Christ through Culture

[Brendan1000]

I've been trying to figure something out lately and it's been on my mind a lot.

Christianity seems very prominent in western culture, whereas in places like Asia, it may not be as popular due to other cultural influences. In recent years, I'm sure it has spread farther through the globe, but it seems like where you're born has a lot to do with your faith.

If I was born in Japan instead of Canada, maybe I would believe that some other religion is the "obvious choice". I do believe in Christ and I'm proud of it but I'm just wondering how I know it's because of truth rather than cultural influence. I like that Christ is reaching other cultures but I also have respect for other religions and I don't think I'm meant to discriminate against other belief systems. I just get a little uneasy feeling that entire cultures could be wrong or in trouble while I'm right - I don't really like putting myself above anybody else.

How do other Christians handle this dilemma? I understand that it has nothing to do with absolute truth - I believe that Jesus is the absolute truth and will be spread more and more over the years to other nations.

[dead2self]

I think we need to just trust in God's plans. But I will give you a point to ponder. Your post shows a presupposition that where you are born has a large determinative bearing on your fiath. To a great extent, I agree. A Japanese born person is far less likely to be Christian than a Canadian born person. What I wonder, and would ask you to ponder, is this. Are we perhaps getting this backwards?

There is a lot of thought and anguish over the lost in places that never heard the Gospel. It just doesn not seem fair. But lets look at a few principles and facts from the Bible that can perhaps shed some light.

First of all is the fact that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all deserve hell. So right off the bat, we take out a large part of the injustice here. Those who are saved are saved by grace and none who will perish will do so underservedly. But that still leaves us with our geographical problem.

Well, next lets us consider that our names were written in the book of life before the foundations of the worlds were laid. That is before any cultures, or even the geographic locations they occupy, existed. God foreknew the name of everyone who would ever come to Christ, indeed He echose those would would come.

Lastly a quick mention of the sovereignty of God. He rules everything completely. Nothing happens that He does not ordain.

Given this I wonder if instead of our faith being dependent on the culture we are born into, maybe the culture we are born into is decided by God based on whether He has elected us.

I think that there is a distinct possibility that the elect of God are placed in various culutres for a reason. Given the doctrine of election, it seems clear that those who die without ever hearing the gospel were not elected by God. God's will cannot fail. Furthermore, God's will for us is to spread the Gospel. For this to effectively happen, there must be cultures that have a higher concentration of believers nad other countries with few or no believers.

I do not advocate this as absolute truth, as it is simply a possibility. The Bible does not speak directly to this issue, or at least I do not think it does.

[paperneck]

wasn't it saint c.s. louis who said when we get to heaven we may see muslims who were unaware that they had been following jesus all along?

[tapero]

I've been trying to figure something out lately and it's been on my mind a lot.

Christianity seems very prominent in western culture, whereas in places like Asia, it may not be as popular due to other cultural influences. In recent years, I'm sure it has spread farther through the globe, but it seems like where you're born has a lot to do with your faith.

If I was born in Japan instead of Canada, maybe I would believe that some other religion is the "obvious choice". I do believe in Christ and I'm proud of it but I'm just wondering how I know it's because of truth rather than cultural influence. I like that Christ is reaching other cultures but I also have respect for other religions and I don't think I'm meant to discriminate against other belief systems. I just get a little uneasy feeling that entire cultures could be wrong or in trouble while I'm right - I don't really like putting myself above anybody else.

How do other Christians handle this dilemma? I understand that it has nothing to do with absolute truth - I believe that Jesus is the absolute truth and will be spread more and more over the years to other nations.

Hi Brendan,

Christians are never above anyone else.

I understand though why you wrote that, as if say Jesus is the only way, then others may feel that a Christian is feeling superior, not to mention the ones who do feel and act superior, as they've not yet grasped Jesus' teachings on such, or some parts of them.

So the bad examples of some Christians and then there is also conviction which comes which is out of our control.

I mean you can say you went to church last night in casual mention about nothing related to God, and that alone could trigger a angry, upset, etc, reaction.

Even if is all known about you..i mean, all they know is you went to church. don't know if you are a Christian or not. The Holy Spirit is working and so people can get upset and angered or troubled just knowing you are a Christian as well.

May not be the Holy Spirit, may be due to hurt at hands of Christians or other things which occurred in their life or anothers' which can trigger bad feelings.

As to Christianity being bigger here in the west, I'm not up on history, but I believe in looking history over you see why it's the way it is.

Like for instance, and i'm rusty here, so may be wrong in who it was, but Paul I believe was prevented from going to Asia at one point. I think it was Paul and I think was Asia.

So history will show things as well as to why Christianity is more so where it is, and why other faiths/non faiths are where they are. Wars and such and much history will show why of many faiths including Christianity.

I was born in the usa, and may as well have been born in any other non believing country. Came to Jesus at 33. Never heard about God, or anything to do with faith, eternity etc.

When I first came to Christ, I used to think the church I went to was the only believing church in the world. No one said such, is just how I thought.

I had misconceptions and misunderstandings and prejudices about many things.

I started reading books by billy graham. Not theology books, but biographies, autobio's and read as many as could.

I learned from reading about that humble man, how he was in going from country to country; to leaders, famous or people not famous, and is billy graham, or from reading about him, was how I learned more not to be prejudice and much more; just from hearing about his trips and such.

When he met people throughout the world, he didn't give a sermon to them; he spoke as a person about whatever topics arose and if faith arose, and he was asked, he would talk, and others of other faiths and non faiths would share their beliefs etc, again if topic came up.

We don't need to wear Christian on our sleeves. We just walk as Jesus did or is what we strive for and is what speaks loudest. We just are real as can be.

Is what I learned from billy graham. just be real, down to earth, always considering others better, always serving others, always returning good for evil, forgiving, letting things go etc, tho we fail, we strive for these and so much more.

We can't help how others feel or perceive Christian to be, we can only be one example of just being a regular person, while knowing in our heart we are serving God in no matter what it is, and regardless if people know we are Christians or not.

There are people all over the world not raised in Christian faith yet come to Jesus, and this is because God does the calling, as well as seeds of love and care sown by people.

We respect all people and as well their beliefs. Doesn't mean we agree with them, but we respect others beliefs, and helps to share when they bring up the topic of faith.

My mom won't let me speak to her about Jesus. Occasionally she will ask me the rare question or make a statement about Christianity which opens the door, but only a tad, as she surely doesn't want to talk about Jesus.

I never bring God up to her, she brings it up and I go with the flow, and when she changes gear to needing to stop, I stop. Is very rare and has only occurred a few times.

She uses Jesus Christ name as many do rather than swearing though she swears she most often says those two words a lot in any conversation.

One night of this over and over on the phone, I said, thank you for thinking about my Savior. There was a 10 second silence, and then a roaring laugh as she realized why I said that, and I laughed along with her.

that's about as deep as it gets with her, but was an opportunity I just took a shot at. Stuff like that is like seeds sown.

So with many of other faiths, we can only be ourselves; we do not have to put words to what we think of others faiths, or words which will make another feel we don't respect their faith etc.

Fairly much; if asked answer kind of thing and then with great care.

You know how in Acts I believe it is, when Paul sees all these altars or idols to gods and one is to the unknown God.

With full respect Paul speaks to them, without putting down the other gods, but says let me tell you about the unknown God, and he tells them about Jesus. He's quite an example of no need to be offensive and a way to share.

I've gone off topic here and long. Bless you that you care so about others feelings.

Take care,
tapero

[Brendan1000]

Thanks for the replies to both of you.

dead2self, your post helps to remind me that Christ penetrates culture and is heard of in different places.

I'm a little uneasy about the "we all deserve hell" part. I understand we fall short of God in many ways but on the other hand, God creates every flower, tree and baby and we are still created in His image even if we do fall short. Doesn't God also want us to be happy and not feel damned?

paperneck, your sort-of quote is really neat. I know there are probably debates about how one can accept Christ but it has helped me gain more perspective.

[dead2self]

I can understand how the bit about us all deserving hell makes you uneasy. I think it makes us all uneasy. It's a hard truth to process for anyone. God does want us to be happy, but the only way to true and lasting happiness is in God.

[Lion-Of-Zion]

wasn't it saint c.s. louis who said when we get to heaven we may see muslims who were unaware that they had been following jesus all along?

I love this post. :amen:

[Brendan1000]

Thanks again for all the replies. Tapero - I think I was replying as you were so our posts crossed one another. Your story is actually quite inspiring and not off-topic to me at all.

I do want everyone to be happy and yes, that post was very cool.