THE CULTURAL BENEFITS OF WORSHIP

Worship is a vital and distinctive aspect of Christian culture that has no equivalent in secular Western culture.

When we, as Christians, worship our God, we acknowledge that He is infinitely higher and greater than us. He is the Creator, we are created beings. We freely acknowledge our moment by moment dependence on Him  - for the life that we enjoy and the very air that we breathe. We admit our smallness in comparison to His vastness and we admit our frailty in contrast to His strength and power.

This promotes an attitude of humility which, I believe, is much saner and healthier than the modern secular attitude that tries to make every individual feel “special”. If I am special, then everything should work out perfectly for me, and I should fight anything or anybody who gets in my way. If things don’t work out, I am susceptible to anger and depression because, after all, such things should never happen to me because I’m special.

In contrast, worship promotes the attitude that we don’t deserve special treatment but we can look to God for wisdom and strength in every situation. This is much better!

In some forms of Christian worship, there is also an admission of pervasive sinfulness in comparison to His holiness. As in the oft repeated phrase: “Forgive us, for we are miserable sinners.” Contrition and repentance are good things but, if we never move on from there, we will be doomed to hopelessness and futile struggling against ourselves.

The true Christian understanding of sin is that we were all sinners but, through Christ, we are declared righteous. This encourages a life of eternal gratitude which, in turn, is a better motivation to holy living. When we are born again, through faith in Christ, we enter a relationship with God based on forgiveness and grace. No longer must we strive to be accepted.

Worship also provides perspective. It places us accurately and realistically in the cosmos. We are not important because of what we are but because of who we are, beloved sons and daughters of God.

This warrants much more study but this brief summary of the benefits of worship surely demonstrates that true Christian culture promotes good emotional health and helpful attitudes to life.

BOOK REVIEW – SEX, GOD & MARRIAGE – Johann Christoph Arnold

As well as being a writer and social activist, Johann Christoph Arnold is a pastor with Church Communities International, formerly known as Bruderhof. This book was originally published as "A Plea for Purity" back in 1996 (which explains how it is possible for Mother Teresa to write a foreword for a book published in 2008!)

Fifty or sixty years ago, this book would not have been so counter-cultural because so-called "sexual liberation" was only just beginning to break out in Western society. The message about marriage and sexuality would not have been any different back then because true biblical principles don't change. But, because Western society has changed so dramatically, this book is now a call to stand up for purity and fight against the destructive moral laxity of our times.

The generally Catholic tone of the book is reinforced at the end by "A Call to Purity", jointly signed on behalf of both CCI and the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. But this is not a book on doctrine so Protestant readers would gladly concur with most of what is written here. Exceptions might include the portrayal of divorce, masturbation and contraception as always sinful in the sight of God. (Some Protestants may also take exception to the author's strict views on homosexuality, sex outside of marriage and abortion, but I think he is spot on in his assessment of these things.)

This is actually a very spiritual and very compassionate book. It emphasizes our need, in all the temptations of life, to rely on God and pray for His strength to always do His will. Some might see this as a bit "pie-in-the-sky" but I don't believe the author has in any way minimized the reality of temptations that people face these days.

In his closing argument, the author writes the following: "We must demonstrate that a new way exists and show the world a new reality, the reality of God's righteousness and holiness, which is opposed to the spirit of this world... In order to demonstrate God's will, the church must first take concrete steps toward forming a genuine sexual counter-culture." (p158) Personally, whilst I totally agree with the sentiment, I would rather think in terms of a Christian sub-culture existing in full view of the wider society than a counter-cultural community that may, to some extent, hide itself away. In other words, Christian community can exist even where people don't literally share a living space.

Overall, though, in these sex-crazed, maniacal times of anything goes, this book is a sane, well-balanced call for God's people to rise up in His strength to a life of profound purity.

BOOK REVIEW - ONE HUMAN FAMILY

Many excellent books in the past few decades have demonstrated the scientific credibility of creationism. Other books have compared the effects of evolutionary thinking with the effects of a worldview that takes the book of Genesis seriously. This lavishly produced book by Carl Wieland, Managing Director of Creation Ministries International builds on previous work to tackle the contentious issue of racism.

The thesis of the book is obvious from the beginning; both the Bible and modern science affirm conclusively that we are all one human family. Therefore racism doesn't make sense. The evidence for a recent common ancestry brings the family connection even closer.

But racism in our modern context is a complex issue. This book has seventeen chapters, all treating different facets and implications of our human tendency to define each other in terms of race. Readers will find semi-technical scientific explanations, historical reviews on matters like slavery or the impact of Social Darwinism, analysis of examples that evolutionists have put forward as evidence of man's evolution from ape-like creatures, and much more. The alleged biological differences between different races are seen to arise more from differences in culture and religious worldview assumptions. There is a substantial chapter on South Africa and the Apartheid regime. All of these matters are handled uncompromisingly (this book would never pass the PC test!) but in such a way as to promote genuine understanding, something which is often lacking in discussions about race and racism.

'One Human Family' is encyclopedic in scope, well illustrated and well-referenced, with several interesting feature pages. Christian readers will greatly appreciate this book for the way in which controversial issues are addressed. Non-Christian readers, if they are open-minded enough to consider the evidence marshalled here, will find their whole world turned upside down!

The physical weightiness of this book is definitely matched by the weightiness of it's content. A very important contribution to the literature on one of society's most divisive issues.

NOTE: I thought this was worth posting on my ‘Culture Insights’ blog because this book speaks directly to so many culture-related issues.

HAS ‘CULTURE’ BECOME A MEANINGLESS WORD?

Once upon a time, cultures were more easily defined. People lived in smaller, more homogeous communities. A common faith provided the backbone for a common culture.

But now?

People live in a worldwide multi-linked community. There is no common faith in our cities and towns. Cultural influences come from everywhere to everywhere. The latest hit song becomes part of our ‘culture’, even though it may have absolutely no connection to any shared worldview, shared paradigms for life, or shared values.

TV shows, designed – let’s face it – to make money through the entertainment industry, become cultural ‘icons’. National celebrations, as discussed last week, cannot bring any sort of cultural unity because our society (in Australia at least) is such a hotch-potch of competing cultures.

Patchwork quilts, where dozens, maybe hundreds, of ladies each contribute a square according to certain guidelines, can be beautiful. Unfortunately, popular culture is like a patchwork quilt with no guidelines whatsoever. The composite result will be meaningless (unless the meaning is diversity – which then cancels out any other possible meaning).

Multicultural society cannot, by definition, have a true culture. But any people group within that broader society, if there is that sense of shared worldview, shared paradigms and shared values, can still be a culture. Or, more precisely, a subculture.

This, my friends, is the level at which culture can be meaningful. What a wonderful opportunity for the people of God in Christ!

So the answer to the question in today’s heading must still be ‘no’. Culture is still meaningful, but only to the extent that it relates to a group of people, however large or small, who can share it at a meaningful level.

THE GREAT AUSTRALIA DAY DEBATE

The day that was intended to bring all Australians together has sadly become a sharp bone of contention. Some are even now referring to it as “Invasion Day”.

This unfortunate term is, of course, a politically motivated anachronism because there is no way the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove on 26th January, 1788, was intended (or viewed) as an invasion. At the time, aboriginal sovereignty over the land was neither understood nor appreciated.

To judge eighteenth century history according to twenty-first century knowledge is the worst kind of historical revisionism.

But that’s not the point I wish to make here. I believe that the concept of an Australia Day is important because this is actually a wonderful country.  Many different cultures can flourish here, including all the various aboriginal cultures.

It is a mistake to talk about Australia as a single, unified culture.  We are one society but we are not one culture.  Even before January 26th, 1788, there was no one single culture here.

As a Christian, I would like to see more public recognition for the Christian heritage that has helped shape our nation.  Australia Day, for me, is an opportunity 1) to thank God for the blessings we share and 2) to celebrate the freedom that we have to promote and enjoy a Christian way of life, a Christian culture.

Aboriginal culture, despite the atrocities of bygone years and centuries, currently enjoys a highly esteemed status in a modern Australian society.  There are important inequalities that still need to be addressed but these inequalities are recognised and attempts are being made to rectify them.

The date for celebrating Australia Day should not be a problem.  Rather than seeing it as an invasion, we should see January 26th as the difficult and often painful beginning of something that eventually would bring opportunity to work together towards a society marked by harmony and understanding. 

It’s not about looking back with guilt and condemnation; it’s about celebrating who we are as a nation now.  And the Christian faith has historically had a huge role in developing Australia as the great nation we currently enjoy. 

SEXUAL EXPECTATIONS IN CULTURE

I think many people expect the Bible to present some sort of consistent picture of sexual morality, from start to finish.  You know.  Just don’t do it!  Unless, of course, you’re married.

But different cultures have different ideas about what is right and wrong regarding sex. The ultimate example may well be Mohammed, the founder of Islam, who married a six-year old girl named Aisha and consummated the marriage only a few years later. To Western thinking, influenced as it has been by Judeo-Christian morality, this is abhorrent in the extreme, yet no Muslim would dare accuse their prophet of wrong-doing in this regard.

In the book of Genesis, it must be admitted that standards of sexual morality were not yet fully evolved or defined. Chapter 34 depicts a horrendous clash of cultures over the issue of sexual morality.

Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, innocently ventures out to meet other young women in her new neighborhood.  The son of the region’s prince, a young man named Shechem, falls in love with her and, in modern terminology, rapes her.  Surprisingly, though, the writer of Genesis paints Shechem as a decent, honourable young man - v19 literally states that he was “more honourable than all the household of his father”!

Jacob doesn’t know how to handle this situation.  Having made every effort to befriend the men of the area, he doesn’t want to cause trouble.  But two of his sons, Simeon and Levi, devise a (brilliantly) deceitful plot to avenge their sister.  They end up murdering Shechem, his father the prince, and all the other males in the city!  Then, with the help of the other brothers, they plunder the city, taking captive all the girls and women!

I would have thought this was a bit extreme.  But when Jacob challenged his sons, they simply said: "Should he treat our sister like a harlot?"

We are led to believe that Shechem honestly didn’t think he had sinned in defiling Dinah.  There is absolutely no evidence that he thought of her as a harlot.  In fact, he desperately wanted to marry her.  In his culture, he was a good man.  But he fell foul of a culture clash with a group of men who apparently believed that the rape of one sister was so reprehensible that it warranted the murder and plunder of a whole city.

There is no mention in this story of Dinah’s feelings.  Our modern sensibilities, like those of her brothers, are outraged.  But, from her perspective, things may have been rather different.  She might not have been so outraged.  Shechem loved her and would undoubtedly have given her a good life.  There are many instances in Scripture of women learning to adapt to marital circumstances that, today, we would find objectionable.

So what’s my point?  Just this.  Sexual morality in the Bible is a gradually unfolding thing.  After Genesis 2, the ideal of one man, one woman marriage doesn’t really reappear until the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus.  It is common for Old Testament heroes to have more than one wife, often treating them as commodities or possessions. 

We affirm that sex outside of marriage is wrong but we cannot back this up from the Old Testament.  Even the laws of Moses make provision for polygamy (Ex 21:10) and rape in the case of an unbetrothed virgin (Deut 22:28,29).

The Christian view of sexual morality is based primarily on the teachings of Jesus and the later epistles.  Our standards are part of Christian culture, which I think are easily defensible as the best and highest culture in this regard.  But people whose culture puts them outside the people of God in Christ have different standards.  And this is what we see around us today. 

Can we allow this to challenge our thinking and attitudes?  Shechem would not have understood the sexual morality of Jacob’s family because his culture was different.  Likewise, there is no point in Christians castigating (let alone trying to punish) non-Christian people for their sexual immorality if we have not attempted to demonstrate why our cultural perspective on sex is better and more honourable than theirs.

I believe that, increasingly, Christians will be called upon to defend their moral positions in a world of competing cultures.  But mere ranting and raving will not help.  There are many Shechems who simply don’t know any better.  How would Shechem and his people have reacted if Jacob and his sons had carefully explained their standards?  The evidence of Genesis 34 suggests that they would have adapted their culture to accommodate Israel.

It was a cultural clash matter back then and it’s a cultural clash matter now.

THE HEART OF OUR CULTURE

This week, I enjoyed reading “The Happiest Refugee” by celebrity comedian Anh Do.  Anh comes from a Vietnamese background but, despite several traumatic events, his book is almost outrageously positive. His story is rich in cultural insight, not just about the Vietnamese culture of his birth but also about his family’s adaptation to Australian culture.

Marriage is a crucial aspect of any culture and, when Anh married an Aussie girl, the coming together of two vastly different cultures and backgrounds made for some wonderful reading.

Most Australians really enjoy the interaction with people from different cultures. Different food, different protocols, different rituals. These are just some of the things that we can enjoy about our multicultural society.

The difficulty with multiculturalism, however, lies at a much deeper level of culture. Every culture has a core of worldview which, in turn, gives rise to a range of moral values. At this level, we cannot have a foot in different camps. A syncretistic worldview, drawing bits and pieces from here, there and everywhere, can only lead to confusion and frustration.

Why? Because, as someone said, the different religions could all be wrong but they certainly cannot all be right!

Jesus once asked His disciples if they wanted to join some others that had stopped following Him. Peter replied: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know You are the Holy One of God (John 6:68,69 – NLT).”

Following Jesus means that we cannot also follow Buddha, Mohammed or any other teacher or guru. For Christians, the very heart of our culture is Christ Himself. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).

Cultural differences at the surface level are (usually) harmless and fun. Cultural differences at the deeper levels, however, are far more serious. It’s good to understand something about these differences but, for Christians, everything comes back to Jesus. Why would we want to study alternatives that would negate our commitment to following Him?