How should Christians engage the culture? This was the main theme of last Thursday’s Q Commons, a national event combining live-streamed national talks and local, in-person speakers. People from all over the world gathered at local host sites to hear national speakers Tim Keller and Ann Voskamp speak to this topic.
Transform Minnesota and The Table at Christ Presbyterian Church hosted a local site, bringing Christians in the Twin Cities an opportunity to learn from these national leaders and to learn from local leaders V. J. Smith from MAD DADS, Terry Esau from Free Bikes for Kids and Nekima Levy-Pounds from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Tim Keller opened the evening, sharing that all Christians are culture makers, whether or not they intend to be. Everyone constantly creates culture. Christians, then, instead of debating whether or not they should engage the culture, should instead focus on creating intentional, God-centered culture. “Our Christian [cultural] products need to both defy and resonate with the culture,” he said.
The rest of the evening was spent discussing ways to purposely present God in our cultural “products.”
Ann Voskamp spoke on the power of gratitude—to change hearts, lives and society. National panelists shared the importance of relationships and reaching out to those on the outskirts of society. Local speakers told their stories of engaging the culture, being present in the lives of members of society, using their passions to reach the unreachable and loving the neighbors they didn’t choose.
From performing heart surgeries in Iraq to fixing a bicycle to donate to a little boy in Minneapolis, the speakers shared their stories of engaging the culture in a way that displays the God we serve.
The event served as another avenue for Transform Minnesota to help provide resources, relationships and representation to evangelicals across the state. By providing opportunities to learn and grow together, more people will hear about Christ and His transforming love–providing more opportunities for people to make a decision for Christ.