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Written by Kim Solis, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Oregon
Merriam-webster.com defines culture as: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group, also: the characteristic features of everyday existence (such as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time.
These shared beliefs and social forms are what define the people and practices within each culture. They give the members a common bond, flavor, and spice. They bind us together and make us feel part of something greater. They often involve music, food, customs, and even ways of thinking, reasoning, and perceiving the world and the people around us. One way or another, we all belong to a culture.
But what happens when cultures clash? When my beliefs and social forms collide with those of another culture? Who is right? Which one will prevail?
Some culture clashes are classic, misunderstandings the norm. Every generation feels the generation before them doesn’t understand what they are going through. Foreigners think the new country they are residing in is full of crazy people who don’t know the correct way to do things or how to cook! Opposing political cultures are convinced the other is out to undermine the basic foundation of the motherland.
In order for two opposing or differing cultures to co-exist, there must be something even greater that bind the two together. If commonality cannot be reached, conflict escalates even to the point of violence.
Jesus Christ came to create a greater culture. Not a religious culture of dos and don’ts, as some believe, but rather a larger human culture where we are bound by our common image, that of our mutual Creator who Himself represents unity of three in one, where love, forgiveness, peace, and grace abound.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image…
Ephesians 2:14-19
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
We are no longer older people and younger, Americans and Mexicans, democrats and republicans, Jews and Gentiles… we are now One in Christ.
This is just the message a divided world needs to hear.
Enjoy your culture, but let it not define you.
Embrace the greater human culture that God has blessed us with through Christ. He unites us all through His blood and sacrifice.
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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).