Religion Quote by Timothy Keller
““THE STANCE OF PIETISM How did most of the evangelical church in the United States relate to culture during the greater part of the twentieth century? The basic stance was to ignore culture and put all stress on conversions and on the spiritual growth of individuals. This was not, at its core, a particular model for relating Christ to culture. Some would say this was a form of cultural withdrawal or hostility, but I argue that this was not so much a negative view of human culture as one of indifference. Culture simply was not an issue. Too much attention to it was seen as a distraction.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Reason for God, 2008
The evangelical stance historically prioritized personal conversion over cultural engagement, treating culture as a distraction rather than a realm for transformation.
In simple terms: Evangelicals often ignored culture.
Key Takeaway
Balance spiritual focus with cultural involvement.
Themes
religion
culture
indifference
mission
engagement
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- mission planning
- cultural dialogue
Key Concepts
theology
social ethics
mission strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can faith engage culture constructively?
- What risks arise from cultural withdrawal?
A Different Perspective
Indifference can lead to missed opportunities for positive influence.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
