The relations between Christianity and culture have varied according to circumstances and particular perceptions of culture. The conflict between Christianity & culture has been a problem for a long time and needs an urgent attention. Christianity is a way of life centered on the worship of one God shown to the world through Jesus Christ. Jesus lived as a human being for almost 30 years in Palestine and was crucified by the Romans at Jerusalem.
We are living in an environment that challenges us to continually evaluate what it means to live the Christian life. So how do we respond? The answer begins with the Bible. Our view of culture must include biblical insights.
Culture is the arts, custom, etc of a nation or group, also the arts and intellectual achievements as a whole. It is better understood as the total pattern of a people's behavior. Culture includes all behavior that is learned and transmitted by the symbols (rites, language, etc.) of a particular group and that focuses on certain ideas or assumptions that we call a world view.
THE BIBLE AND THE CULTURE
In Bible times, "You're a Corinthian!" To call someone a Corinthian was insulting. Even non- Christians recognized that Corinth was one of the most immoral cities in the known world.
The believers in Corinth were faced with a culture which resembled ours in several ways. It was diverse ethnically, religiously, and philosophically. It was a center of wealth, literature, and the arts. And it was recognized for its blatant sexual immorality. How would Paul advise believers to respond to life in such a city?
One of the Asia countries who never see a lamb before used a pig while translating the Bible. That is contextualization. It is essential that we have appropriate strategies to preach the Gospel, and to understand the interests, needs and worldview of those we are trying to communicate with. This is increasingly important in our post-Christian world.
CONFLICTING AREAS BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE
@ Choosing whom to marry
@ Denying wife her inheritance after husband’s death
@ Divorce and remarry for lack of child bearing
@ Shaving of hair as a result of a beloved’s death
@ Taking an oath to prove innocence
@ Female circumcision
@ Masquerade/age grade
@ Festivals that requires sacrifice
@ Sewing of Youth fellowship uniform
@ General dressing of our youths today
@ Patronizing native doctors
@ Impregnating a girl before marriage
@ Music
@ Language (abusive, provoking, rude, insulting words)
CONLUSION
In the first place, a man can believe only what he holds to be true (world view). We are Christians because we hold Christianity to be true. But other men hold Christianity to be false. Who is right? Jesus is never against culture, because he came to the world through the culture of the Jews. Rather he transforms the Culture.
We have seen that Scripture is not silent regarding culture. It contains much by way of example and precept.
First, in some measure God "is responsible for the presence of culture, for he created human beings in such a way that they are culture-producing beings."(21)
Second, God holds us responsible for cultural stewardship.
Third, we should not fear the surrounding culture; instead, we should strive to contribute to it through God- given creativity, and transform it through dialogue and proclamation.
Fourth, we should practice discernment while living within culture.
Fifth, the products of culture should be judged on the basis of intent, not form. Or, to simply further:
We advance the theory that God's basic attitude toward culture is that which the apostle Paul articulates in I Corinthians 9:19-22. That is, he views human culture primarily as a vehicle to be used by him and his people for Christian purposes, rather than as an enemy to be combated or shunned.
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