[rating:4.0]
(Downers Grove: Intervarsity Books, 2008)
284 pgs
This book is not a new release. It was published in 2008. I discovered it after I formed a book-reading club with my three adult children. They are all incredibly smart and highly educated, and they currently all live close by. So I suggested we select books that would challenge our thinking and then once a month, we would meet for lunch (not surprisingly, paid for by me) and we would discuss it as if it were a Ph.D. seminar. This book is the first one we will tackle. My son Daniel, who specializes in Christianity and Culture, suggested it.
To be honest, I had several books on leadership I was eager to recommend. But we settled on a book about culture. I’m glad we did. For years I have studied how to be a better leader in organizations I led as well as my family and church. But it is becoming increasingly apparent to many people (not just Christians) that American culture needs to change. Yet, few people are teaching people how to impact their culture for good.
Andy Crouch is the executive editor of Christianity Today. He was also the student director of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard University for ten years.
Crouch offers some interesting views on culture and what is involved in creating, as well as changing it. While I am not widely read in this field (at least yet), this appears to me to be a solid effort to address some of the key issues in this field. He challenges some conventional thinking and conjectures about others.
Crouch defines culture making as: “people (plural) making something of the world” (40). He claims: “We do not make culture, we make omelets” (28). By this he means we can only make cultural “artifacts” that impact and become culture. He notes that the family may be one of the smallest, yet most powerful centers of culture we will ever deal with (46). He repeatedly encourages readers that it is not enough to critique or reject culture. Rather, Christians must create culture in order to replace and supersede the distorted and sinful culture we presently have. He suggests: “The only way to change culture is to create more of it” (67).
Crouch notes that, “Culture requires a public” (38). He argues that too often Christians have looked for the “knock out blow” that will dramatically impact culture, such as a widespread revival (59). Yet, he argues that it takes much longer to affect culture. He cites the Resurrection as the greatest culture-changing event in history, yet it took centuries before it truly began to change Roman culture to its core (59). While I might challenge Crouch on the immediate affects that widespread revivals such as the Second Great Awakening can produce, his point certainly is worth careful consideration.
Crouch makes a number of interesting observations. He points out that “creativity” is the only viable source of change (73). He argues that, though terrorists might destroy cultural artifacts, they cannot create culture merely with violence. There must be something that is offered to take the place of what they destroy. He also notes that many Christian activities center on critiquing culture or focusing on world views. Yet he argues that too many people assume that by discussing or studying culture that they have hanged it (69). He notes that followers of Francis Schaeffer were better at creating art critics than at creating art (86). He states: “It is difficult to think of a singular instance where condemnation of a work of art produced any result other than heightened notoriety for the work and the artist” (92).
Crouch observes that Jesus spent more time absorbing and learning culture than He did in His public ministry (136). He also notes that the cross “refutes progressivism” (141). It is an interesting thought that Jesus devoted more years of His life to carpentry than He did to preaching and teaching.
Crouch delves into a discussion on heaven and eternity that is interesting. He suggests that “souls” are not the only thing that is eternal (170). He suggests that the “best” that humanity has created in art, music, and other creative endeavors will somehow follow them into heaven. I am a little skeptical of his line of thought (as well as his exegesis!). Though it is true we will bring our talents with us to heaven, I am not sure Crouch fully appreciates the delights of the “spirit” world we will discover there. It seems to me that even the best of the physical world will be far exceeded by the spiritual.
Nevertheless, Crouch has numerous intriguing things to say. He has a good discussion of the use of power to create culture. He contrasts Mother Teresa with Lady Diana, who both impacted culture in their lifetime. Crouch comments: “Why are so many trying to become a celebrity and so few trying to become a saint?” (219). He defines cultural power as “The ability to successfully propose cultural good.” (219). He notes that, “No matter how many it goes on to affect, culture always starts small” (239). He also adds: “Cultural goods cannot be imposed-they can only be proposed” (220).
I liked his quote of Frederick Buechner who suggested: “Calling is focused ‘where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’” (263). It is hoped that there will be many Christians in the coming days who sense God’s call to create something positive, godly, and beautiful that will eventually displace that which is currently evil, harmful, or ugly. Crouch cautions us, however, “If there is one thing cultural creators cannot do, it is to control their creation” (199). That means we must create compelling cultural “artifacts” and then launch them into society, watching to see how they are received, over time.
I enjoyed this book. It made me think as a leader in a broader sense than merely leading my organization. To leave a legacy of good may involve more than just leading your organization effectively. It might involve creating “good” that, in time, affects the way people think and live. It is a noble challenge for us all.
by Richard Blackaby