The Christian faith is not a mere form of cultural practices that the Bible teaches; new life through faith in Christ is the core of Christian faith. The cultural practices are agencies or means by which our faith may be demonstrated. Some cultural practices are good and they help in witnessing for Christ. Other cultural practices are evil in themselves, as, for example, any form of idolatry. But in many cases the good or evil is not in the culture but in how it is used to convey our testimony.
The Good of Culture
From the beginning of the Christian era, we have examples of customs that were carried on and still are regarded as good cultural practices. In Acts 16:1313And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. (Acts 16:13) Luke wrote, “We went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont [accustomed] to be made.” The prayer meeting is a regular part of the culture of Christian people. “The family that prays together stays together” is commonly quoted and is recognized to be good for families, assemblies and nations.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians of the futility of resisting evil communications if there is no resurrection. “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:32-33). Paul’s conduct was an example of the converse of this statement. He, with good communications, set a standard of good manners. Those of us living in Christian lands where there has been a long history of believers who followed biblical teaching are blessed with many cultural practices that foster good behavior.
The recognition of the first day of the week as being “the Lord’s Day” has impacted society in Christian countries. The first day of the week was the day the Lord rose from the dead. He appeared to them on that day and the early disciples started the trend to come together to
remember Him in His death on that day. This was different from the Sabbath that they were accustomed to observe under the law. Sad to say, as church attendance has dropped in recent years, more and more the Lord’s Day is used for pleasure. It is good for us to appreciate these customs. We do well to preserve them, not just for the sake of the culture, but because of the good moral influence they are to us. There are many other good cultural practices; these few we mention as sufficient for the present purpose.
Changing Culture
Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, lived at a very difficult time. They were removed from their homes, families, country, language and religious temple. If ever there was a case of “culture shock,” they felt it! Yet they managed to represent their God faithfully as they dealt with these cultural changes. We are living in days of rapid changes of culture. It is not enough just to hold the course doing things the way our ancestors did. Nor can we safely accept every new cultural practice that the world endorses.
Let us consider how the use of the new Babylonian names played out in their lives. Daniel’s name means “my God is judge.” He was given the name “Belteshazzar,” which was the name of Nebuchadnezzar’s god (Dan. 4:88But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, (Daniel 4:8)). Early on in the use of these names, we see the stage is set to determine whose god is the real God. Daniel and his three companions were not in a position to dispute this change of their names. Though they were of royal lineage, they must accept that God had given the government of the earth to a Gentile empire. Daniel did request that they be given food and drink that would not defile them. This one form of separation was enough to give witness to their God and culture.
Daniel was tested on his separation from idolatry and was faithful to his God. He proved to the king that his God was over him. Nebuchadnezzar eventually owned that Daniel’s God was the God of heaven. In essence, Daniel changed the culture of the Gentile king by his faithful testimony. It was not his culture that changed the king; it was his faith and testimony. Cultural issues were at play, but they were only the agencies to display his faith and God’s power. Over the course of the book, the name “Daniel” is used more frequently than “Belteshazzar.” King Nebuchadnezzar even made a decree “that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for He is the living God” (Dan. 6:2626I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. (Daniel 6:26)).
Daniel’s Companions
This frequent use of their Hebrew names is not followed regards Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They are referred to as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Equally they were tested for their faith in Jehovah by being asked to bow down to the golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar. Inasmuch as they had adopted Babylonian names, it was not just a cultural practice with them. It was the idolatry in the culture they refused. They humbly submitted in every way except to bow to another god than their God. The king had arranged a strong culture of beauty and music to unify body, soul and spirit of all people under one religion. But all the rhythm of the music, all the emotional influence to captivate their souls, and all the reasoning of the religious minds to control the spirits of these three would not make them bow down. By faith they “quenched the violence of fire” (Heb. 11:3434Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:34)). “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God” (Dan. 3:2828Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. (Daniel 3:28)). They overcame a powerful culture. God is referred to as their God without any recognition of their Hebrew names. Where there is faith and obedience, God responds, whether it is a Babylonian culture or a Hebrew culture.
Culture Degeneration
Many cultural practices developed in the Old Testament when Israel was under the law. These were a part of daily life and helped them observe the ordinances and keep the commandments. But as time passed, the reason for them was often forgotten and the practices degenerated into hindrances to godliness, or even going so far as to become evil practices. For example, in Deuteronomy 6 they were told to bind the words of the law for a sign upon their hands and as frontlets between their eyes. In later years, a tradition developed of making phylacteries that the Lord condemns in the strongest terms. He said in Matthew 23:4-54For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, (Matthew 23:4‑5), “They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.” The importance of keeping before their eyes and hands the commandments was lost and it became a self-righteous tradition.
The brazen serpent that Moses made was destroyed by King Hezekiah because it became an object of idolatry. “He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan” (2 Kings 18:4). It had lost its true significance of representing the one who bore the judgment that enabled the sin-stricken victims to go free. Therefore, King Hezekiah called it Nehushtan (a piece of brass). The true significance of it is made known in John 3:14-1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15): “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” The culture failed to uphold its purpose, but the true meaning has been maintained by God’s Word.
The Right Emphasis on Culture
As mentioned above in the case of the brazen serpent on the pole, there is a danger of being overly occupied with the form of the practice while the spiritual purpose in what God instituted is forgotten. Another case of cultural failure was in the days of Eli the priest. The children of Israel carried the ark of God into the battle with the Philistines for protection. In doing so, they had lost sight of the Lord’s presence in the ark. The ark became an icon to them. The God of the ark was not before them, so they said, “It may save us.” The consequences were terrible. They not only lost the battle, but also the ark of God was taken from them. The same danger is before the Christian testimony now. Too much emphasis on cultural practices without presenting the basic purposes of God in these practices will set us on the wrong track. This happens in subtle ways, because outwardly the right religious practices are carried on, but the Lord is left out. The Laodicean church is an example of this. The culture was carried on, but the Lord was left out.
In this regard, it is important for us to not overemphasize the cultural practices. A high diet of subjective ministry directed toward the behavior, dress, or doing what godly brethren do — causing them to adopt our culture — is not the right approach. We must first fill them with Christ and all the fullness of Christian position. Then He will be the focus and self will be forgotten. When that is done, a smaller diet of subjective ministry will go a long way to making Christians conform to right behavior. The right balance is needed. A brother put it well when he wrote, “If we preach the effects of redemption in human life instead of the revelation of Jesus Christ, the result in those who listen is not new birth, but refined spiritual culture.” May the Lord, then, be more before us and help us have the right emphasis on cultural practices. “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).
D. C. Buchanan