Under the Influence of Culture
We tend to look at Drugs as a physical thing, but Culture has a far more powerful effect. Culture has always had a huge impact telling us who we should be. In church history it was said that we should wear our Sunday Best, appear Holy and be judgemental no matter the state of our heart. Not to long ago it was common that one person could tell another person they are going to burn in hell, or one race could terrorize another and think that there is room in the kingdom for them. But all of this stems from cultures (who obviously didn’t have it all figured out) that dictated it so. It is no wonder many smart and good people abandoned the Church.
I am sad to say that Christian’s have never figured it out. Take Paul for an example, he stated the words there is no longer male nor female, slave nor freeman, Jew or gentile that all are one in Christ but he also takes time to tell people to not let the women speak or Martin Luther who took a stand against a corrupted Church but held strong prejudices against other peoples.
Grace is the only way any of us have been redeemed. How can we look past the trapping of our Culture, Christian and Not and see a genuine life devoted to following Jesus. Ask yourself this question. Is it okay to get a Tattoo? I wouldn’t look to leviticus for answers but I would suggest thinking about where else that time and money could go. I don’t know the extent to which Jesus wants us to be set apart but I do know that we do what is easy and selfish far to often. We have been preoccupied with our own status with God and not focused on those who are in need. Jesus said him self, do not worry about your own life, but it seems that is all we do and we are afraid not to.
Our culture feeds us messages in the thousands but the hardest part about it is that they are enjoyable. Advertising is an art form, professional persuasion. Jesus’ message is basic, simple, pure and selfless. What does it take for someone to see Jesus in the midst of a selfish barage of messages that ask you to buy into, a lifestyle, an image, products, entertainment and more? I like to think it takes relationships, honest and open conversations about faith and what it really means to follow Jesus. It takes commitment, it takes honesty and reflection.
We can’t simply ignore or escape our culture but we should learn how to follow Jesus through it. Perhaps wake up and quit taking in culture as a life altering substance and get out from under the influence of Culture and seek out the influence of Jesus.
You won’t figure out how to perfectly manage the balance of faith and culture, you won’t know exactly how set apart you should be but you will know that you are loved by a God who would send his son to die for you and you will be able to live for something and someone worth following in Jesus. Maybe then you will decide to forgo that tattoo and build a well in Africa and take the time it would have taken to enjoy a coffee (fair trade and organic 
) with a friend and continue this conversation about how to get out from under the influence of Culture.
Grace and Peace
Adam
