Our Cultural Engagement Committee (CEC) was established in 2011 to lead us into a more direct and effective engagement of the cultural issues of our day. It is the mandate of this committee that is stated above.
Examined the origins and history of citizenship in the West and the grave challenges to American citizenship today. Based on Victor Davis Hanson’s book The Dying Citizen.
Reviewed the history of civil rights in America, which we compared to the principles laid out in God's Word, and then we considered how God would have us continue to work toward a society where all people are treated as those who are created in the image of God.
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Examined the two most common challenges to Christian involvement in the culture today: the accusations that it was Christians who gave us American slavery (basing it on the teachings of Scripture), and that it was Christians who essentially waged their own jihad back in the days of the Crusades. Each of these is aimed at silencing Christians as these “truths” supposedly prove they have no moral ground upon which to stand as they “lecture” others on the issues of the day. The class sought to show that the truth is actually quite different, and Christians have little to be ashamed of in either of those cases. To the contrary, it was largely Christians, applying an accurate understanding of God’s Word, who led the way in the fight for abolition, and the Crusades were defensive struggles against Islamic barbarism of the Middle Ages.
Sought to give a true biblical presentation of economics and the moral foundation upon which a free market stands. In a day when many Christians have bought into the lie that there is something Christian about Socialism, this class could not have come at a better time.
Sought to give us a true look at the beliefs of Islam, of the centrality of jihad, and of the Sharia law that it seeks to impose on all. Hardly a day goes by without news of some new event in the world, from Syria to Chattanooga, chronicling the march of Political Islam around the world. Hopefully, knowing more genuinely the threat that we face, we, both as individuals and as a congregation, can work to be a voice to awaken a culture that seems blind to that threat.
Showed the biblical roots of the concept of freedom and how it grows out of the Judeo-Christian worldview, debunking the notion that Christianity held back the development of Western civilization, and providing us a tool for countering this revision of history and better grounding our faith in the biblical vision of freedom.
A presentation that helped to equip parents for protecting their kids online, explaining the purpose and risks associated with different apps used by kids today, how to use filtering and monitoring tools, and more.
A presentation that focused on ways to protect our families from internet pornography.
Our Cultural Engagement Committee aims to keep our members informed on the issues of the day and direct them toward tangible ways they can affect change for the good.
A main area in which we engage is the Pro-Life issue which has various aspects to it, a current one being the extreme, pro-choice Proposal 3 on our Michigan ballot this November. We also encourage support for and volunteering with organizations like our local LifePlan which offers life-affirming support and services to people facing pregnancy and family related issues.
Another area of focus is advocating for persecuted Christians around the world.
Since 2011, we have been a central player in this annual, locally-held community event. From helping with set up / clean up to cooking and serving dinner, from financial support to handing out small gifts to all of the public safety professionals there (along with a note conveying our deep and sincere thanks for the work they do), it has been a pleasure for our congregation to support and encourage those who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and well.
Offered by the local Berrien County Sheriff's Office, we have hosted these courses at our church. R.A.D. is a comprehensive, personal safety course for women focusing on awareness, prevention, risk reduction, and avoidance, offering realistic defense techniques, and providing the knowledge and confidence to make an educated decision about resistance strategies.
We have also hosted this presentation taught by local law enforcement officers.
