“When Kingdoms Collide”
Dear writer, I hope you had a wonderful week and began creating space to pursue the things that inspire you! This week, we’re going to look at another element of voice: culture.
You see, writer, sometimes we don’t even realize culture’s influence on us. At other times, we are painfully aware of culture, as our unique expression attempts to balance its deficiencies or to oppose its vices. And here’s the interesting thing…
There are beautiful and ugly parts of every culture on earth, and as we learn to identify those parts of culture that influence our voice, we can bring that expression into a clearer alignment with the Lord’s purposes and begin to discover some of the powerful ways He intends to speak through us. Because here’s the thing…
The most powerful expression of culture is when our unique cultural background because of where God has placed us blends with the culture of His Kingdom. But before we begin, let’s take a look at those whose awareness of their culture helped shape their unique expression.
Culture in History
Martin Luther is a good example of a man whose growing awareness of culture and God’s Kingdom shaped both his voice and his message. As a young man, Luther feared death and damnation and chose the life of a monk as way to help assure his own salvation. When Luther received the revelation of salvation by grace alone through faith, he knew that part of his unique message was to address the pervasive works mentality that plagued the Catholic church that the time and the “expungement” of sin through the unbiblical sale of indulgences.
As Luther grasped these cultural influences through the light of God’s word, he worked tirelessly to bring the truth to his countrymen, translating the first Catholic Bibles out of Latin and into the Germanic language. Luther’s work changed the trajectory of the church and laid the groundwork for the protestant reformation that swept the globe and still impacts the world today.
You see, writer, oftentimes the thing we encounter or struggle with in life are common to many who share our cultural heritage. And though we begin like fish who don’t know they’re wet, as we dive deep into God’s word, those influences become clear. And that process of growth shapes our voice and the message on our hearts to share.
Culture in the Bible
Elijah is an interesting example of a man who understood culture and its role in people’s lives and effectively leveraged it to demonstrate his message. Elijah knew that the culture of Ahab and Jezebel’s kingdom recognized and respected nothing but power. When he challenged the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel to an ultimate showdown, Elijah took every opportunity to leverage that cultural value by demonstrating the powerlessness of Baal versus the power of the one true God. From taunting the pagan priests into frenetic self-destruction to dousing the sacrifice to the Lord in water, Elijah both trusted and emphasized the complete power of God with every word and deed.
You see, writer, sometimes there are aspects of our culture that can seem to overwhelm us—but you cannot underestimate the power of your unique voice as share the truth God has given you. Because, here’s the thing, writer. Darkness is never more powerful that light, and when we boldly allow our light to shine, like Elijah, we are allowing the Spirit of God space to convict and correct and draw those living in darkness.
Culture in Life
I first experienced the influence of culture as I spent three months teaching in Uganda. At the start of our trip, the ministry director counseled us to let the Ugandan staff do our cleaning, cooking, and small errands. Mortified, Jared and I insisted on doing as much as we could ourselves, so as not to be a burden. But here’s the interesting thing. As I progressed throughout the semester, I quickly realized I could not adequately equip my students without accepting the help for life’s more “menial” tasks. And here’ the lovely thing.
As I slowly relinquished my grip, opportunities to develop relationships opened up, and those who served us were blessed and strengthened in ways I never could have anticipated. I realized my desire to “not be a burden” wasn’t the humility I thought it to be. It was simply a fierce American pride and independence. And here’s the most beautiful thing of all. As I began to understand and embrace God’s culture of community, those powerful themes not only wove themselves throughout my words and writing, they equipped me to begin building true community in the lives of others, too.
Culture in Your Life
You see, here’s the thing, writer. Often our journey into the Kingdom of God—and the way it exposes, upsets, or celebrates our culture—forms the core and recurring themes in our unique voice and expression. It is as our heritage meets and is reinterpreted by the Kingdom that our lives come alive and gain the power to ignite the minds and hearts of those around us. Because here’s the interesting thing. It is in those areas where we have been set free that God enables us to bring freedom to others. Let me show you…
- He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” – Matthew 13:31-32
- He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” – Matthew 13:33
- Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. – 1 Timothy 4:16
- So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32
You see, writer, culture is simply what’s cultivated around us. It’s the environment that we grow in, and as God’s light invades those sometimes dark and muddied spaces, amending and replacing what’s unwell or reinforcing what’s good, our voice will begin to shift and grow into the expression our Creator originally intended. And as we are transformed into His image, that light will permeate our word and will begin to shape the culture around us, too.
Where to Start with Culture
So are you ready to begin examining your cultural influences? Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Know Your Culture. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your people group, church, or family? Begin to recognize points of need that may exist within your culture where God’s message on your heart intersects with those needs.
- Devour the Word. As we renew our mind with the word of God, we begin to recognize our culture for what it is. Take care as you approach scripture not to fit what it says to what you know. Instead, allow God’s words to reframe your life’s experiences. It is as we align our culture with the culture of the Kingdom that the fullest expression of our God-given voice will begin to form.
- Review Life’s “Aha” Moments. Some of life’s biggest “aha” moments reveal a deep-seated cultural belief that was either soundly uprooted or profoundly reinforced by God. Paying attention to those moment will help us understand our unique and expression and begin to intentionally embrace it.
- Experience Another Culture. There are few things as illuminating as stepping outside our culture and into another. As we do this, we begin to see ingrained values and priorities more clearly as well as aspects of other cultures that resonate on our heart. God often uses these experiences to highlight, shift, or reinforce a unique aspect of our voice. Because here’s the thing, writer…
Cultures are made of people and are simply a people’s way of expressing their interpretation of life and its purpose, aims, goals, and priorities. As we recognize the themes and priorities that have been at work in our lives, we can begin to see how God is positioning us to speak into those arenas. Because here’s the real deal, writer…
Whatever we overcome in life enables us to help others overcome. Whatever we master equips us to help others gain mastery. Just like Luther’s struggle with the cultural idol of works-based salvation positioned him to preach a pure Gospel and equip every day believers in that same culture. Just like Elijah understanding of Israel’s values gave him the boldness to obey God in a demonstration Israel would never forget. Just like my wrestling with ungodly independence opened doors for me to begin building communities that activate the gifts and callings of others.
So how about you? If you’ve not considered the role of culture in developing your voice, I encourage you to prayerfully reflect on the topic. Remember those moments of illumination where God has shifted your mindset dramatically from on plane to another. Meditate on the moments when He reinforced or renewed your mind about a certain a principle. Because here’s the real deal…
The most powerful cultural movements in life always begins with one person. Just like the reformation of the church began with Luther. Just like the abolition of Baal worship in Israel began with Elijah. Just a return to Godly community is beginning in my life and the lives of many other individuals. It’s as we wholeheartedly begin to embrace the Kingdom of God in our lives and His unique cultural expression through us that our passion ignites and can begin to spark the lives of others too.
#freedom #culture #Kingdom #power #EveryWriterWriting
