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    Famili Es of Faith: Lesson 11 For June 15, 2019

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    Oliver Sumbrana
    This document discusses how culture influences Christian beliefs and how the gospel can be shared across cultures. It argues that when preaching the gospel to other cultures, Christians should accept cultural aspects that don't conflict with biblical principles, but reject those that do, such as traditions promoting harm against others. The gospel itself must be the focus of what is shared, not cultural traditions or rules. Sharing the gospel requires cultural immersion, explaining beliefs to one's family while recognizing that faith is personal, and working together across cultures to spread the gospel message of salvation.

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    Famili Es of Faith: Lesson 11 For June 15, 2019

    Uploaded by

    Oliver Sumbrana
    29 views9 pages
    This document discusses how culture influences Christian beliefs and how the gospel can be shared across cultures. It argues that when preaching the gospel to other cultures, Christians should accept cultural aspects that don't conflict with biblical principles, but reject those that do, such as traditions promoting harm against others. The gospel itself must be the focus of what is shared, not cultural traditions or rules. Sharing the gospel requires cultural immersion, explaining beliefs to one's family while recognizing that faith is personal, and working together across cultures to spread the gospel message of salvation.

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    This document discusses how culture influences Christian beliefs and how the gospel can be shared across cultures. It argues that when preaching the gospel to other cultures, Christians should accept cultural aspects that don't conflict with biblical principles, but reject those that do, such as traditions promoting harm against others. The gospel itself must be the focus of what is shared, not cultural traditions or rules. Sharing the gospel requires cultural immersion, explaining beliefs to one's family while recognizing that faith is personal, and working together across cultures to spread the gospel message of salvation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    29 views9 pages

    Famili Es of Faith: Lesson 11 For June 15, 2019

    Uploaded by

    Oliver Sumbrana
    This document discusses how culture influences Christian beliefs and how the gospel can be shared across cultures. It argues that when preaching the gospel to other cultures, Christians should accept cultural aspects that don't conflict with biblical principles, but reject those that do, such as traditions promoting harm against others. The gospel itself must be the focus of what is shared, not cultural traditions or rules. Sharing the gospel requires cultural immersion, explaining beliefs to one's family while recognizing that faith is personal, and working together across cultures to spread the gospel message of salvation.

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    FAMILI

    ES OF
    FAITH

    Lesson 11 for June 15, 2019


    Every family has its own cultural
    background. The culture we live in
    shapes the way we understand and
    accept the Gospel.
    Which of our beliefs and customs
    are culturally based? What aspects
    of our culture should we accept or
    reject? What about cultural conflicts
    between different Christian
    communities? How can we preach
    the Gospel to a culture which is
    different to ours?
    GOSPEL AND CULTURE
    Accepting what is good
    Rejecting what is evil
    Cultural immersion
    THE CULTURE OF THE GOSPEL
    Sharing the Gospel
    Spreading the Gospel
    ACCEPTING WHAT IS GOOD
    “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
    (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

    First Century Jews could not enter a Gentile house or share


    a meal with Gentiles. This rule was not Biblical but cultural.
    God intervened in a miraculous way to remove it from
    their minds.

    As the Gospel began to be preached and


    accepted by different cultures, the church
    decided not to impose the Jewish culture on
    new Christians (Acts 15).
    Should we remove every cultural influence
    when preaching the Gospel?
    We are members of a community, and we're
    immersed in its culture. Some aspects of
    culture are in harmony with the Bible
    principles. We should respect and promote
    these aspects.
    “When the practices of the people do not
    come in conflict with the law of God, you
    may conform to them. If the workers fail to
    do this, they will not only hinder their own
    work, but they will place stumbling blocks
    in the way of those for whom they labor
    and hinder them from accepting the
    truth.”
    E.G.W. (Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 2, cp. 60, p. 560)
    REJECTING WHAT IS EVIL
    “Laban replied, 'It is not our custom here to
    give the younger daughter in marriage before
    the older one.'” (Genesis 29:26 NIV)

    The Code of Hammurabi specified that an infertile


    woman could give one of her slaves to her husband,
    and the children were still considered hers. Sarai
    used this tradition to justify a behavior contrary to
    God's will.
    God tolerated some cultural traditions for some
    time (for example, polygamy), but He rejected
    others (for example, worshipping idols).

    Culture may influence us, but we must categorically deny


    anything that may compromise our faith.
    If a cultural tradition moves people to despise others
    because of their gender, ethnic group, social class,
    disability, age or other differences, it must be rejected.
    C U LT U R A L I M M E R S I O N
    “Now the Lord had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family
    and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.'” (Genesis 12:1)

    There are stories of people who were


    ripped out of their culture and taken to a
    completely different one, like Abraham,
    Ruth, Esther and Daniel.
    This type of change is common nowadays.
    It affects our family and spiritual life, and
    generates anxiety.

    God's promises, trusting Him and the


    support of our family and friends, can give
    us strength in those circumstances.
    We must learn how to adapt to a new
    culture while accepting the good things
    and rejecting the bad ones. Prayer and the
    guidance of the Holy Spirit are essential.
    SHARING THE GOSPEL
    “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children
    of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of
    the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
    The founders of a movement are usually fully
    committed to their beliefs. Then, after one or
    two generations, many lose sight of the
    principles supporting their values.
    Habits soon become traditions. Eventually,
    tradition and principles become
    indistinguishable from one another.

    Our duty is to explain our beliefs to our


    children. But God has no grandchildren,
    only children.
    Faith is not a genetic characteristic that can
    be transmitted to the next generation. Each
    person must experience a personal
    relationship with Jesus to become a child
    of God.
    SPREADING THE GOSPEL
    “For I determined not to know
    anything among you except
    Jesus Christ and Him
    crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)
    Christian families are encouraged to
    experience the power of the Gospel
    together, and to share it no matter
    the culture they're living in.
    We must be passionate spokespeople
    who announce the Gospel of
    salvation and work towards unity and
    harmony (John 17:20-23). We must
    be willing to even risk our own lives
    for our beliefs (Revelation 12:11).
    We may stumble when trying to
    explain our faith to a specific culture.
    However, God knows how to
    introduce His Kingdom in any cultural
    context. If we work together with
    Him, He will guide us with His Word
    and His Spirit.
    “There is no person, no nation, that is perfect in
    every habit and thought. One must learn from
    another. Therefore God wants the different
    nationalities to mingle together, to be one in
    judgment, one in purpose…
    If the Italian brethren, the French brethren, and the
    German brethren try to be like Him, they will plant
    their feet upon the same foundation of truth; the
    same Spirit that dwells in one will dwell in the other—
    Christ in them, the hope of glory. I warn you, brethren
    and sisters, not to build up a wall of partition
    between different nationalities. On the contrary, seek
    to break it down wherever it exists. We should
    endeavor to bring all into the harmony that there is
    in Jesus, laboring for the one object—the salvation of
    our fellow men.”
    E.G.W. (The Upward Look, September 24)

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