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CULTURE COUNTS
By Ken Blue
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
North America consists of many diverse cultures and ethnic groups. Churches that ignore this truth do so to their own peril. This fact is made more evident by China Town, Little Italy and other community groups within most large cities.
Churches that attempt to force a culture into their church, foreign to the surrounding community, will find it like trying to drive a square peg into a round hole. It is practically impossible. Paul never attempted to bring Jewish culture or customs into Gentile churches. The gospel and the Pauline epistles easily fit any culture. We ask ask ourselves; are we trying to get men and women transformed into the image of Christ, or are we trying to make our church take on a culture foreign to the one we minister to? Give it some thought, and you will see that culture matters.
