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Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
“Culture” … it is defined as the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group including the characteristic features and morals of everyday life shared by people in a place or time. Cultures will vary from country to country, but ultimately all cultural beliefs and practices will reflect a group’s view of a Supreme Being.
It is imperative that we understand where our cultural beliefs originate... and as followers of Jesus Christ, our cultural beliefs and practices must be rooted in that which He would do.
Our Heavenly Father works through “called out people.” There was Noah, Abraham, then the “called out” nation of Israel.
When Jehovah God led Israel into the Promised Land, He wanted them to be different. One thing He told them was they should not offer their children to the fires of Molech.
“You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God…. You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech.” (Lev. 18:3,4,21 ESV)
We are not told specifics of what practices they may have adopted from Egypt, but God wanted to be sure they did not practice the abominations of the Canaanites.
Because God’s called out were not to take on the culture of the people of the land, the Israelites were told to drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land.
We become like those we are around, and as the chosen people through whom the Messiah would come, it was important that God’s people be holy as He was holy.
In time, the Israelites would also partake in those Canaanite practices, because they did not obey and cleanse the land when it was given to them. God’s people… those He had called out… were calling holy that which He called sin!
It took the Babylonian Captivity to get God’s message across and make the Israelites a monotheistic people.
Today… as disciples of Jesus Christ we must oppose cultural trends that violate what God has said.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world” (12:2) and tells them they are to be transformed.
God’s people are often become desensitized by the world, accepting the culture of the world as good and holy.
Peter reminds us that we, like the Israelites, have been chosen and are, “a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
As we walk through this world, we must remember we are different, we’ve been called for a purpose… and remember Jesus told us, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
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Written by Michelle J. Goff
Cross-cultural communication is fascinating. As a child, I was introduced to different cultures within our home, starting with my parents… Dad is a PhD Chemist who grew up in a small farming community on the Iowa/Missouri border. Mom is a special education elementary school teacher who grew up in the metropolitan city of Miami.
Dad always leaves doors unlocked. Mom locks all the doors immediately.
Dad prefers ordinal directions (north, south, east, west). Mom gives directions based on landmarks.
Dad makes the bed with the top sheet a certain side up. Mom makes the bed with the top sheet the opposite side up.
Some of these differences are not significant. Others have been a big deal… One of the first mornings as a married couple, it took them three hours to make the bed because of their different preferences on how to make a bed. When they have taught premarital counseling classes regarding “first year adjustments,” they ask the couple to make a bed together, then share their own story.
Within our own families, we create a culture and an expectation. “Normal” is all we have ever known, until we are introduced to someone else’s normal.
I remember Chinese students coming to our home for Sunday lunch and learning how to use a knife and fork to eat the traditional pot roast, potatoes, and carrots. There were no chop sticks, nor rice on our Southern American table. Yet, later, South Americans, like Venezuelans, reminded us that they were American too. Our Puerto Rican friends loved to eat and share the slightly burned rice on the bottom of the pot… a sign that you are family. Have you ever thought about some of those cultural differences?
We cannot recognize our own culture until we are given the opportunity to learn about another culture through our differences.
When we look at the concept of Culture Redefined, here are three questions we can ask ourselves:
1. What have I learned about my own culture in light of another’s culture?
2. What have I learned about someone else’s culture—what we have in common and areas in which we have unique perspectives?
3. What facet of the Christ-like, Kingdom culture should I most emulate in this context or relationship?
Since it is football season in the U.S., I will share that my football culture is one of an LSU Tiger. When I took a group of LSU students up to Ole Miss for a game, we marveled at the differences between tailgating in those two SEC towns. We shared a deep love of football, but probably a deeper love for our team than for the sport itself.
Our Christian culture was challenged when the rival fans began to taunt us, throw things at us, and mistreat us. We recognized that not all LSU fans are also Christians. We also know that not all Ole Miss fans are Christians either. If all Christian football fans are being honest, sometimes our football culture may overshadow our Christian culture.
Family culture, church culture, language culture, local culture, sports culture, school culture… Culture does an excellent job of providing connection and community. However, if our culture is to the exclusion of others, is it a culture that honors Christ?
When Jesus began His ministry, He welcomed individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds to be a part of His Kingdom: Samaritans, tax collectors, fishermen, those with disabilities, Zealots, women, Pharisees… and many more. Some accepted His invitation into a new culture and others did not.
We are each a unique combination of the various cultures we have embraced and emulated. When those cultures are in conflict, how do we choose?
How does God call us to navigate the redefining of culture?
1. We must seek first God’s definition of culture in Christ. It must take precedence over any other cultural markers (Matt. 6:33; 1 John 4:1-6).
2. Cultural redefinition is a process of transformation (Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 3:17-18).
3. Our new identity in Christ is the most important foundation of culture, further developed through the Spirit (Gal. 2:20; Acts 2:38; Gal. 5:16-25).
What are your thoughts about culture?
How has your culture been redefined through your coming to Christ?