Comments on: Do You Have Culture-Colored Faith? http://www.rickbeckman.org/do-you-have-culture-colored-faith/ Brazenly geek. Brazenly atheist. Brazenly me. Wed, 16 May 2012 22:14:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rick Beckman http://www.rickbeckman.org/do-you-have-culture-colored-faith/#comment-3967 Rick Beckman Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:41:47 +0000 http://rickbeckman.org/?p=1548#comment-3967 Thanks for the comment, Noah, and actually, that's the point I was trying to make. We're very much immersed in the culture -- something some conservative churches miss and which emerg[ing|ent] take to an extreme at times. Part of the motivation behind this post was what I read in a <span class="title">People</span> magazine in the break room at work. The article was a revisit to the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints ranch that was raided a year or so ago on allegations of child abuse. I absolutely do not agree with Mormonism's unique doctrines, but the culture that was fostered on the ranch impressed me -- the children learned to work and were not force-fed steady diets of cartoons and toys, the women dressed modestly and were faithful, and the husbands likewise worked hard in all areas of the establishment. Children who were torn from their homes and returned at a later point were described as having become more selfish due to being exposed to all sorts of toys and the like. The situation may be an extreme one, but it got me thinking just how much culture affects how we behave. For instance, the early church in Acts, when presented with numerous people leaving their homes to stay with that first church gathering, sold everything they had in order to ensure that the basic needs of everyone present were accounted for. Today's possession-centric America undoubtedly has colored our faith, evidenced in that most prominent "Christian leaders" in the media are those who have amassed for themselves great wealth. I know a lot of this we have to Just Deal with, but in so doing, I don't want to miss remaining relevant to the One who never changes in favor of embracing the latest trends. Thanks for the comment, Noah, and actually, that’s the point I was trying to make. We’re very much immersed in the culture — something some conservative churches miss and which emerg[ing|ent] take to an extreme at times.

Part of the motivation behind this post was what I read in a People magazine in the break room at work. The article was a revisit to the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints ranch that was raided a year or so ago on allegations of child abuse.

I absolutely do not agree with Mormonism’s unique doctrines, but the culture that was fostered on the ranch impressed me — the children learned to work and were not force-fed steady diets of cartoons and toys, the women dressed modestly and were faithful, and the husbands likewise worked hard in all areas of the establishment.

Children who were torn from their homes and returned at a later point were described as having become more selfish due to being exposed to all sorts of toys and the like.

The situation may be an extreme one, but it got me thinking just how much culture affects how we behave. For instance, the early church in Acts, when presented with numerous people leaving their homes to stay with that first church gathering, sold everything they had in order to ensure that the basic needs of everyone present were accounted for. Today’s possession-centric America undoubtedly has colored our faith, evidenced in that most prominent “Christian leaders” in the media are those who have amassed for themselves great wealth.

I know a lot of this we have to Just Deal with, but in so doing, I don’t want to miss remaining relevant to the One who never changes in favor of embracing the latest trends.

]]> By: Noah R. http://www.rickbeckman.org/do-you-have-culture-colored-faith/#comment-3961 Noah R. Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:00:29 +0000 http://rickbeckman.org/?p=1548#comment-3961 On one hand, you make a lot of good points in this post. Yes, we shouldn't let worldliness and materiality seep into our faith or the church. And, yes, we have become rather accepting of most of that worldliness, to the point that we all become part of it. However... One of the problems about culture is that you kinda have to Just Deal™ with it. While I'm hesitant to say that you shouldn't follow the parts of the scripture that deal with dress and attire, I think it's more about the principle of "don't dress immodestly" than the verbatim rules (but, then again, I may be wrong). In general, I believe it's not one of those where you have to make a firm choice between God or popular culture, or take the two and neatly separate them into little boxes. The two are not mutually exclusive, no matter where you go you'll always fit into <i>some</i> culture, and "being aware" of the current trends can also help you to connect with others who may not know Christ. Just as long as you don't get so sucked in that what is "in" overrides what you believe. On one hand, you make a lot of good points in this post. Yes, we shouldn’t let worldliness and materiality seep into our faith or the church. And, yes, we have become rather accepting of most of that worldliness, to the point that we all become part of it. However…

One of the problems about culture is that you kinda have to Just Deal™ with it. While I’m hesitant to say that you shouldn’t follow the parts of the scripture that deal with dress and attire, I think it’s more about the principle of “don’t dress immodestly” than the verbatim rules (but, then again, I may be wrong). In general, I believe it’s not one of those where you have to make a firm choice between God or popular culture, or take the two and neatly separate them into little boxes. The two are not mutually exclusive, no matter where you go you’ll always fit into some culture, and “being aware” of the current trends can also help you to connect with others who may not know Christ.

Just as long as you don’t get so sucked in that what is “in” overrides what you believe.

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