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There is great diversity in this world in all aspects. When it comes to Christianity, you’ll find diversity there too. It is not a bad thing. You’ll find many different cultures to be within. Churches exist in all parts of the world, after all.

While there is an appreciation to be had for the variety, there is also concern. Let me start with this example, culture is made up by a lot of different things such as music, food, dress and others. While in itself these things are not bad, they are good, my concern is that sometimes we are placing our culture before the Bible. That, is my worry.

Sometimes we want to eat the way our culture dictates, and now how the Bible instructs us. Then later in life we become sick and weak, and even die, before our time. Sometimes our dress may prove to be a stumbling block for another. Now, of course we are not to judge, but should we not be careful about what we’re doing? This blog however is not about dress, or health, but about another worry. See, sometimes we want to bring our culture to the center stage when it comes to something known as worship.

Is this a good thing? Is it a bad thing? I don’t want to look at it in those terms, but I want to dig a little, explore the Bible. Where are we really from? Are we, God’s children, really American? African? Latino? Asian? While we are born into the world, should we let our culture govern everything about us? Does it define us? Where do you belong?

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. – John 17:9-16 KJV

Was Jesus of this world? He was born a Jew, was He not? But did He claim that when it mattered most? When He described where He was from? Absolutely not. He understood where He was from, and there is no doubt in any way concerning that.

But theres more, He said you and I, are not of this world, either. What might that mean? Why would Jesus, God, say that? Lets talk in words of Spirit, shall we? Just as Jesus did.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. – Romans 6:3-4 KJV

This string of verses, followed by the next several, is so deep. Its likely you may have come across them before, but now lets connect it to what we have so far. Why are we not of this world?

You were born once, literally, were you not? You were born into the… fill in the blank for culture/race. But, then you may have been baptized, you died. But not only died, you were resurrected, and now whats your culture? Whats your race now? Same thing as before? No, friend, not the same as before. Thats all behind you now, and now you belong to somewhere better. Much better. Your culture is now HEAVEN, not anything of this world. We have plenty example with the Bible as to how that culture is with same examples we used to start (food, dress, etc… its all in the Bible).

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

The picture is becoming clearer now, right? Friend, please do not take this as some form of offense to your culture. I appreciate and like the food of my country. I may reflect it some still too, what they are like. But what should I do, strive to be like them? Or like Jesus? Eat what they eat? Which by the way, is not all very healthy. Or should I eat according to Bible health principles and live much longer? Its no question, hands down. I’m claiming my new culture, and paying little if any attention to my old one. My conversation is not of my old culture, its of my new one.

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: – Philippians 3:20 KJV

Now, about that concern I had, regarding worship. If we are citizens of heaven now, then we should look to have worship styles like that of those who are already residing in heaven, the angels! Heres a friendly invitation. Please, study the book of Revelation. When you do, notice what the beings in heaven worship like? The 24 elders, the angels, John’s worship when he saw Jesus in Revelation 1, the delivered saints. Oh, friend, the examples we can find are amazing. Heres a few verses, to help you out which you may look up.

  • Revelation 4:8-11
  • Revelation 5:8-14
  • Revelation 7:9-12
  • Revelation 11:15-19
  • Revelation 15:1-4
  • Revelation 19:1-5

What culture do you claim? I…. am a citizen of heaven, and will strive to reflect that. Friend, some of us sometimes rather proudly boast of our culture, or will be quick to say something along the lines of “I do it this way because its my culture”. Instead of proudly speaking of the culture we were born to, why not humbly speak of the one we now belong to?… And strive to live that one?…

Would it be a bad thing?
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