That’s a big question, and one for which the phrase, “redeem the culture” needs to be defined before we try to provide an answer. Based on my limited research, there seem to be, at least in the U.S., several distinct “camps”:

1. Two Kingdom Proponents—God is working through the church and we should not be engaging too heavily with worldly, dying culture.
2. Transformationist Proponents—The church should be active in seeking to redeem the culture as we move toward the end times.
3. Counterculturalist Proponents—The church stands as a clear model of God’s kingdom and, as such, is a prophetic voice against the prevailing worldly culture.
4. Cultural Relevance Proponents—Christians should be looking for where God is active in culture and affirm that.

If you are reading this, you might want to see where you fit, I know I did. All four describe ways in which Christians, and the church in general can engage culture. Listed below, in no particular order, are some of my findings from online research, with links to their respective Web sites.

Chuck Colson has been quoted as saying, “Redeeming culture is the never-ending mission of the church.”

A blog article at the Culture Redeemed site states:

“As Christians, we were not just created to glorify and enjoy God, but to be His emissaries to the world, redeeming culture.”

“According to Google, the definition of the word ‘redeem’ is to “compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something)” or to “gain or regain possession of (something).” Ultimately, redemption can only be accomplished through the work of Jesus; He came to make right what was broken (Col. 1:19-20). But the Lord has chosen to use ordinary people to bring His message of hope and love to a world in need of Him (Matt. 28:19-20). For believers, redemption is an on-going process. We ourselves are being redeemed, but Christians are also envoys sent to assist in redeeming the culture around us.”

A few years ago, FOCUS on the Family aired a broadcast called Teaching Your Child to Redeem the Culture that stressed teaching our children about culture, saying:

“Jesus uses a lot of those “re” words – renew, restore, redeem, repent, resurrect. God must really love ‘re’ words, right? Because they’re all over the Bible. And “re” means to fix something that was broken, to go back to what it was intended to be.”

Dr. Jams Anderson, Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) Charlotte, in an article titled “How should Christians engage with the culture?” reminds us that:

“We are affected by the culture around us, and we also affect the culture around us. We need to recognize that we ourselves as Christians are part of the culture. So we can’t separate ourselves from culture, we can’t isolate ourselves from culture. We are affected by the culture around us, and we also affect the culture around us, for better or for worse.

Lastly, we need to view culture through the lens of the Great Commission. There are many things that we are called to do as Christians to serve God in this world. But the Great Commission, that great calling to take the good news of Christ to the nations, to make disciples of the nations, to bring the teaching of Christ to the nations and to build up the church, that has to be a priority for us.”

An article at Proclaim & Defend tells us:

“Jesus will redeem the culture.

The tenor of scriptural prophecy that tells us that God’s people will take the gospel effectively to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), does not indicate that there will be gradual warming to God’s people as we move forward toward the Kingdom. Attempts of human to Christianize the world’s culture will ultimately fail according to scripture. However, Jesus will return and He will do it. All the Old Testament passages regarding the Kingdom will be fulfilled (literally) and Jesus is the One who will make that happen (Revelation 19-20).

People must be redeemed; the culture is incidental.

The Great Commission, which is the mission of the church, is about bringing people to redemption and transformation.  The souls of individuals must be redeemed.  Only then can the works of their hands be pleasing to God.”

An article in the Christian Post reported that author Andy Crouch told the audience at a higher education conference a few years ago in Orlando, FL that “If the Gospel is to be relevant for a rapidly changing society Christians must re-examine their doctrine that functions like culture is too soiled to redeem”.

An article by Ken Ham at Answers in Genesis, in answer to the question, “Are Christians Commanded to Change the Culture?” tells us that it’s the Gospel that can change culture:

“The Lord Jesus Christ gives God’s people two commands:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

We need to understand that the gospel changes people—changes their hearts and minds. And it’s hearts and minds that change a culture.”

In order to bring a measure of clarity to our question, let’s look at some dictionary definitions of the term “redeem”:

Merriam-Webster: 1) To buy back, to get or win back, 2) To free from what distresses or harms, such as a) To free from captivity by payment of a ransom, b) To extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental, c) To release from blame or debt, d) To free from the consequence of sin

Cambridge English Dictionary: 1) To buy back something, or to exchange something for money or for goods or services, 2) To make up for something 3) To buy, get, or win back something. 4) To make good or fulfill a promise. 5) To exchange something for something of value.

Oxford American Dictionary: 1) To make someone or something seem less bad, 2) To get back a valuable object from somebody by paying them back the money you borrowed from them in exchange for the object, 3) To save from the power of evil.

The application of this term to Christ’s death on the cross is quite telling. If we are “redeemed,” then our prior condition was one of slavery. God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law. This metaphorical use of “redemption” is the teaching of Galatians 3:13 and 4:5.

Related to the Christian concept of redemption is the word ransom. Jesus paid the price for our release from sin and its punishment (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6). His death was in exchange for our life. In fact, Scripture is quite clear that redemption is only possible “through His blood,” that is, by His death (Colossians 1:14)

In the Bible, the word redeem literally means “to buy out,” and was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. It includes the ideas of loosing from a bond, setting free from captivity or slavery, buying back something lost or sold, exchanging something in one’s possession for something possessed by another, and ransoming. This is similar to the secular meaning but it has far weightier implications. According to the Essential Bible Dictionary, redemption refers to God’s merciful and costly action on behalf of his people. For example, God delivered Israel from Egypt.

In Exodus 6:6, God said to the people through Moses, “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.’”

Later, Christ’s death on the cross served as redemption — payment of our sin-debt — to ensure our salvation (Mark 10:45).

The Bible does not explicitly mention society as a beneficiary of redemption. However, it is possible to interpret redemption as having a broader impact on society. We could also say that redemption is also part of God’s plan for society.

In Leviticus 25:47-49, we’re told that If an Israelite becomes poor and must sell themselves to a foreigner, they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives may redeem them, or if they prosper, they may redeem themselves. (See the Book of Ruth.)

Conclusion:

When I consider of the redemption of God’s people my thoughts always return to the glorious scene in Heaven recorded in the Book of Revelation:

“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ²Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” ³And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. ⁴So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. ⁵But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” ⁶And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. ⁸Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.’”  (Rev 5:1-9, NKJV)

“Is It the Mission of the Church to “Redeem” the Culture?” In the form of a statement, my answer is a resounding NO! To claim that it IS cheapens what God did for His people through the life, death and resurrection of  His beloved Son. In the form of a question, my answer is another question, “What did the Angel of the Lord say to Joseph prior to His Birth?”

“And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV)

As one of the referenced articles summarized it:

Jesus gave his disciples two commands:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15, NKJV)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NKJV)

What we need to understand is that the gospel changes people and it’s people with changed hearts and minds that can change a culture. Only Jesus can “redeem” our culture, and one day He will!

Be Blessed!

____________

List of online resources used in this post:

Are Christians Commanded to Change the Culture?

How should Christians engage with the culture?

Should We be Focused on Redeeming the Culture?

What is the meaning of Christian redemption?

Should the Church Seek to ‘Redeem’ the Culture?

What Does It Mean to Be Redeemed?

The Global Transformation of Redeeming Cultures

Redeeming the Culture (Part 1) Proclaim & Defend

Redeeming the Culture (Part 2) Proclaim & Defend

FOCUS on the Family Podcast Transcript