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Donald E. Hester

Culturally Agnostic

by Donald E. Hester
Donald E. Hester
Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in t
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 on Feb 24 in Christianity 0 Comments

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I am learning new things every day. One truth I am learning is that we can't understand the Bible from a mono-cultural point of view. 

I have suspected for some time and now have it confirmed in a class called Perspectives, that Christianity is culturally agnostic. In other words, Christianity is not tied to a specific culture. Christianity was born out of the Judaism and it left behind the culture and blended into new cultures.
 
I know what some people are thinking. I know that some Christians have tied culture to Christianity, especial here in America. True Christianity is not tied to the American culture, the European culture or the Jewish culture for that matter. Christianity is culturally independent.
 
As Christians, we can follow a Palestinian Jew without becoming a Jewish Palestinian. We have to set aside our mono-cultural assumptions. If we do not drop our cultural baggage, we are ting the Gospel down.
 
"Christianity more than any other faith or philosophy has been able to shed the cultural clothing with which it once seemed identified and reclothed itself in a new culture." - D.T. Niles
 
Christianity when introduced into a culture will adapt into the culture, so that the World may know and God's glory is show. This reminds me of one of the Marine Corps mottos, adapt and over come.
 
How can the good news be heard in all nations when we have cultural gaps wider than the Grand Canyon?
 
To be a Christian must you accept the culture of those who brought it?
 
Paul made a great point to the Christians who were stuck on the Jewish culture. "Let’s not make it difficult for the Ethne that are coming to God" Acts 15:1-19
 
How did Paul bridge the cultural gap?
 
"To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some." Holman Christian standard version. (1 Co 9:22)
 
In Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola (http://frankviola.wordpress.com/) shows how many of the Christian customs of today have been barrowed for pagan religions. I agree, I believe this is what Paul was talking about when he said he was all things to all people. Christianity has adapted itself over the centuries to the culture of the people.  As if the Christian message has been translated culturally.
 
The lyrics from Casting Crowns song 'What the World Needs', seem very apropos:
 
What this world needs
Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind,
Another two bit politician peddlin` lies,
Another three ring circus society.
 
What this world needs
Is not another sign wavin` super saint that's better than you,
Another ear pleasin` candy man afraid of the truth,
Another prophet in an Armani suit.
 
What this world needs
Is a Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love them in their time of need.
 
A Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love,
That's what this world needs.
 
What this world needs
Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside.
Have we become so blind that we can't see?
God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt.
 
What this world needs
Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance.
Blendin` in so well that people can't see the difference
And it's the difference that sets the world free.
 
People aren't confused by the gospel,
They're confused by us.
Jesus is the only way to God,
But we are not the only way to Jesus.
This world doesn't need
My tie, my hoodie,
My denomination, or my translation of the Bible,
They just need Jesus.
We can be passionate about what we believe,
But we can't strap ourselves to the gospels.
Because we're slowing it down
Jesus is going to save the world,
But maybe the best thing we can do
Is just get out of the way.
 
What this world needs
Is a Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love them in their time of need.
 
A Savior who will rescue,
A Spirit who will lead,
A Father who will love,
That's what this world needs.
 
Jesus is our Savior,
That's what this world needs
Father's arms around you,
That's what this world needs
That's what this world needs
 
Tags: Lyrics, Church, Culture
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About the author

Donald E. Hester

Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in theology and philosophy. A lover of science-fiction and related genres. Given to the spirits- paranormal and distilled. A bibliophile par excellence. A short description for a life the likes of which could fill the library of congress. I give you Donald E. Hester, excelsior!
http://www.unvarnishedblog.com

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