Belmont University Advent GuideExemplo

Nearly 40 years ago, I read Christ and Culture, written by H. Richard Niebuhr, one of the true heavyweights among 20th century theologians. This classic monograph, written at the midpoint of the 20th century, splendidly explores the interaction of Christian faith and the larger culture in which the faith exists.

Niebuhr examines five classic approaches to the issues of Christian faith and culture: Christ against culture; the Christ of culture; Christ above culture; Christ and culture in paradox; and, Christ the transformer of culture. Sixty-five years after the publication of Christ and Culture, we seem to struggle mightily with the interface of Christian faith and the larger culture.

Our gospel reading today tells the story of an attempt to entrap Jesus by those who hoped Jesus would stumble over a political question around paying taxes that would surely put Jesus in a bad light with some people. However, Jesus, perceiving the evil intent of the question posed, skillfully avoided the trap of dualistic thinking that his detractors hoped would put him in a negative light. Jesus held the tension and He affirmed that we live both in relation to God and in relation to the society to which we belong.

Jesus having held that tension helps me in the season of Advent. Outside of certain liturgically-oriented Christian circles, Advent has largely been steamrolled by the extravagantly commercialized American countdown to Christmas. Honestly, a part of me can become bitter and shrill about the popular celebration in December. However, another part of me is glad that even in the midst of the “too muchness” of it all, some of the sentiments that are aroused in the larger cultural display of Christmas touch on the better angels of our nature.

While I’ll continue to be annoyed by the assertion that the Twelve Days of Christmas are the days leading up to December 25th rather than the traditional Christian notion that they are the days following December 25th leading up to Epiphany, I will not fall into bitterness thus robbing myself and others of the joy of the season.

I believe that we will continue to struggle to find our way as it relates to our Christian faith and cultural norms. I also believe we can find ways to reconcile the struggle that honor our faith and enhance joy.

Marty Bell
Professor of Religion