Table of Contents
A Question Concerning Church Culture
We are known as the Church; the Body of Christ, and we are also known as the Bride of Christ. A question to consider is whether God is our First Love and we gave actually gave our heart to Him, or do we love church culture and what it has to offer? The proof will be in the pudding as the saying goes. Meaning, one’s life will reflect the answer, regardless of how honest one was in the reply.
The Relevance of Church Culture
In today’s modern era, people have written about developing a healthy church culture. They opined about toxicity and its negative effects. Much has been said about being seeker friendly. In those places which emphasize culture, does the Word of God get emphasized as well? Granted, culture does have influence; however, it does not necessarily transform lives. Warm fuzzies are not the same as true conviction.
Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh (keeps awake) but in vain.
Even if the culture is great by human standards, it may be for nothing. In some scenarios, the people want to control the ethos, which means they are not submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ. They’re not interested in His desires. They prefer warm milk over meat, and that warm milk does not necessary refer to the sincere milk of the Word by which one may grow. At best, it’s watered down, which is one reason Christians have lost their relevance in the world that needs Jesus so badly.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Warning! Leadership will be held accountable for the way in which they lead. By the way, we all are accountable for the way we live our lives. If you’re leaning on your own understanding, you may want to reconsider that, and ask God for His wisdom.
James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
The Word and Culture
If we live and gather according to the Word of God, church culture would be correct. When we bend our knees before Jesus and are submitted to Holy Spirt, love will fill the atmosphere. Truth will actually be spoken, and Christians will be true disciples. Lives will actually be transfigured. The self-esteem issues become non-issues, because people will come into their true identity in Jesus Christ. In short, do things His way and culture will take care of itself!
If Jesus is not the Head of a congregation with its warm culture, it’s a cult. It’s not part of the Church, even though it may call itself one. Incidentally, it is not love nor loving to not speak the Truth.
Ephesians lays it out rather nicely.
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-6).
