread. Christians today seem to dislike or even distain the implications of their faith. Individual, internalised, faith flows into every corner of life. Direction of this flow is from the one to the many, from individual to familial/corporate. Beliefs have consequences for not only me but also my community. God’s Word, the Scriptures, are to inform every area of life. There is no ethical neutrality in life ( 1 Corinthians 10:31 ).  The mundane is important to God. Our daily lives ought to reflect the character of God. This is on the individual and corporate level. As an individual Christian I ought to not only feel like one but also be one! Those under the headship of the first Adam should be able to see that I am under a different authority. My behaviour, language, dress, life emphasis and all other things ought to point to my Head, Jesus. The question is what does that look like? For one the culture of Christ cannot look like the culture of the first Adam. Christianity and individual Christians should be distinct from those who live outside of the promise of God. Our culture must be shaped by the context, flow and direction of Scripture alone. Western Christians are often shocked by what the Bible actually says about many things. Our whole outlook on life and how it ought to be lived needs to be shifted. The picture Scripture paints about marital responsibilities, child rearing, economics, home making, debt minimisation, dress sense, body piercings, ink tattoos and everything in between will come as a surprise to many. Why does this type of talk usually make Christians jump up and shout ”legalist?” We are trained to believe that Christianity is solely concerned with the individual’s heart. Nothing else matters. Your individual relationship with God is emphasised over all else. This is taken so far that many 21^st century Christians dress, act, speak and look like those who are in the kingdom of darkness. The irony is that light looks nothing like darkness!

Our corporate head is Christ. Our individuality and corporate identity are to be shaped by His Word alone. Western Christians need to start rethinking what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. Our entire lives should be distinguishable from those around us. Uniforms are very important in wars. They distinguish the two waring parties. I do not shoot those who are on my side. Why is it that I can no longer distinguish between the enemies of the kingdom and the workers in the kingdom? God is concerned with externals. A heart felt individual relationship with Him opens my eyes to my sin, including how I dress, what I enjoy and how I speak. It doesn’t end there. This relationship identifies the important bonds I have with other people. Being in covenant with God means I am part of a larger community, the Church corporate. My relationship with God should be objectively visible. You should be able to see that I am a faithful member of the covenant. Our theology comes out of our fingertips. We look like, behave like and speak like what we believe. Dear reader do you seek to live according to the precepts of the Bible? Is your lifestyle shaped by the surrounding culture or that presented in the Bible? Do you know what the Bible says about roles in the family, dress, body piercings, tattoos, child rearing and all other issues of life? Next time I will be looking specifically at dress, tattoos and body piercings. You may want to examine the following texts in preparation: Tattoos - Leviticus 21:5 , 19:28, Deuteronomy 14:1 (see why cutting or inking oneself was an act of copying what the pagan Baal worshipers did, 1 Kings 18 – especially verse 28); Body piercings – Exodus 21:5 ; Modesty – 1 Timothy 2:9 etc.

Further reading and resources

Free reading

1. Subscribe to our free newsletter by following this LINK, or subscribe to our RSS feed by clicking this LINK .
2. You can download the book Unconditional Surrender from this LINK (3.4mb). This book gives a great overview of God, man, law, time, family, church, state and economy. It gives some really practical advice and it is free to download.
3. The Dominion Covenant: Genesis is also essential reading. It is a large book (in excess of 550 pages and 5.38mb).  but it can be downloaded from this LINK.
4. The Children Trap is also a great book to read about the education responsibilities we have towards our children. It can be downloaded free from this LINK (1.9mb).
5. Reverend Ray Sutton’s book Who Owns the Family is some essential reading. From the inside flap; “Our families are in trouble. They are under siege. Many social analysts fear that basic family structures may not survive and the very foundations of Western civilization will crumble. This volume outlines answers to the problem. It assures us that families can be saved if only we obey scripture's clear command.” You can download this book free from this LINK.

To buy

Anselm Study House recommends the following DVDs and books, which can be purchased from our eShop .

1. In The Children of Caesar DVD Dr Voddie Baucham looks at the culture struggle. Dr Baucham highlights the importance of Christian education and family home structures. This DVD highlights the importance of the Christian family. It is two DVDs and you can purchase it at this LINK.
2. The Return of the Daughters is a documentary of young Christian ladies who have decided to forgo a career to stay under the protection and tutorage of their father. What you will see may seem strange to you but it displays the power of simple Christian families. You can purchase this DVD from this LINK.
3. Tending Your Garden - Wisdom for Keepers at Home is an excellent book for wives or wives to be. In it Denise shows the roles and responsibilities of the wife as a keeper of the home and raiser of children. Buy this book at this LINK.

End Notes

1 North, G, 1987, The Dominion Covenant: Genesis, Institute for Christian Economics, Tyler, p. 2. You can download this book for free at this LINK.
2 North, G, Unconditional Surrender – God’s Program for Victory, 1994, 4th edition, Institute for Christian Economics, Tyler, p. 161. You can download this book for free at this LINK.