A primer on culture (6)

Unlike many cultures in the world, Western - and in particular, American - culture offers a wide range of choices. Today, for example, I enjoyed an English muffin for breakfast, some Mexican tortilla chips for lunch, and a cup of Greek yogurt as an afternoon snack. My computer is from Japan, the Bible to my left (ESV - one of many choices of translation) comes from Illionois, and my Internet wireless connection comes from who-knows-where. (I think it's probably magic.)

On my TV I can punch in music stations to fill my home with country, Western, rock, classic rock, classical, soft classical, or seasonal music. Or I can turn on my CD player and crank up some Celtic tunes or maybe a little Phil Keaggy. My cell phone offers me news from USAToday, the Associated Press, The Economist, and half a dozen other sources, and my bookmarked websites will bring me information and perspectives on science, the arts, cultural issues, and Christian worldview thinking at the tap of a finger or the click of a mouse.

The cultural choices that confront us each day as we make and use culture are made, for the most part, without much thinking. We know what we like and what we don't like, and we gravitate to the former. Cultural choice is similar to taste in foods. I like all kinds of foods. Except eggplant. Some foods I've had to learn to like - believe me, chicken livers and bacon were not something I brought into this marriage. I took a cultural risk putting that stuff in my mouth for the first time, but now I'm quite happy to have done so. I like all kinds of music, too. Except jazz. But, unlike eggplant, which I know is not good for me, I just don't know enough about jazz to be able to appreciate it.

We all make choices with respect to culture. But how do we decide? Are the criteria we use in selecting how we will spend our time, money, and strength on cultural activities nothing more than matters of personal taste? Do we just like what we like? Should we be looking beyond what has become familiar to consider whether there might be other aspects and forms of culture we might find equally beneficial and enjoyable? Are their criteria related to our faith in Christ and our citizenship in the Kingdom of God that ought to guide our cultural choices and activities?

Seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness is the Christian's highest calling in life (Matt. 6.33). Implicit in that calling, it seems to me, are certain ways of thinking about the world, prioritizing our time, nurturing our souls, and expressing our being-in-the-world that will surely preclude our involvement in certain cultural activities and require our participation in others. There are passions, appealed to by certain cultural forms, which actually wage war against our souls (1 Pet. 2.11). Do we know what those are? Are we avoiding those kinds of cultural activities? On the other hand, there are cultural activities which can actually focus our thoughts and affections on higher and more edifying things. Do we know what those are?

There are other choices - in dress, conversation, political involvement, reading, use of leisure time, and much more - that allow us to express the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit which are the hallmark of the Kingdom of God, and which please God and benefit our neighbors (Rom. 14.17-19). Are we maximizing such choices day by day?

Because culture involves choices, the more self-conscious we can become concerning why we make the cultlural choics we do, the better we will be able to determine whether or not our involvement with culture is what one might reasonably expect of a citizen of the Kingdom of God. In that realm, everything we do must be undertaken for the glory of God, to exalt His Name, demonstrate and celebrate His presence, and point others to His promises and claims. This gets down even to such "ordinary" activities as eating and drinking (1 Cor. 10.31).

Culture matters. It matters in the Kingdom of God because culture has power to bring that unseen reality to light in powerful ways. It also has power to stifle Kingdom progress and even to roll it back in our lives.

Learning which cultural choices lead to the progress of the Kingdom rather than its obstruction, and making such choices consistently, should be high on every Christian's list of things to do. Are our tastes in culture typical of what we might expect within the Kingdom of God? Or do our cultural choices serve only to reflect the self-centered and materialistic lifestyles which characterize too many of our contemporaries?

When it comes to cultural choice, learn to choose wisely, and not like a fool (Eph. 5.15-17).

Related texts: Matthew 6.33; Romans 14.17-19; 1 Corinthians 10.31; 2 Corinthians 10.3-5; Ephesians 5.15-17

A conversation starter: "What are the primary criteria that guide the cultural decisions you make each day?"

T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.