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Have you ever wondered, “What does this have to do with my faith?” while watching a movie, listening to music, or during an ordinary day at work? The relationship between Christians and culture is an age-old question. Missionary Sung-Won Kim, author of *The River of God* and a Youth With A Mission (YWAM), answers this question by saying, “Faith is not withdrawing from the world, but meeting the world.”.

Christians and Culture: Why Must We Ask Again?

Many believers feel a gap between their faith on Sunday and the reality of Monday. They find it difficult to explain how the Bible connects to today's movies, digital technology, and the complex world of work. *The River of God* is a book written precisely to bridge this gap.

As the title of the book suggests, Missionary Kim Sung-won presents a vision in which the “River of God” flows into every area of human life—art and science, society and daily life. This perspective is infused with the experience of the missionary, who studied aesthetics and Western classics in Seoul and served for decades in France, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Sweden, and other places.

4 Perspectives for Faith in Culture

1. The world is not an enemy, but a site of recovery

The book does not view the so-called “secular” realm as an enemy to be avoided. Rather, it invites us to view it as the site where God’s redemption and restoration take place. When the starting point for viewing the world changes, the attitude toward culture also changes.

2. Reading the Truth in Movies and Stories

"The River of God" deals with how to discover the "Total Work of Art" within movies, popular culture, and stories. It suggests that, just as the philosophy contained in the movie *The Matrix* allows us to read questions about humanity and truth within the works we enjoy.

3. From a Theology of Escape to a Theology of Participation

The missionary distinguishes between a “escapist” theology that withdraws from the world and a “participatory” theology that enters into the world. He proposes that we contemplate together the way to express faith confidently and authentically within culture, rather than turning away from it.

4. Daily life and work are part of God's plan

This book argues that we should not stop at changing our thoughts but change our lives. It asserts that our daily lives, passions, and work occupy an important place within God's plan to restore the nations. The question of how to pursue happiness and meaning in a consumer-driven society is also closely connected to this.

Faith flowing into culture

"The River of God" is organized into four sections—Life, Culture, Mission, and Destiny—with 12 themes, making it suitable for personal meditation or small group sharing. If you are contemplating the relationship between Christians and culture, it can serve as a starting point for re-examining the world through God's eyes.

Mrs. Lauren, together with Missionary Kim Seong-won, plans Instagram channels and YouTube lecture content in Korean, English, French, and Italian, and manages Korean-English comment communication to help this message reach readers in various language regions.

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