Change The Culture?
Culture is described as behaviors and manners of various groups designated by
ethnic, financial, political backgrounds. i.e. Drug culture, prison culture,
youth culture, and anything that goes against normal standards in society.
There are many types of cultures and we will discuss a few. In every culture
the standards for right and wrong are always determined by the people of such
cultures. Never is the Divine standard (The Bible) used to control behavior
or beliefs of the people. Yet strangely, the people of each culture claim a
belief in a higher power.
There are many cultures and beliefs around the world. Each culture is unique
in several ways, yet generically, they are all somehow the same.
Our society we live in is considered a sexual culture. Everywhere you go, the
sexual agenda is promoted and tolerated. Advertising is promoted by sexual allurements.
Just looking at Facebook.com you begin to wonder why those beautiful people
are used to sell mortgages, language learning software and auto insurance. Many
commercials use the beautiful people to sell products like ice cream, beer,
and toothpaste.
Different ethnic groups have their own culture. We see in the Middle East a
culture where they teach their children to strap on bombs and go into crowded
market places, shout "Alauah Akbar" and detonate the explosive killing
many others. Such cultures teach hatred for other groups, and that is how the
children grow up.
Ethnic cultures seem to put pressure upon its people to conform to standards
that are many times detrimental to their health and well-being. In many large
cities there are dozens of shootings, and as a result of such shootings, there
are many funerals. It seems that the culture has accepted that to be the case,
and life goes on for them. I have seen that when one tries to break away from
their culture that the others call them names and almost try to shame them into
being something the local culture expects. Some appear to want to be a culture
of being thugs, drug dealers, and any other vices one can imagine.
Many cultures behave out of selfish desires by one or more individuals, and
such behavior is just accepted as normal. We see politics wrapped up in corruption.
One reporter calls it the "culture of corruption". Many politicians
go to their capitals with a good intention, and then get wrapped up in the prevailing
culture of the norm. In the meantime, nothing seems to get accomplished. It
appears that the voters know their politicians are corrupt, but that does not
seem to bother them.
Cultures vary from house to house and street to street. It varies according
to ethnic areas and backgrounds. It varies according to upbringing and training.
But like I said, the standard of acceptable behavior is always determined by
the members of each culture. Rarely is the Divine standard of behavior practiced
or encouraged. This is why it is difficult for people to be converted into something
different. For a sinner to be converted into a Christian means that they must
change their culture which is so natural into something that is not normal for
them.
The truth is that no stature in culture is going to save the soul. Only following
the Divine standard can do that. Change is the major factor in repentance. It
means a change of direction and behavior. It goes from sin to righteousness
which is anti-cultural for many people. Yet, if people want to be saved, they
will make the necessary changes.
We can see this in the Divine pages. Remember that the Jewish culture kept many
from becoming Christians. Even some of those who became Christians still got
caught up in hatred for Gentiles and they tried to keep their culture alive
in their new religion. They tried to force people into standards that were no
longer required by God. God holds each and every person accountable for what
they do, believe, teach, and practice. We know the standard of judgment will
be the Bible. We know that our names must be in the Lambs book of life. The
only way to get our names there is to change our culture into His culture.
By Carey Scott
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