We are influenced by culture. As you consider this
statement, it is important to ask “What is culture?” We are all born lacking
culture, but we are born into a culture. Culture is the things we have learned
to believe that shape what we think and the way we live. Things such as,
“traditions, customs, beliefs, ceremonies, food, or the kinds of things people
wear.”[1]
In addition, there are useful and unhelpful features of any culture, which
impact our lives.
Some suggestions of the general features of culture
include art, social organisations, technology, music, and kindness, etc.
Whereas some of the harmful aspects of culture include pride/narcissism, racial
prejudice, sexism, war, greed, and self-centered disputes, etc. The influence
of these features affects a person’s behaviour and can vary from culture to
culture. For instance, they can influence a person’s observance of time and
punctuality, personal space, honesty, wealth, clothing, and private ownership,
etc.
A major aspect of any cultural perspective is what
is called a worldview. A worldview is what a person believes, rather than what
they do. This belief system influences one’s behaviour. With that in mind, the
following question becomes important; “How does what a person believes influence
their behaviour?”
“Every culture has its own worldview. The central
governing set of concepts and presuppositions that its society lives by.”[2]
As Christ followers, we have a Kingdom culture. This
should impact the surrounding culture wherein we live. This Kingdom culture is,
actually, a person, namely the King Jesus Christ, (Matthew 4:17). His Kingdom
culture needs to shape all we think, say and do. It should affect our community
through us, as His ambassadors. We need to live by Kingdom governed principles
and beliefs. These include; the importance of an intimate relationship with
God, love, acceptance, and forgiveness, servanthood, and honesty, etc. So, this
Kingdom culture should affect both the way we think, and how we behave (Matthew
6:33).
Kingdom culture may be in tension and conflict with
other cultures. For example, Christ followers believe in creation, not
evolution, one God not many, worship of the Creator, not the created, we are
servants, not masters, the value of life, the priority of wealth, and position
and security etc. At times, Jesus brought a sword and not just peace (Matthew
10:34-39; Acts 16:21; 17:7). There may need to be a choice as to which Kingdom
one belongs.
So, which culture will affect the way you think, what
you say and do in your daily life? How will you allow the Kingdom culture to
influence your surrounding culture? In other words, we need to take the seed of
the Gospel of the Kingdom and not the potted plant into the people groups of
the world. This seed needs to be planted and left to grow and influence their
culture.
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