The Patriarchal narratives of Genesis have much to teach modern Americans about the relationship between their earthly pilgrimages and the surrounding culture. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob existed in a decidedly “non-Christian” society (pardon the anachronism). And yet, every step of their pilgrimage was a witness to the God who had covenanted with them to bless the world through them and the Seed who would come from them. By the time of the Mosaic economy, peaceful coexistence and witness were replaced with holy war and extermination of the Canaanites as the land became a visible representation of heaven in which no unclean thing could reside. Too often, American Christians rush to Exodus to find justification for their modern culture war. But doing so means neglecting the more pressing and proper analogies found in Genesis.
In this issue of Modern Reformation, we aim to provide some answers and resources to those of you who, though tired of the haranguing, don’t really know how to reorient your thinking and practice to peaceful nonconformity. Reformed theologian and Editor-in-Chief Michael Horton starts off the issue by reminding us that “important” cultural labels pale to insignificance when we realize that all of culture is wrapped up in the way the Bible speaks about time and place: “this age and the age to come.” David Wells follows Horton’s article by outlining some of the ways in which we can grab hold of the age to come, which is already breaking in on our present age, and bear witness to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who is still at work redeeming and renewing the created order.
Lutheran anthropologist Jack Schultz gives us an important look at the interplay between culture (a slippery concept, to be sure) and the institutional church. British evangelical David Gibson chimes in by expanding on John Stott’s famous “two horizons” language to enable preachers to tackle culture as a third horizon of their work for the church. MR staff editor Mollie Hemingway offers a distinctive and practical “two kingdom” approach to life in the business world (something she knows a little about as a confessional Lutheran and journalist). And Lutheran apologist John W. Montgomery provides his take on the place God is most unlikely to be found today, the university campus.
We’re working from theory to application in this issue, helping you know what you believe and why you believe it. It’s not just a slogan for us; it’s the only way we can engage a watching culture that needs to be exposed to the distinctively Reformational resources that Modern Reformation provides. That’s what 2009 is all about for us: even if Christendom is dead, Jesus is still Lord. No matter the culture, no matter the age, we want to bear witness to Christ for our neighbors, family, and coworkers. Thanks for partnering with us in that pursuit. Invite someone else to join us in the journey.
Eric Landry
Executive Editor
P.S. All this year, we’ll mark the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth through a series of special articles by Presbyterian pastor and chair of the Calvin 500 Celebration, David Hall. Also, a special extra issue on Calvin will be available in June.
