Redeeming the Time While Shrewd as a Viper

In my experience Christian theologians don't do enough to learn about current cultural phenomenon including nuances of science, genetics, foreign policy, economics, sex, racial theory, etc to properly engage the current world. I agree with Mark Nolls assessment in the Scandal of The Evangelical Mind. That is why I'm still constantly studying the world, studying new science like CRISPR tech, studying the beliefs of gender fluidity proponents, studying the errant racial socialist philosophy like CRT. Even my liberal friends will acknowledge that I've always tried to be balanced in my assessments. It's why I am still a Quality Engineer dealing with China daily. Its why I still acknowledge that, at heart I'm still the good ole boy that listens to Metallica and Iron Maiden and throws iron.

I learned the way the world learned and then later in life I learned the nuances and details of the Christian faith. In doing it this way I have the scientific and logic base provided by the world. I know pretty much how the world functions and thinks. Although some of its thinking processes and logic are at times horribly flawed I still understand where a godless culture comes from. The inverse is that I understnad where my proper theology engages and intersects with it. This point of transfer is critical to my method of  evangelism.

Instead of trying to hammer the square peg in the round hole I minimize the interferences and show how they can in fact both work together by shaving edges and making the square world peg more into a slimmed down triangle that will be able to integrate with the linear and level theology of the Bible.

We're to be shrewd as vipers and peaceful as doves. We're to go out into the world and engage it, but not become it. Paul when arriving in a new town would go to their synagogues first to engage the people 'where they were at' basically. Show he was one of them yet teach the Gospel. He was different but not above or better. He did those things that allowed him to related to them but not become them through sin or unrighteous behavior. The Unknown God speech at the Areopogus/Mars Hill is a great example of this. This is why I do what I do and how I do it.

We need to go out an engage the world where they are at, not jsut remain in cloistered sanctuaries. It is like the Parable of the Talents.

Matthew 25:14-29 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

If you just take the gift you're given and sit on it (bury it) and do nothing you have not utililzed the resources God gave to wisely. When the man came back, he gave rewards to those who increased the coins he lent them. But he took the coin away from the person who hadn’t tried to increase it. We only have so much time to do what God wants us to do with our gifts. We need to utilize the time we're given in this life to best effect (Ephesians 5:16). Time is a gift from God in this life and when it is gone in this world...it is gone forever. There are no second chances (Hebrews 9:27-28).