I was listening to a sermon yesterday and the speaker asked a very provoking question. It was,
“Is culture running your home or is it Jesus?”
Pastor Mazibuko || Weak Woman and Fragile Men
It surely had me looking into my household and wondering what traditional practices trump Godly beliefs and Christian expectations. Would you believe that I found a few cultural and traditional practices that were hidden beneath and behind half-truths?
God has quite the sense of humor. Just when I was pondering how to not allow my daughter, who is ignorant of many dark things, participate in her school’s Easter egg hunting event, the thought provoking question came in the nick of time. Needless to say, I got my answer.
There are certain unbiblical cultural and traditional practices that are so deeply rooted in my being, it almost seems impossible to pull myself away from them. Most of which were born out of paganism. But there comes a time, when, through the studying and understanding of scripture, the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and intentional research, one become knowledgeable about truths or practices that are diluted with things of the devil. It is then that it becomes a little easier to pull away and undo what culture and tradition have done.
The bible has many texts to support my journey to uproot non-biblical cultural and traditional strong holds, but the one that stood out the most as I turned the pages of my Bible was Colossians 2:8.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Colossians 2:8
It doesn’t get clearer than that, does it?
Alright – it may actually get clearer after all. The Common English Bible puts it this way,
“See to it that nobody enslaves you with philosophy and foolish deception, which conform to human traditions and the way the world thinks and acts rather than Christ.”
Paul, here used the phrase, “human tradition” to remind us that simply because an idea is preferred, or historical, or “it’s a part of my childhood and my culture,” it does not make it true. Paul wants the Colossians—and all believers, you and me—to focus on truth, and on Christ, not on trickery and human preference.
So yes, it is a favorite pastime, tis the most wonderful time of the year, it’s colorful, entertaining, and popular, yes, it’s meaning has changed and the focus may seem different, yes, you can put your own spin and twist to it, yes, you’re not celebrating as the world does, yes, yes, yes – BUT your yes doesn’t mean, it’s right.
That has always been the devil’s plan; to mix truth with error.
Tradition and culture shouldn’t define us, Jesus MUST!
There is a lot more I could say, but I want this one to marinate with you. It’s one of those things that require self-reflection and lifestyle analysis.
So I’ll ask you this, is culture running your life or is it Jesus?
Happy Hunting
This is thought provoking. Wow!
Thank you for sharing. With this been said , I have some reflecting to do.
Interesting
Thank you for sharing Melody
Father her you see and know everything about us. Now Lord help us to do that search within our self because we are so caught up with a bunch of lies. Help us to use your word so that we can apply to our life what you required of us and not what the world is doing or saying.
Good morning love ❤️ in regards to your question to the class, my answer is this, Jesus is the center of my life. I cannot allow myself to follow traditional practices. I rather obey God than man. Thank you very much for this inspirational thought.
Thanks for the reminder. I myself thought that the Bun and cheese was traditional. So I didn’t make any. So when my grandson called and asked did you guys bake. I thought I would make some for him last night. But I completely forgot. There were 4 of us last night at church chatting till 8 p.m.
My view on this topic is that we are in the world but we can distance ourselves from the world ,by not participating in everything.
Yes we know that Jesus died and he was risen but some things that the world celebrate that is not biblical we don’t have to let us keep our hearts and minds fix on Jesus . May God help us all