Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling

Andy Crouch has written an extremely accessible and engaging book in his Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling . He strategically divided it into three different parts, the first working through what this concept of 'culture' is and how being able to impact the "horizons of possibility" is what it means to create 'cultural goods'. His analysis and insight in this first third of the book clearly lays out his conception of what culture is and what it means to interact with as well as impact (for good or bad) what culture is. He also begins to point towards the Christian's role as a cultivator. The second part of the book is where he dives into the biblical narrative and takes a 'cultural' view. While I suspect that many theologians (Biblical and Systematic) may be made uncomfortable with some of his approach, his 'cultural analysis' of what is happening in the Bible, what God is revealing about himself and what he's doing, is fascinating and (at least for me) made the biblical story come alive in a new different light. [As a side note, I would never agree that this should be the primary way to interpret or perceive God's revelation of himself through his Word, but that does not negate the validity of the perspective Crouch is bringing to bear on it] It is in the last part where the rubber meets the road for Crouch, that is where he builds his practical theology of culture making (a "theology of culture transformation"? or maybe, better put, a "theology of cultural engagement"). Whatever you want to call it, Crouch is dealing with the best 'posture' to adopt when engaging culture and how to do so as a Christian. He raises up a concept of concentric circles of relationships, what he calls the 3, the 12, the 120. Fascinatingly, these relational levels, which for Crouch enable cultural impact at a local and small level but which hold the capacity to have effects across culture world-wide, actually reflect some common themes in small group literature when they talk about group size and accountability and community building. Crouch does ultimately affirm the absolute necessity of community for the cultivation of cultural 'goods' which transform the horizons of possibility for a people, rather at a small, local level, or at a much larger national or multi-national level. While Crouch's writing delves into some pretty deep stuff, he has (in my opinion) a very intuitive knack for illustration, for excellently drawing the reader into the concepts he's outlining in a way which is natural and accessible all the while keeping the depths and richness of the subject matter at hand accessible for him to engage. I would not have a problem recommending this to the average church goer (or average adult, for that matter), for I think most would find it accessible and would be able to grasp the concepts because of how he explains them. With that note of accessibility, I want to make this review a little less accessible and compare it to a few works I've read recently. Jacques Ellul's The Presence of the Kingdom engages the issue of culture from a different angle. I think many of Crouch's concepts and ideas compliment Ellul's work. Ellul's emphasis upon the preservation of the world, the need for truly 'genuine revolution,' and the church's prophetic role in the world resound rather harmoniously with Crouch's. I do think Crouch's concepts and thrust stands largely at odds with Rod Dreher's The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation , but that conflict lies in a fundamentally different approach to culture and its function for the church. I suspect that Dreher's approach to culture largely resembles one which Crouch cautions against. Lastly, it was fascinating to read this book by Crouch after having read How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World by Robert Joustra and Alissa Wilkinson, because their book analyzes cultural goods (specifically ones of entertainment) which have resonated with the modern culture at large. Charles Taylor's seminal tome A Secular Age is what I want to compare this to, yet it still lies in my to-read pile for the time being. I think Crouch's work would make an interesting companion to that book. All in all, I loved the book and would very highly recommend it to any pastor, elder, deacon, small group leader, etc., in a church. Just grab yourself a copy, it's not a hard read, but it is definitely worth the time it will take to get through it (which is not actually that long).

I love this book!!!! I read many things (usually Christian works such as Theology/apologetics/christian living books), but this was completely different than anything I usually read, or have possibly ever read. I heard the artist Lecrae mention this book and speak about culture, and with everything going on in this country I wasnt sure how to engage with the culture or approach certain things (especially as a believer), so I thought I would try this book out. I read the first chapter.. literally couldnt stay awake and was so bored that I didnt pick the book up for a week! Then I decided to try again and I couldnt put it down! Its so interesting, so insightful, and very relevant. (I dont know if the first chapter was boring cause he was setting it up or if I was really tired and out of it.. but the rest of the book is great!!) Being a college student, I can use a lot from what I learned on campus to connect with people and understand our culture. Ive never thought about or cared much about culture, but Im now intrigued by and feel like I truly understand culture and people in general. I definitely recommend to everyone interested in Christians role in culture and just engaging with people in general. Fun read, solid theology throughout, and just immense insight and relevance to myself as a 20 something college student.

We are created to create; in the manner of our Heavenly Father to bring forth order from disorder. We were also created to rule: to maintain order and separation; to "cultivate" in the garden. This is how Andy Crouch's excellent Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling begins. Somewhat early in the book, Crouch argues that many Christians who say they want to transform cultures or worldviews subtly rewrite the problem they study into a fundamentally intellectual problem. Perhaps inevitably, people with strong analytical and philosophical gifts look at the evident problem of Christian disembodiment and propose not a profound program of embodiment but more thinking as the solution. And after we have done a lot more thinking, how exactly does the world change? Well, "then a miracle occurs." (Page 63) To "engage" the culture, Crouch says, becomes a near synonym for thinking about the culture (87). I read several books the latter half of 2010 dealing with the broad issue of transforming cultures and worldviews, how to do this, and why some succeed and others fail in this regard (Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change, Paul Hiebert ; Communicating Christ Through Story and Song; Culture Shift: Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out; Lewis, Cordeiro and Bird; Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues With Timeless Truth, R. Albert Mohler; The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia--and How It Died, John Philip Jenkins). These books were thought-provoking in places, but most fell somewhat short in the area of mistaking analysis and commentary for application. So I could see the imbalance Crouch was pointing out in the above paragraph. Problem is, for the next 130 pages of his book, I kept wondering if this was not precisely the same pit Crouch had fallen into. Recycling biblical history to focus on culture and culture building (the exclusive focus of part II but also portions of parts I and III) was interesting in places but far from making the time investment I was putting into the book pay off for me. Thankfully, the latter half of the third section of the book on Calling - particularly the chapters on Community and Grace as well as the postscript, made the effort worth it. To summarize, some main points include: 1. All Culture Making is Local: This means no matter how complex and extensive the cultural systems we may consider, the only way to change them is by way of a small group of innovative and creative people and a series of concentric circles of people the optimum size of which Crouch suggests are in the neighborhood of 3: 12: 120. We are, after all, according to Crouch, hardwired for villages. (p. 240-244). 2. All Culture Making is a Product of Grace: The way to genuine cultural creativity starts with the recognition that we woke up this morning in our right mind, with the use and activity of our limbs- and that every other creative capacity we have has likewise arrived as a gift we did not earn and to which we were not entitled. And once we are awake and thankful, our most important cultural contributions will very likely come from doing whatever keeps us precisely in the center of delight and surprise." (p. 252) Where do you experience grace-divine multiplication that far exceeds your efforts? Grace is no exemption from the disciplines: we are called to be painstaking cultivators before we can become creators. Indeed, the disciplines that undergird any effort at culture making are an essential path to grace. Disciplines are private and invisible, preparing our hearts to handle the pressures of our work becoming public and visible (257). There may be no greater value to the disciplines (practicing scales if you are musician, learning languages if you are linguist, learning the basics of math or science if you are mathematician or scientist) than to regularly bring us to these moments of disillusionment with ourselves. Grace is for the poor in spirit, and the disciplines bring us, no matter our ascribed power or actual wealth, to keen awareness of our fundamental poverty. 258 I'll look back at this book again as I seek to synthesize what I gleaned from it in comparison with some of the other books mentioned above. In spite of its shortcomings, I'd recommend it as the best I've come across on the topic so far.

We all live within the confines of culture - our work, our family structures, the artifacts that surround us. Culture is inescapable. Crouch argues that culture can only be changed by making new culture. In this thoughtful and thought-provoking work, Crouch carefully examines the meaning of culture, the truth of culture and our role in culture-making. Overall, this is a wonderful book that would be helpful to anyone who is thinking about the meaning of their work and vocational calling. Crouch argues for the Cultural Mandate of Scripture, indicating that humanity even charged by God with the responsibility of creating culture. Some of the best parts of the book are in the chapter called The Garden and the City. Crouch explains that man was created in a garden (Genesis) but ends up in the city (Revelation). He further explains that the city represents the culmination of man's cultural creativity. Crouch shares a lot of ideas with Tim Keller (author of The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism ) on this point. Individually, most of us will never change culture on a grand scale. We may influence our family lives and workplaces but, he argues, this does not constitute culture in the fullest sense. On this point, Crouch steps in the direction of James Davison Hunter (author of To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World ) who argues that so few people can actually change culture that we should, rather than trying to change culture, instead focus on a personal ministry of "faithful presence". While these two authors seem to agree on this point, I prefer Crouch because he is more encouraging to real people wondering about their place in the world.

Once in a great while, a book comes along that every thoughtful Christian ought to read. This is one of those books. In a breezy, fresh, winsome style, Andy Crouch brings brilliant insight and practical application to bear on one of the great questions facing the church in the 21st Century: how do we make or remake or restore or renew our culture to bring it into greater conformity with the kingdom of God? Bringing a fresh and realistic perspective to idealistic believers who want to "change the world," Crouch gives some really useful guidance into two big areas of concern: how the culture actually changes, and what role a normal person (who is not, say, Princess Diana) can have in changing it. His analysis is sharp and hopeful at the same time. I have a feeling I am going to be giving away many copies of this book in the next few years. Bravo, Andy!

Andy Crouch has written a wonderful book on better understanding what we mean by the ever slippery word "culture." I have read many books over many years on this and related subjects, and would certainly place this as one of the best for insightful analysis in tandem with graceful writing.

A decent attempt to define Christianity in today's culture, but falls a little short.

Book was for a class.

A book to help us look at our culture and the culture we share with the world. A great calling to transform culture by our positive alternative.

Great book. Had to read for a masters class and I was quite impressed by the thinking of Andy Crouch and the great points he had to make. Challenged my thinking for sure.

A good introduction to a range of issues about culture for Christians. It gives a helpful theological approach and a sensible set of attitudes to culture, principally avoiding moral panic approaches that so marr much Christian cultural engagement. Overall this gives a really helpful way forward for constructive Christian cultural engagement.

The call on Christians to engage with culture has been growing in recent years. This can be seen in conferences that are being run, and books being written. As Crouch acknowledges in his introduction, this book stands within the tradition of Abraham Kuyper's call to Christian cultural responsibility. It is divided into three parts: Culture, Gospel and Calling. This is a very helpful and thought provoking book, but I do think it gets weaker as it goes on. The first section is the most helpful as it critiques common assumptions about culture, and will most likely get you thinking differently about the subject. The middle section is important, because theology is always important, but if you do not accept some of the premises its helpfulness is limited. And then the third section - about how to actually apply all that has gone before - is the flimsiest. So, in some ways Crouch falls into the same trap as the worldview advocates he criticizes - lots of good analysis, but a lack of clear application. That is not meant to be a carping comment, and indeed, I would be suspicious of someone setting out a '10 point plan of action' in a book like this. The whole point is to point us towards the kinds of things we can do rather than be prescriptive about what we should do, so perhaps any expectation of clearer application is unfair. My conclusion then? Definitely read the first 98 pages, but see the rest as an optional extra.