Kingdom Culture

This is an idea that just came to me. Writing off of an epiphany is never safe, but it often leads to some of the most profound discoveries of truth, or at least an interesting new perspective. So we shall see where this goes! Today I was trying to figure out what remaining true to one's own culture looks like. I believe it's far more difficult to identify culture in our current global society, let alone trying to live in a way that accurately displays the values of a sole culture. It's become common practice to borrow cultural values and practices from a variety of cultures all around the world. Consequently, cultural confusion occurs frequently and it's become common that new generations are uncertain which cultures they belong to, because cultural boundaries and identifiers are blurring. Although it's exciting to learn about and even adopt traits from other cultures, people everywhere can't help but ask important some questions: Which culture do I actually belong to? Which cultural values are the best? Is there another culture that is better than mine?

I think that there is a culture that is larger and more influential than any of ours. I think that it incorporates all of our cultures and makes them all of equal value. I'm talking about culture of God--the culture of his kingdom. It's made up of every culture on earth that ever was and ever will be. In that culture, love, faith, and hope are its core values. In that culture, neighbors feast and celebrate with each other. Leaders serve and elevate their subordinates. Foreigners are honored and cared for. In that culture, God is among his people and they know him. God is worshiped, not just by songs, but by every creative task done with a sincere heart. In that culture, peace is celebrated, generosity abounds, and justice prevails. All are valued, all have a place, and all are called to God's meaningful work. Diversity and creativity are encouraged and appreciated.

This Kingdom Culture influences our own culture. We are called to stay true to the Kingdom culture, and express our love and faith in God within our specific cultural contexts. Within God's culture, we have freedom to express ourselves however we chose. For God has no cultural preference, other than that humanity express its cultural diversity. God's preference is diversity. And it all fits within his grand Kingdom Culture.

So that's a little taste of my idea. What do you think about our national, regional, and ethnic cultures in relation to God's? What place do they have in his? How should we treat one another, if we are of different cultures?