1 Corinthians 11:4 (KJV)
Every man
praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Very frequently the subject
of Christianity and culture comes to play in popular discussions. No one
questions whether Christianity is a culture, what they question is whether
Christianity ought to influence or bend to other cultures.
The subject has been a big
one and, in some respects, considered settled in the world of missions.
Beginning, as I understand it, with Hudson Taylor, it has become the normal thing
for missionaries to meld their faith into the popular culture of the area.
Rather than conforming the converts of a field to the culture of the
missionary, the missionary learns to adapt his message to the culture of the
field.
This mentality seems to be
increasingly obvious here in the United States as we shift to a non-Christian
culture. More and more churches are expected to conform to the changes in
societal culture. To refuse is to be legalistic and, worse, unchristian. Allow
me to say that again. This post-Christian culture believes it to be
non-Christian to refuse to adapt faith to their culture.
I don't think this should
surprise us too much given what was the great objection to Christianity in
societies like China where Hudson Taylor ministered; they didn't want the white
God to change their way of life, their culture. Isn't this also the huge attack
leveled against missionary work among the Native American Indians over the last
couple of centuries? Christianity changed their culture. I am part Native
American.[1]
When I first became a Christian I had some who tried to turn me from the faith.
One was an old chief from the Tacoma area. He drew the Indian medicine wheel.
Then he drew a cross inside the wheel and said, "The cross divided the
Indian culture."
What I notice in our text is
that Paul didn't consider the individual cultures of the many people groups he
had already preached to and the many more God knew his message would reach.
With something as seemingly innocuous as the length of hair a man and a
woman wore, he gave a decisive instruction. It would be the same instruction
regardless of culture.
I know that there are many
cultural issues that are spiritual non-issues. But where the Bible is clear,
our cultural preferences, no matter how important they may be to our heritage,
ought to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit of God.
It is a controversial subject
I know, but it is non-negotiable with God.
Marvin McKenzie
In the fields
