The subject of this month's web log is the incredible pressure our American culture puts on our spiritual beliefs. Numerous areas of research point to changing public opinion about subjects as diverse as abortion, homosexuality, smoking, obesity, war, and even automobile mileage. People are fickle, as the creators of entertainment media discover with a second episode of a popular show or movie. Technology speeds up the process. Teenagers who instant message each other have no patience for E-mail. Young adults, who E-mail each other have no patience for US Mail (snail mail). I heard recently that CD sales are dropping by 20% each year with the growth of MP-3 players, including I-PODs. CD's had previously totally replaced cassettes, who had completely replaced LP records with some 8 Track memories in between.
Our modern culture with jet airplane travel, world-wide internet, and growing economic impacts on other countries is also affected by the many cultures around the world. Americans are made up of people who moved here from another country, or children or even grandchildren of people who moved here from another country. Only a few Indians, now known as Native Americans, can claim many centuries of existence in the land we call home. Webster's defines culture as the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties, or an enlightenment of taste acquired by training. A further definition claims culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends on man's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.
So how does culture affect my beliefs as a Christian? I was surprised to find the issue is many centuries old. In the third and fourth centuries Socrates and other Greek scholars began to influence the Church in ways that were different from the Hebraic roots of the early Church. The Greek influence appeals more to the intellect, whereas the early-Church Hebraic model appealed to the heart. The Greek influence resulted in more emphasis on oratory skills and cognitive knowledge of God. Over the many centuries, this influence has shown itself in a more programmatic approach to the gospel rather than a process of living out our faith. I grew up being taught that smoking, drinking, dancing and going to the movies was a sin. Ironically, I was taught this by folks who used God's name in vain, complained bitterly about other people in the church, and opened their Bible's only on Sunday. The Ten Commandments were given to show us as humans how far we are from righteousness. Jesus added the 11th, commanding us to love others as we love ourselves. While many Christians fight over the "SIN LIST", the transparent relationship we're called to have with God and others stagnates or dies from lack of focus. This does NOT make the evils of this generation right. About 15 years ago a tolerance movement swept the country and all "politically correct" people believe no one should be criticized. I am not one of them. That being said, the final words of Jesus as he left the earth was "Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations.....teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you". Cultures come and go, but his Word lives forever. Making disciples of Jesus Christ starts with their heart, not their head.
If my intellectual and moral faculties (culture) prevent me from accomplishing the goal (my commission), change is required. The same goes for you. All the things you know are bad, are taught are bad, or even believe are bad can be as much of a hindrance as all the things that you
perceive as good. There is no relative truth, only truth. Jesus said "I am the way, the life, and the truth. No one comes to the Father except by me". That's the same right now in every culture on earth as it was 2000 years ago in any culture. For me, the measurement to discern cultural
beliefs from never changing truth is found in the Bible. As for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.
Our modern culture with jet airplane travel, world-wide internet, and growing economic impacts on other countries is also affected by the many cultures around the world. Americans are made up of people who moved here from another country, or children or even grandchildren of people who moved here from another country. Only a few Indians, now known as Native Americans, can claim many centuries of existence in the land we call home. Webster's defines culture as the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties, or an enlightenment of taste acquired by training. A further definition claims culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends on man's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.
So how does culture affect my beliefs as a Christian? I was surprised to find the issue is many centuries old. In the third and fourth centuries Socrates and other Greek scholars began to influence the Church in ways that were different from the Hebraic roots of the early Church. The Greek influence appeals more to the intellect, whereas the early-Church Hebraic model appealed to the heart. The Greek influence resulted in more emphasis on oratory skills and cognitive knowledge of God. Over the many centuries, this influence has shown itself in a more programmatic approach to the gospel rather than a process of living out our faith. I grew up being taught that smoking, drinking, dancing and going to the movies was a sin. Ironically, I was taught this by folks who used God's name in vain, complained bitterly about other people in the church, and opened their Bible's only on Sunday. The Ten Commandments were given to show us as humans how far we are from righteousness. Jesus added the 11th, commanding us to love others as we love ourselves. While many Christians fight over the "SIN LIST", the transparent relationship we're called to have with God and others stagnates or dies from lack of focus. This does NOT make the evils of this generation right. About 15 years ago a tolerance movement swept the country and all "politically correct" people believe no one should be criticized. I am not one of them. That being said, the final words of Jesus as he left the earth was "Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations.....teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you". Cultures come and go, but his Word lives forever. Making disciples of Jesus Christ starts with their heart, not their head.
If my intellectual and moral faculties (culture) prevent me from accomplishing the goal (my commission), change is required. The same goes for you. All the things you know are bad, are taught are bad, or even believe are bad can be as much of a hindrance as all the things that you
perceive as good. There is no relative truth, only truth. Jesus said "I am the way, the life, and the truth. No one comes to the Father except by me". That's the same right now in every culture on earth as it was 2000 years ago in any culture. For me, the measurement to discern cultural
beliefs from never changing truth is found in the Bible. As for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.
