August 9, 2007

• Cultural standards != Biblical standards

  Past couple of days I’ve been pondering on what Nepal would look like if God were to break the floodgates so to speak and we find ourselves witnessing 30% of the population turning to Christ. If you think that’s impossible, consider South Korea. Its population of Christians was very low back in the early 1900′s compared to the present time, which by some estimates state that the population is made up of 40-50 percent Christian. Though we can’t guarantee that most of those are genuine followers of Christ, we can say at the very least many South Koreans have been exposed to the moral and biblical teachings that came from the local churches in the nation.

  However, when that day does come, the Church needs to be careful in its discipleship of the new followers. We don’t want to make the same mistakes that were made when workers started to see progress in India many years ago. Those mistakes had large ramifications for the local church in India and its been a stain in the progress made within that nation.

  Christianity’s spread in India can be said to be somewhat successful, but the major achilles’ heel that the Church never addressed was the culturally-based caste system found in India. The caste system, which was not just a religious aspect, but a cultural norm amongst India’s population, was never dealt with properly when the Church began to see people come to faith in Christ. Many of those who converted to Christianity did not forsake that system, but rather brought it into their newfound faith. Caste-based discrimination still occurred, just now it existed in a different religion and with different levels.

  The problem isn’t just mere information not being relayed. It’s a heart issue. One is presented with a cultural & moral value that had been transmitted to the people for generations. It is so deeply interwoven in the mental & social interactions of the people, that unless it is confronted directly and aggressively, it will continue to slip by the active consciousness of the followers. Truth has to not just be spoken, but it has to be worked out so clearly that it would run against the norms of the society in a way that it exposes the evil nature of the almost subconscious behavior.

  To put it simply, what happened with Christianity in India in regards to the caste system is that a cultural value was deemed to be equivalent to biblical authority. The sad thing is, as outrageous as this particular example is, it isn’t unique amongst us followers. Day to day, you and I still are running by standards that may or may not be biblically based. Many times, those values, if not examined or brought to mind, are assumed to be normal, even something to strive for. No one is immune to this factor.

  I’ve mentioned her before in other entries, but the words of Lisa Espineli Chinn from Urbana’03 still haunts my thoughts every so often in regards to this. She simply stated that while embracing one’s own personal cultural heritage is good and important, it is also time for us to allow Scripture to shape how we look at our culture’s values. Whatever cultural values we possess that run in direct opposition to biblical teaching must be thrown out and replaced with His standard.

  How this works out in the mission field will no doubt be extremely challenging. One has to work to protect the beauty that is found in a people’s cultural heritage and determine the aspects that truly run against the Scriptures. This also can’t be just done at a practical level, but at the human heart level as well. What a daunting task it seems! Thank goodness He’s ultimately the one who changes peoples’ hearts, including ours.

  Maybe that’s where it’s always begun, within one’s heart first. Later the rest may follow too.

  Oh a sidenote…yes there are 366 days left.

  Plus, a sample of the Nepal project.
  

  
  

  • 4:55 pm
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