Ep 22: The Cultural Context Of Politics

February 20, 2025
Reformed Libertarians Podcast

Summary – The Cultural Context Of Politics

A discussion of “What Is Culture?,” Part 1 of the Reformed Libertarianism Statement. Other episodes are mentioned in which some points from episode 4 are elaborated, and the meaning of subjective sanctification of culture is reiterated. The definition of culture, and why it’s addressed is further explained. The model of reciprocally influencing layers of culture is elaborated, illustrated, and related to the study of historical process. And the promotion of so-called “cultural Christianity” is considered.

Main Points of Discussion

00:00	Introduction
00:32	Episode description
02:02	Scholasticism and Biblicism vs Neo-Calvinism
03:41	Subjective sanctification of a Christian’s cultural activity
05:16	Culture as such, and “cultus”
08:22	Why we address culture; and the image of God
12:09	The model of reciprocal layers of culture
18:10	Illustration of the cell/mobile phone
21:06	Culture and historical process
23:52	So-called “cultural Christianity”

Additional Resources

Episode 4 : How Should Christians View Culture and What Are Some Mistaken Views?
Episode 19 : The Myth Of Religious Neutrality
Episode 21 : Two Kingdoms and Christian Cultural Activity
Episode 15 : Can Christian Civil Government Be Theocratic?
Episode 18 : Politics and the Church’s Mission —What Should the Church Teach About Civil Government?
The Reformed Libertarianism Statement (and Principles)
With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship by Darryl Hart and John Muether
On a biblical Reformed view of the “image of God,” see the article “Creation in the Image of the Glory Spirit”
and the book Images Of The Spirit by Meredith Kline
For more on the “Structural” and “Directional” dimensions, also see Created In The Image Of God by Anthony Hoekema
“History: Sound and Fury Signifying Nothing?” by Louis Voskuil (March 1988)
“History as Process: Meaning in Change” by Louis Voskuil (June 1988)

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