Skip to main content

The Lies of Culture

    American culture teaches us that we control our own destiny-- that it is in our power to control if we are successful or not. Americans also have the highest rated individualistic mindset over all the other cultures in the world, according to Hofstede's culture study, meaning about the same thing-- that it is up to us to make things happen for ourselves. You see it in our work environments and governments. You have a medical issue? Take care of it without any national aid. You have a personal issue and bail out on work? It's accepted because you took care of yourself first. Every man for himself. How does that translate into our Christian lifestyles? I think it can create some conflict when compared to Biblical truths.

    The first issue is that we think that it is on us to control our futures. Life is what we can make for ourselves and work for. However, when we turn our lives over to Jesus we are supposed to hand Him our futures! He actually ends up giving us better than we could have ever planned for ourselves. We are not wise enough to know where the road goes, and to be able to have confidence in our unknown future because of a known God is a beautiful gift. Do not let it go to waste! Giving your entire life up to Jesus is freeing.

    Another issue with American culture is that it teaches us that we are all left to our own devices. It completely eliminates any reliance on other people, especially outside your family. It means that if we mess up or fall on hard times, it is up to us to pull ourselves out of it. But the reality of Christ is that He has designed us to live in a community of believers to lift us up in hard times and are always there for us, just like the church in Acts.

    I warn you today not to fall into the many cultural traps of America. The "values" we are taught from infancy can get too easily confused with the truth. Don't get me wrong, I love America and am thankful that this is the country I call home, but to think it is without flaws is just plain dumb. Recognize the difference between the world's values and Jesus' values and I pray you choose to live by the latter.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

 Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (ESV)

Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seeing by Faith

    When we are trying to live by faith, the things that inhibit us are the things that are right under our noses. We are trained to live based on the things around us. We don't believe anything if we don't see proof of it. The things around us are more our reality than what we say we believe in. But the Bible tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. We are to live based on what we know is truth, not by what we see.     The things we see around us distract us from the reality we should be living in. What is unseen is eternal and more important than the things of this world. We need to fix our eyes on what is lasting and know the difference. We need to be filling ourselves with the word and not the world. When we are distracted by the world, we forget the truth. We become discouraged and doubt our faith. We need to draw strength from one another so that we may run the race with endurance.     What is determining your reality today? Is i...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Firm a Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Luke 6:46-49 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pergamum

Revelation 2:13-16  “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city. “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (NLT)     To the church in Pergamum, Jesus commends them for their faithfulness. Interesting that what He told the church in Smyrna they were doing wrong was just what those in Pergamum were doing right! They lived in an area that made it particularly difficult to stay devoted to Christ because of all the persecution, yet...
Post a Comment
Read more