We just finished a memorable winter. I must say that as a citizen of Bancroft, I am very pleased at the skill and efficiency our city workers demonstrated in getting our roads opened up. Even on Christmas day in the middle of a blizzard, though the roads were not perfect, I could still get around town because there was a plow out on our streets. I noticed how the snow was winged back away from the streets so that there was room for the next round of accumulation when it came. I noticed the extra time that was taken to clean the intersections as they as well built up with snow. I noticed the long hours that were spent just trying to keep up. For that I say thank you.
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Have you ever noticed how easy it is to take things for granted? It is so easy to complain that the snow plow wing piled snow in front of our driveway again and forget that if they were not out on the road there would be no place to go once we left our driveway. How many times don’t we do the same thing with God? Do we realize that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
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I recently heard about a study that said that the more thankful a person is, the more successful they are likely to be. That does not surprise me. God commands us to be thankful. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) Notice how thankfulness is connected with peace in the heart. If we complain about the pile of snow in our driveway, we end up with conflict in our hearts, but if we are thankful for the snowplows we have peace in our hearts in spite of the fact that we have a huge pile of snow to shovel. You might say that thankfulness helps us to make lemonade out of lemons. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)
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So should we complain about the mud or praise God that the snow has melted? Should we complain that the sun is glaring in our eyes, or praise God that it will dry the mud? Should we complain that it is now cloudy, or praise God that the sun is not glaring in our eyes?
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Actually such approaches to thanksgiving are not at all ridiculous. In fact, as we understand the goodness of God, they should be natural. It is no wonder Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So what can you give thanks for today? Have you thanked those around you? Have you prayed and thanked God?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Do We Have a Good Culture?
The following is a condensed revision of an earlier article:
Too often people form their values based on their culture. The problem with such an approach is that it allows culture to determine values rather than God.
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As we consider the subject of cultural relativism, is it acceptable to suggest that some cultures are morally inferior to others? For example, the Children of Israel were warned about a cultural practice of their neighbors the Ammonites who sacrificed their children to the false god Molech by burning them in fire. “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:21. Few would disagree that the culture of child sacrifice is evil.
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The example of the Ammonites is not very controversial, for I do not know of any people who still worship Molech. Therefore I can use that example and not ruffle too many feathers.
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What about a culture that encourages its children to strap bombs to their bodies and blow themselves up in crowded public areas with the purpose of killing as many people as possible? What about a culture that prides itself in honor killings of relatives who they feel have disgraced their families? From a Biblical perspective, not only must I condemn the religious beliefs of Islam, but also their culture of violence. Some would call me intolerant for such a statement, but what is more intolerant, writing about those we disagree with or killing them? A culture of intolerance that leads to murder is something we all must be concerned about.
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I am saddened that the debate over culture often leads instead to a debate over race. Many Muslims are Arabs, but we must not come to the conclusion that all Arabs are more evil than anyone else. The issue is not their race, but what values they embrace.
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Many of those same issues come up when we examine the values of some of our inner city cultures in this county. For example, a culture that encourages drug use, out of wedlock births, and violence should be spoken against. Sadly, instead of speaking against such a culture, many speak against a race. These behaviors are wrong no matter which races are involved in them. Further, not every person of a particular race does such things, and it is wrong to imply that they do.
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At the same time, it would be just as wrong to ignore the sinful characteristics of a culture just because of a fear of offending a certain demographic within our society. What I am suggesting is judging a “culture” rather than a race by the content of its character, not by the color of its skin.
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What about the culture of our own area. It is easy to pride ourselves in our small town values, yet cultural relativism has crept in here as well. For example, we live in a culture where premarital sex (fornication) is accepted. We live in a culture where our possessions have become our gods. We live in a culture were divorce and adultery are all too frequent. We live in a culture where we covet and want whatever someone else has. We live in a culture where it is not uncommon for our citizens to get drunk.
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1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
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It is time for people to reject their cultures and embrace God.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
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“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3.
Too often people form their values based on their culture. The problem with such an approach is that it allows culture to determine values rather than God.
-
As we consider the subject of cultural relativism, is it acceptable to suggest that some cultures are morally inferior to others? For example, the Children of Israel were warned about a cultural practice of their neighbors the Ammonites who sacrificed their children to the false god Molech by burning them in fire. “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:21. Few would disagree that the culture of child sacrifice is evil.
-
The example of the Ammonites is not very controversial, for I do not know of any people who still worship Molech. Therefore I can use that example and not ruffle too many feathers.
-
What about a culture that encourages its children to strap bombs to their bodies and blow themselves up in crowded public areas with the purpose of killing as many people as possible? What about a culture that prides itself in honor killings of relatives who they feel have disgraced their families? From a Biblical perspective, not only must I condemn the religious beliefs of Islam, but also their culture of violence. Some would call me intolerant for such a statement, but what is more intolerant, writing about those we disagree with or killing them? A culture of intolerance that leads to murder is something we all must be concerned about.
-
I am saddened that the debate over culture often leads instead to a debate over race. Many Muslims are Arabs, but we must not come to the conclusion that all Arabs are more evil than anyone else. The issue is not their race, but what values they embrace.
-
Many of those same issues come up when we examine the values of some of our inner city cultures in this county. For example, a culture that encourages drug use, out of wedlock births, and violence should be spoken against. Sadly, instead of speaking against such a culture, many speak against a race. These behaviors are wrong no matter which races are involved in them. Further, not every person of a particular race does such things, and it is wrong to imply that they do.
-
At the same time, it would be just as wrong to ignore the sinful characteristics of a culture just because of a fear of offending a certain demographic within our society. What I am suggesting is judging a “culture” rather than a race by the content of its character, not by the color of its skin.
-
What about the culture of our own area. It is easy to pride ourselves in our small town values, yet cultural relativism has crept in here as well. For example, we live in a culture where premarital sex (fornication) is accepted. We live in a culture where our possessions have become our gods. We live in a culture were divorce and adultery are all too frequent. We live in a culture where we covet and want whatever someone else has. We live in a culture where it is not uncommon for our citizens to get drunk.
-
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
-
It is time for people to reject their cultures and embrace God.
-
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
-
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3.
Missionaries
We are hosting a couple of missionaries at different times this spring. On March 28th, Chris Stoll, Missionary to Ireland is planning to be with us. He will teach Sunday School and be with us for the regular morning service. Instead of the evening service, we are planning a 1 p.m. service for that day after a fellowship meal.
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We also plan to host Darrel Jingst for the morning of May 2. He is one of the Missionaries our church currently supports. He is involved in a Spanish printing ministry. If you are able to make it to any of these services, we would love to have you join us.
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We also plan to host Darrel Jingst for the morning of May 2. He is one of the Missionaries our church currently supports. He is involved in a Spanish printing ministry. If you are able to make it to any of these services, we would love to have you join us.
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