Christ And Culture In Paradox Analysis

Niebuhr’s Typology: Christ And Culture In Paradox (Dualism)

In Christ and Culture, Niebuhr (1956) defines “culture” as the “artificial, secondary environment which man superimposes on the natural”.

In the Christ and culture in paradox typology there is tension between Christ and culture. There is less continuity between Christianity and culture and the conflict between Christ and the human culture is emphasized. The typology is dual meaning that culture has a legitimate place in Christian life, but that place is not the Christian’s heart or church. The heart and the church is where Christ must rule. In culture the preaching of the gospel is not religious by itself. The values of Christianity and Christian living cannot be translated into the

The people of South Africa seem to have no right to their own labour. Cultures are being homogenized and cultural boundaries are falling resulting in the displacing commodity culture were everything can be bought or sold. Instead of rivers of economic prosperity and justice flowing in this country, poverty and misery, hunger and chronic unemployment have become the norm.

There is of course the irony in this typology as well. To start with, humanity is both good and evil, both spirit and body and both material and immaterial. Humanity seems to be in revolt against both God and humanity. Then, God is deus duplex, meaning that while He provides grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, there is wrath and darkness in the world. The world is equally a paradox, therefore, both have been created and has fallen, both are good and corrupt and has the potential for good and evil. And despite all of this, God can still do good in the evil world and culture … which He, by the way,

He further refers to Paul that said to those that belong to Christ to “calmly respect the order of civil government, obey the laws and submit to magistrates”.

The grace of God brings salvation and He instructs believers to think, talk and behave in goodness towards everyone in society and in public, including those in authority, those being despised, those hostile and those that are different. God basically instructs believers to practice unconditional loving-kindness without ulterior motives.

The church of Jesus Christ here on earth is a human church and full of failure and unfaithfulness and, yet, it remains the church of Jesus Christ. Being public and doing Public Theology is thus vital because it is obedient and a living witness to the goodness and loving-kindness of our Lord who became flesh for us and for our