When Culture Clashes with the Cross

Devotional week 34

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” - Phillipians 4:8 (NIV)

The world is a fantastic place, displaying the wonders and riches of so many different cultures. This is how God intended it to be. John describes in the book of Revelation how, in the New Jerusalem, the nations will bring their glory and honor—their splendor and riches—into the city (Revelation 21:24–26.). Can you imagine the colors, sounds, smells, and noises we will take in on that day? But until then, we live in a world where culture has been infested by sin, and traditions can be harmful—yes, even outright evil like the burying of children alive to appease the gods.

Wherever the gospel goes forth, into new places and to new people groups, it will encounter traditions and cultural traits that will clash with the values of the Kingdom. What do we do then? We need to reflect on the practice in question; can it be redeemed for Christ? An example could be using drums to worship Christ instead of worshipping ancestral Spirits. If they cannot be redeemed for Christ, then we need to reject them firmly and with wisdom, letting the Holy Spirit and the teachings of scripture guide new believers when it comes to cultural practices that needs to change or stop altogether.

This can be a difficult and painful thing. I lived in a West-African country for several years and saw how the issue of male initiation rites put pressure on local believers and also how it split Christians; some believing that the tradition was occult and evil, and that as followers of Jesus you mustn’t take part in it; others believing that the two could go together. The social pressure from one’s ethnic group to participate was strong, so to say no would require support from other believers who shared your conviction. It is sometimes easy to come as a foreigner, seeing a certain cultural trait as unbiblical, and at the same time bring some of our own Christian culture with us framing it as biblical values that new believers need to follow.

So, we need to stay humble and pray for God to grant us wisdom and discernment when dealing with cultural issues clashing with the cross. In the end, these cultural clashes are not only matters of what is right or wrong; they reveal where our ultimate allegiance lies—whether we will follow Jesus fully, even when it costs us comfort, belonging, or acceptance. Such courage is born not from ourselves, but from walking closely with God, leaning on His Word, and depending on His Spirit. As we respond with humility, patience, and prayer, we preserve the purity of the gospel and allow the beauty of a redeemed culture to shine even brighter for His glory.

Reflect

Have you ever experienced an encounter with a cultural practice that clearly clashed with the teachings of Jesus? What did you do? And what did you learn from your experience?

Pray

Thank you, Lord, for all the beauty that you have put in every people’s group and culture; it all reflects your glory. Give me the wisdom to see what in my culture, both church cultural and my nations culture, that needs to be redeemed or rejected”