In Good Faith

9: Christ and Culture War (with John McClean)

Chong Shao, Daniel Shih

On today’s show, Chong and Dan is joined by John McClean to discuss the “culture war” and what Christians should think and do about it. We discuss how the culture war relates to the church’s mission to be a witness and to bless the nations.

John is Vice Principal of Christ College (in Sydney, NSW) and teaches in the areas of Christian Thought focusing on Systematic Theology and Ethics. He is the convenor of the Gospel, Society and Culture (GS&C) Committee of the Presbyterian Church of NSW and he writes a regular ethics column in the Pulse, the PCNSW magazine. For more information on the GS&C, visit: http://gsandc.org.au

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Show notes

What is the “culture war”? (8:17)

  • A fight to define the mainstream culture
  • Hot button issues


What is the state of the culture war now, for Christians? (18:49)

How does fighting the culture war relate to the mission of the church? (22:30)

  • Living faithfully, being a witness and blessing our culture VS fighting to regain our “Christian foundations”
  • The problem with cultural Christianity and Christian institutions that become embedded within the state


Where do Christians go from here, in the context of “losing” legal ground? (36:48)

  • Example of abortion
  • Not disengagement; but careful, strategic engagement


How can Christians navigate the magnetic pull of partisan politics? (44:59)

  • Feeling politically homeless VS continuing to serve within political parties - but always guided by grace and love
  • Importance of relationships


Chong and Dan’s reflections on the interview (55:17)

  • What did we like, what can we apply, and some exhortations for our listeners