Should Christians Keep The Culture?

Culture is the customs, traditions, and shared values of a society. "Culture" is not a word found in the King James Bible. A word similar is "customs". The customs of the people of a nation are different around the whole world and include many things. The culture is a particular way of living. Should Christians participate in the culture of a nation if it is contrary to the scripture?

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Those who have been saved by Jesus Christ are made his children, born again. We are made a new man, a new creature in Christ. The body of sin is destroyed and our way of living now is to please God, not to conform to the world around us and its culture. If there is a culture of fornication, avoid it. If there is a culture of filthy speech, abstain from it. The scripture is plain when it comes to walking according to the course of this world.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

1 Thessalonians 4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

You cannot use the excuse "Oh, it's just the culture here" to justify sin. If your culture is contrary to scripture then you must abstain from it, beware of it.

Another point to be made is God only sees three distinct groups of people in the New Testament. The Jews, the Gentiles and the saints. He does not see everyone according to their cultures.

• Romans 2:9-11 KJV  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;  (10)  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:  (11)  For there is no respect of persons with God.
• Romans 9:24-25 KJV  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  (25)  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
• 1 Corinthians 10:32 KJV  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
• also separating sheep and goat nations, in Matthew 25:32 compared to Revelation 20:4-6

And that also in the fulfillment of prophecy there is only three distinct groups people according to scripture. The Gentiles, the Jews, and the body of Christ who are the redeemed saints of both the Jews and the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 10:32 KJV  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Isaiah 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

Revelation 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Revelation 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Revelation 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Revelation 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

We see distinctions in race and groups within the world that can be observed, but there is nothing in the word of God saying he will keep those distinctions in cultures in eternity. To say plainly they are not of God but of man.

Albeit we have liberty in such things, so long as they do not cause the word of God to be blasphemed. Also, in this liberty it is not required of us by our Lord Jesus Christ to exercise this liberty, but rather that we keep to the traditions taught us in the word of God. Especially those given in Paul's epistles when rightly divided.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJV  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
• Ephesians 4:20-24 KJV  But ye have not so learned Christ;  (21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The cultures of the world are traditions of men, not according to scripture. You have liberty to practice certain traditions, but if they contradict the scripture then you must not do them. Jesus Christ came to bring division, not peace. If you follow his words then those who do not will hate you.

Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

Now may you also take note during this video Bible study to further your own studies on this topic. Understanding the word of God says what it means and means what it says. And the word of God is what we do well to take heed to, without implying any private interpretation to it as in 2 Peter 1:19-20.