One of the most overlooked elements of modern Christianity is the general lack of distinctly Christian culture.

There are varying degrees of culture universally associated with the world's major religions. Muslims have a distinctive Islamic culture. Hinduism has a broad and colorful culture. Although not, per se, a separate religion from Christianity, there is a very strong and defined Jewish culture. Buddhism has its own culture. All of the varying pagan religions have their own cultural symbolism and sub-contexts. Sikhs, Taoists, and even Jedi cultists (they're real, look it up) have their own cultures. Here s the shocker: so does Christianity.

Post-modern Americanism has certainly done everything within its power to blend all religions into the Melting Pot. Most of what is labelled Christianity in the Western world today is hardly comparable to any of the church before this era and sometimes downright unrecognizable. Depending on what part of the country in which you live, it may be hard to find so much as a cross on a steeple - or eve a steeple for that matter. The land is becoming filled with bland warehouses that are called churches but are really just Bible flavored entertainment houses.

The mainstream American churchgoer is no different (pun intended). The vast majority of professing Christians in the United States have no culture whatsoever except their own ethnic heritage (if that). The melting pot has positively smelted us into one chaotic, unrecognizable blob of non-culture. Anything goes. In fact, many American church leaders urge their flocks to blend with the world around them as a method of "evangelism". Somehow "All things to all men" (I Cor. 9:19-23) trumps all other scripture and all of church history and tradition combined that says anything about separation and distinction. What's worse is vast hordes of morons believe this and are not only propagating it, but financially supporting the most lucrative hireling ministries in the world. If I just described your church, I hope I hurt your feelings enough to get you thinking.

Christian's are called by God to stand out.

Purposefully conforming to modern cultural norms is counterChristian. Romans 12:2 says, "[B]e not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Bubble buster warning: God want's Christians to set the standards by which the rest of society is measured. I Peter 2:9 says, "[Y]e are a chosen priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light[.]" The mainstream Christian is very superstitious of anything deviant from modern culture.

Scary Words

Modern, mainstream Christians are superstitiously petrified of if not indignant toward certain terms only because of modern social connotations. Rather than put our foot down, most of the church has caved and gave way, saying that rather than be despised we will just quit using the words.

Rite

This word's use is downright dangerous in modern society. Not only will it get you shudders from the church world, but it will bring in the angry mobs with pitch forks, ready to crucify a Nazi. The ignoramus cultural sub notes associated with this word are: Nazism (the Third Reich), voodoo, tribalism (tribalism is a good thing but not to society), and all things "heathen". The actual meaning of this word is a religious ceremony. An example of a modern, positive use would be a "rite of passage".

Exorcise

Since the horror film, The Exorcist, and other sacrilegious entertainment has been popularized in American culture, the church culture has adapted. Many have turned tail and quit using this term. We no longer exorcise a devil, we "pray out a demon". Go ahead and call someone an exorcist in a protestant congregation. Then you'll find out who has been consuming the satanic garbage of the entertainment industry and has allowed its cultural context to have an affect on their Christian culture.

Ritual

This one is very much the same as rite.

Cult

Oh boy. Don't even start about cults. You know they're all evil and devil worshiping things. Cults are where grown men impregnante pre pubescent girls in internment camp style facilities where no one is allowed to leave. Then they all commit suicide or the federal government attacks them with tanks. Yeah, no. Not exactly. Hollywood has not helped this one either (there's kind of a pattern of Hollywood taking Christian terminology and putting a dark or negative spin on it). If you were to ask a tenth century Christian what a cult is, they would tell you it was a disciple of a religious leader. For example, the Apostles (or any other Christian) could be correctly referred to as the Cult of Christ. Disciples of St. Francis and any Franciscan monks could be referred to as the Cult of St. Francis. The definition has changed over time, but that is due to the conformity of Christians.

Can you think of more words? Please try as an exercise.

Dear sinful world: give us our words back!

Real Christian Culture

I'm sure someone will pipe up and say, "But muh cross T shirt and muh Christian radio and muh praise songs and... and..." If you have not figured out yet that I am talking about something dramatically different, I have nothing else to offer you. For the rest of you, please keep reading.

We have over 2,000 years of history and tradition to study and compose our religious culture, and another 4,000 years before that to compare as our heritage. Most Christians don't know anything about the history of their faith except since the day they started, and most of the rest only know about the past 100 years or less. I want to challenge you to embark on a life changing journey. As my friend says, "once you see it, it's there." Learn the history of our great religion. Start with Christ. Or if you have not read the old testament, start with Creation. For the love of the Almighty, read the old testament (we'll save that rant for a different email). Start at the bottom of what you know, and work your way up. There are no excuses. We find hours for businesses with the touch of a button. We can learn how long polar bears live in a matter of seconds. If you are a Christian, this is your heritage. Start with Christ, and the family tree will trace all the way to you. Stop using the few Bible verses you can paraphrase as crutches to support your religious assumptions, and study scripture and tradition in an objective manner that will truly shape you into the image of Christ and a fitting member of his Kingdom. Learn your heritage. Forsake the heathen practices of the world, and embrace your culture.

The Blue Shepard
Subscribe to The Platform email list: theplatform.tbs@gmail.com