society

Dec

2019

The Christian and cultural celebrations

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on December 30, 2014.

The holiday season is full of traditions. A lot of cultural traditions attach themselves to Christian holidays … and there are cultural holidays and traditions unconnected to Christian themes also. That’s true not only in the United States but in other countries as well.

This edition of The Electric Gospel comes from Joyce Christmas, who talks about one of the cultural traditions in her country — and the freedom Christians have to participate in cultural events in a wholesome way. We need not turn away from all things within our culture that are not themselves a part of the Christian tradition. We have freedom to enjoy life in our communities and display our “good behavior in Christ” for all to see (1 Peter 3:16).

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Christian Freedom

by Joycelyn Christmas

Every year in Antigua and Barbuda, the country celebrates a cultural event called Carnival. The historical idea behind this event is celebration of the abolition of slavery in the 1800s. It is said that upon emancipation, freed slaves took to the streets with pans and drums and celebrated by beating them and dancing freely and wildly. Nowadays, many islanders have come to the conclusion that Carnival has lost its true meaning and people use this time as an excuse to party and get drunk. Based on the society in Antigua, Christians are told not to go to Carnival celebrations. Some view participating in the steel pan music competition or Calypso competition as excessive revelling. They think that the Bible has an unwritten law which forbids people from dancing to cultural music or playing the steel pan to secular music. These people think that Carnival celebrations do not honour God and therefore are sinful.

How can people with this mindset say this is God’s word? The Bible does not say that a person must refrain from cultural celebrations. It is similar to the fact that the Bible does not tell us what we should eat. Instead, what the Bible informs us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). There are areas of our life where God has not given a command to do something; neither has he given a command that forbids us. Such areas are known as adiaphora. We are to exercise Christian freedom in our daily lives. People who do not understand the idea of adiaphora do not understand why we can go to watch the Carnival parade of people dressed up in colourful costumes dancing in rhythm to sweet soca music.

Essentially, the reason why we are able to participate in the celebration of our rich culture– namely, Carnival–is as a result of the ultimate freedom we have in Christ. Christ’s death on the cross did not only free us from the bondage of sin, death and the devil but it also freed us from the old covenant. As a matter of fact we were not even bound by the Old Testament cultural laws because they were intended for a different audience, namely the chosen nation of Israel. Christ came to fulfil the law in our place (Matthew 5: 17). Obedience to laws or rules does not make us righteous. Those who rely on a legalistic system by obeying laws or rules to win God’s favour are in for a rude awakening. The true law of God reminds us that we can never meet God’s demands. This does not imply that we are to disregard God’s will and do as we please. What it means is when we practice our Christian freedom we are to remember our justification and sanctification. A sanctified life will make decisions which bring glory to God.

In exercising our Christian freedom, we are to be open-minded in thinking about our neighbours and how our actions will affect them. We consider new converts and how weak their faith might be, so we proceed with care that we do not cause them to stumble in their faith. At the same time we explain the concept of Christian freedom to those who are ignorant of it. The purpose of this knowledge will give insights into God’s Word and steer people from making laws where there are none.

A Christian can participate in Carnival without going against God’s will. One might question such a statement as Carnival is often associated with revelry. Arguably, that is true for some people; but it is not so much as where you go but how you act or the manner in which you conduct yourself. How is a person bringing dishonour to God by going to listen to steel pan music or by being part of a steel pan group which plays cultural songs? When did God say that persons cannot celebrate their heritage? The situation is different if a person goes to Carnival and gets caught up in the drinking so much that they become consumed with alcohol. Although the Bible does not forbid drinking of alcohol we are reminded by Paul that we should not want to be “mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Excessive drinking leads to intoxication.

In matters of adiaphora, it also is the case that we think not only of ourselves but of those around us: “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial” (1 Corinthians 6:12). We are considerate of our brothers and sisters in Christ because we do not want to create a stumbling block for them. So we limit the amount of alcohol consumed during festive activities and in that way honour Christ, who said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Basically, you can have a good time with some clean fun without bringing disgrace to God’s name. Indeed, you may well be shedding light on the way one truly lives in Christ and celebrates a cultural event in a proper way.

God help us to share the knowledge of the freedom we have in Christ—even freedom in our daily life activities—so that the society we live in can understand rather than make judgments about us.

Dec

2019

Speak to Your Nation’s Soul

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on July 4, 2014

I decided to post something nation-related on the 4th of July in 2014, abridged and adapted from a sermon I once delivered.

Speak to Your Nation’s Soul

by David Sellnow

The country in which we live has its share of problems — problems of crime, of corruption, of callousness. In every direction, from drug abuse to abuse of power, from security threats at airports to random shootings at schools, we are a nation in need of more decency and order, more right and less wrong, more truth and less media spin. But we won’t bring about a more God-fearing populace by passing new laws. We won’t remedy human problems by authorizing more funding for education or social programs. We won’t be redeemed by a change of administrations in the government. Whatever happens in our national politics and elections, we can be quite certain that the day after any votes are counted, we still will have our work cut out for us as people who speak for God in this world. “In these last days” (Hebrews 1:2), we are called to speak the word of Christ in whatever nation where we live. And our nation — like nations all through history — is full of people who need that message spoken.

The prophet Ezekiel serves as an example for us. The LORD God said to Ezekiel:

“I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ezekiel 2:3-5).

The nation in which we live and speak for the LORD is not much different than the nation in which Ezekiel prophesied. We Americans likewise are proud. We are stubborn. Our biggest weakness often is the very thing that made this nation strong — we are so fiercely independent. That independent streak goes beyond national pride. Our independent streak becomes a strong will set against the will of God. “I am independent and self-sufficient,” we say. “I can do what I want to do, have what I want to have.” It’s not just other Americans who take such an attitude. You and I are cut from the same stubborn cloth. Every one of us is instinctively rebellious and obstinate, resistant to the words of God. We all share the same human problem. We bristle and balk at whatever God commands. Our souls (all human souls) are naturally in a state of revolt against God.

But while human hearts naturally don’t want to listen to God, the only way to redeem human hearts is by the words that God speaks. So we keep speaking — whether others listen or fail to listen. And we keep praying that the Spirit will do his work — one by one, convincing one soul at a time, just as he has convicted us with God’s law and convinced us with hope in the good news of Jesus. The word of Christ has spoken to our hearts … and we will speak those same words to our neighbors. “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).

Dec

2019

Deep love

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on August 16, 2017.

Loving like Christ

by Alissa Ambroso

Alissa wrote this devotion for use with her high school students at a Christian academy where she was teaching.

Whether we want to admit it or not, dating has a major impact on the high school experience. It’s considered to be embarrassing if you don’t get asked to prom, it becomes a devastation if you break up with your beau, and some high schoolers may date multiple people throughout their high school careers. It becomes essential to have an Instagram relationship, a publicly intimate profile with intentional, filtered, and perfected photographs of holding hands and beach kisses. There are so many high schoolers today that feel they are “in love” with their boyfriend or girlfriend. We need to examine these relationships because many of you will face the same thing. While facing enormous pressures in the world of high school dating, I want you to remember to chase only one thing: Jesus. When you seek God’s approval rather than your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s approval, you are trusting God with your heart. You want to make sure that you do not just fall in love with being in love.

What does it mean to seek God’s approval rather than a boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s approval? We look to the Bible for that answer. The Bible describes an unconditional, unequaled love that no one else can possibly match. If you’ve ever felt like you cannot possibly go on without your boyfriend or girlfriend, I am here to tell you that God loves you more than you could possibly imagine. Because he loves you that much, he wants your whole heart, not just when it is convenient. Trusting God with your heart means that if you find yourself the only person without a date, or look at your news feed and see that everyone else is getting engaged, or you have never been in love, but have chased God as your priority in life, you will know the closest thing to a Christ-like love in this world.

The problem is that there is no absence of “love” in society. People describe everything from enjoying a certain type of food to deep affection for another human being with the word “love.” There is such a wide variety of definitions it’s no wonder we get confused about the true meaning! Do we feel love or do we do things in love? Well, we do both. When we decide to honor another person, love is the action we take no matter how we feel. The apostle John described love with the word “agape” in Greek language. It is not merely a feeling based on emotion or affection, although emotion can and will be present. Deep love is something we choose to do and put our minds to doing. Agape love is grace; it is undeserved love. There is a major difference between shallow love and Christian love. Truth and love go hand-in-hand, so that where Christ’s truth is, there true love will be, and where true love is there the Truth will be. Agape love is more than just a warm, fuzzy feeling inside of us. Christian love is completely selfless, never looking for a personal benefit. Does this mean we can never be angry with our significant other? Absolutely not! It means we look to build them up, rather than strike them down. It means that we strive to show Christ’s love to help the other person feel loved by him. It may mean we don’t want to go to their basketball game, but we do so to support them. It means we may not want to wake up early to make breakfast for our whining kids, but we do so because we love them. Christ’s love has zero hint of selfishness. It is sacrificing, everlasting. It is not rude, does not boast, is not self-seeking, and keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8). There’s no harm in keeping a list of things you want in your future spouse and, if you’re like me, you already may have made a list of characteristics. But I want you to use Scripture to make that list. If you’re able to keep chasing God and allow the godly man to chase you, you’ll find that all of those characteristics get checked in time. Now, this isn’t a quick fix to the so called “problem” of singleness. Yes, it may be lonely during the homecoming dance, it may be difficult seeing everyone around you in seemingly happy relationships, but there is no greater love than the love your Father in heaven has for you. Trust him with your whole heart.

So how will you know if the person that comes into your life is someone you should be with? Remember that true love seeks the truth, is always healing, never harming. If your relationship emphasizes Christ’s truth together and looks to build each other up rather than cutting down, pray. That well may be the right relationship for your future. Notice I didn’t say that it was the right relationship without a doubt. God may bring many Christian men or women into your life, but relying on the principles you learn in his Word, his truth will guide you toward godly decisions. Date intentionally. A boyfriend or girlfriend who does not love what you love cannot help you grow closer to that love. If the person you have interest in is not following Christ, then you need to reevaluate those feelings and think about who you’re chasing. Agape love isn’t just expressing your feelings; it’s also about listening to their feelings. Again, it is selfless. When your significant other asks you about your day, without hopes of more time to talk about theirs, it is an attempt to show love. A pastor wisely said, “Listening in love means we seek to understand others on their own terms, as they themselves want to be understood.” It goes beyond being physically supportive. Listening to one another is possible because first we listen to the Lord.

While an unconditional love in this world can’t compare to the truly unconditional love of Christ for his people, we can strive for such a love. Focus on Christ until the person you will love always in Christ comes into your life. Whoever may come down your road, always ask yourself, “Who am I pursuing?”

Christian Freedom

Speak to Your Nation’s Soul

Loving like Christ

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