This is in reply to the comments on Sam's last post, In Other Words. It became lengthier than just a comment.
At various times our interpretations of the Bible become so wrapped up in the culture (whether local church or American culture) we are immersed in that we can be blinded to wrong understandings, interpretations, or applications. Without looking at other cultures (whether our former self, the church down the road, in another counrty, or in ages past) we miss an available opportunity to have our biblical interpretations and extra-biblical practices checked. I see no reason to not use all of the options available in testing our spirit and strengthening our faith.
There is nothing worse for an individual or a church than to live in isolation and not check their beliefs with those outside their belief system. If people regularly practiced this, we would have less manipulative cults and the like, and we would have a much healthier dialogue with those different than us regarding those differences. Instead, I see people often get angry because they really do not know why they believe or practice what they believe or practice. People continue on in empty rituals long after they lost their meaning for their grandparents. Checking ourselves with other cultures is our safety net to insure that the group we are involved in does not lead us astray. If we believe our group does know the truth, the truth can withstand and be strenghtened by a challenge from falsehood.
People in isolation, including myself at times, can come up with all sorts of crazy beliefs when left alone in a quiet room with the Scriptures and no interaction with other people. This is one of the main reasons Lone Ranger Christianity is dangerous. As an individual, it is beneficial to vet one's fresh convictions (whether we claim they are from the Spirit, a careful study of Scripture, or both - I am trying to cover the base of all possible religious backgrounds here) with others to see if those interpretations make sense. As a church, we can compare our convictions with other churches. It forces us to examine our differences and come to a more solid understanding of the reasons we hold to our beliefs. If we do not have a solid, biblical or cultural, not anti-biblical, reason to be different, then we might be creating an unnecessary obstacle to living out the Gospel in Christian community. I see no other method besides comparing ourselves with other cultures that could provide the testing and accountability that would produce a more consistent and trustworthy understanding of the Scriptures.
It is not that other cultures are always right, but it is that other cultures are more right on some things than we are. Oftentimes, we are blinded by my own mental rituals of study and practice. If I were residing in another culture, that truth would still stand for me there. It is always beneficial to look at those from another background to see how they interpret the Scriptures and to check our teachings where we disagree. They might just be right. If they are, I am happy to change; although you might find that I am stubborn and that I change slowly.
It is a dangerous cultural or individual hubris to think that we are at the pinnacle of knowledge and advancement in all areas of understanding and practice. An honest study of history will show that no generation nor individual outside of Christ has been at that pinnacle. Every age and individual has its faults and its glories. They might have one area right while completely faililng in another. Unfortunately, we do the same. A careful examination of our beliefs and practices through studying other cultures will help us avoid the pride and pitfalls of pinnaclelism. We have much to improve. Figuring out what are our faults within a culture of shared faults is difficult; actually following through with the changes after uncovering those faults is even more difficult, especially when those changes are couter-cultural like many of the demands of being a disciple of Christ are.
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7 comments:
This is more of a response to the comments on the other post.
I think more than anything it's important to establish with people in the church at a young age that the USA is not a (or even THE) Christian Nation. This is a distinction that is lost on a lot of older people as well, hence things like Memorial Day services at churches.
It's not that we think America is bad (though we do have some bad habits), but that they were trying to show the kids at the camp that their "allegiance" belongs to God and his Kingdom, and that citizenship crosses national and cultural bounds the world round.
I agree Ben. In my Sunday school class, when I talked about a Christian in Iraq, China, or Iran shares citizenship with me, even moreso than a neighbor in this town, I received some strange looks. Eventually everyone agreed.
"It is not that other cultures are always right, but it is that other cultures are more right on some things than we are."
Give some examples on where the US is more right than some others.
"I think more than anything it's important to establish with people in the church at a young age that the USA is not a (or even THE) Christian Nation."
More than anything? THAT'S the attitude I'm talking about. The culture diffences and breaking culture identity is far from the most important thing Christians in any culture need done. I've been to many, many, different cultures and that national identity, wether in the US, Ghana, or Costa Rica doesn't rank, in my mind, as a top barrier to Christianity or it's practices. If anything denominationalism would play a FAR bigger role.
I don't find it of great importance to teach someone in Ecuador that "christianity is bigger than Ecuador" and would do harm to the cause if I bothered teaching how I think America does it better. And I think the same would be equally true of a Ecuadorian missionary coming to the states.
I think American Christians at times tend to be a little guilt ridden about being Americans and THAT needs to be addressed as much as any problem caused by a "Christian Nation" mindset.
Once again a focus on individual Christians and what they have done withing whatever culture they find themselves is much more helpful than a focus, positivley or negatively, on nationalistic leanings is the way to go.
Oh, and Regan, if you get strange looks sharing that point of view I'm gonna be so bold as to say it's the way in which it is being shared that is getting the looks. That view tends to be shared today with the underlying "feel" that that US is bad. THAT's what rubs many people wrong, when the idea of the "worldwide nation of believers" has undertones of America bashing.
It's not like the family of worldwide believers is a new Christian idea. It's the reason the US has ALWAYS been so overseas missions oriented because it is a basic tenent of Christianity. Are there those who have an overblown view of Chrisitnaity in America? Sure. But, I've found those people in other countries too. There's nothing wrong with having a love or country it's not inconsistent with a loyalty to Christ which is what I sometimes feel these viewpoints ae communicating.
"Give some examples on where the US is more right than some others."
For starters (although others also have these)
Freedom of the press
Freedom to assemble
Freedom to have any ideas I want
**
"I don't find it of great importance to teach someone in Ecuador that "christianity is bigger than Ecuador" and would do harm to the cause if I bothered teaching how I think America does it better."
That would be true because you are not from Ecuador. A citizen of Ecuador should try to make him and his neighbors better whether he saw the idea in France or Zimbabwe. The same is true for an American. Wherever we see a better idea, it is beneficial to bring it home and share it. Americans do not like the idea that others might be doing something better, but no civilization has ever done everything best. Each civilization has things they do better and things they do worse.
I think part of it is that we have gone into defensive mode from all of the criticism, some right and some wrong, that we receive from those outside of America. We do not want to be criticized, but we all know that we have lots of areas that we can improve in.
As for self-criticism, I can point out how my family needs to do things better. If I was humble, I would willingly allow others to point out how my family could be better. It is okay to criticize your own to improve them. It is not the same in criticizing others. I am not responsible to go around town and be critical of all of the families. I would only do that if I were asked and then I would tread lightly. However, I am responsible to criticize my own in order to make it better. Self-criticism is an acceptable and expected form of criticism.
Also, are there people in Ecuador that claim that Ecuador is God's nation or any such from of that? There are here, and they are trying to "reclaim" this nation for God.
"if you get strange looks sharing that point of view I'm gonna be so bold as to say it's the way in which it is being shared that is getting the looks."
You can be bold and share that but you do not know how it was shared. Also, it was well received in the end. And I did want it to be shocking because I believe the idea that our eternal citizenship overrides our temporal citizenship is extremely shocking to many older Christians.
"There's nothing wrong with having a love or country it's not inconsistent with a loyalty to Christ which is what I sometimes feel these viewpoints ae communicating."
If love of country blinds us from its flaws or prevents us from doing the will of God, then it is wrong. The two citizenships are not equal nor are the expectations and requirements of our temporal citizenship always in line with our eternal citizenship.
Just for a point of reference:
You absolutely get people in Equador claiming they are God's country they just do it from a Catholic perspective.
I think it's a pretty self-centered American view that we are the only nation which considers itself "Christian".
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