Over the past two years, I have been part of a men's group at my church. We have been going through a curriculum called CLC (Christian Leadership Concepts) that covers a variety of topics that pertain specifically to men. It's been a great journey with a great group of guys. The last unit in the curriculum is called "Engaging Our Culture" and talks about serving and witnessing while being rooted in biblical truths.
Looking back, my ministry life has been a bit of a pendulum when it comes to engaging the culture around me. At times, I am eager and passionate to connect with many types of people, and to participate in art, music, sports, technology and sharing of ideas. At other times, I find myself retreating from the world of entertainment and culture, and try to limit my influences and narrow the group of people I spend time with. I see time periods in my life where the I've swung far to one side or the other.
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| Watching too much tv around World Cup time |
Maybe this is ok. Often I think I'll achieve the right balance in many areas of my life "at some point." But I think the truth is, we never really reach a perfect balance. We tend to have seasons of being more social and other seasons of being more reclusive. Sometimes I watch too much TV, and other times I go on a media fast and am extremely careful about what I watch, read and listen to. I don't think there is one right answer. God wants us to be diligent and wise, but he also wants us to get out of our shell and live and engage with those around us. If you have ideas in this area, please feel free to share.
