Not the culture, but the crux is crucial!

‘And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.’ ( Acts 15:1)

When a few Jewish Christians tried to implement Judaism in the church, Paul and Barnabas devoured them as fierceful tigers. Ain’t they like us, to watch lazily the accomplishments of false prophets? Isn’t blood thicker than water? When you are flesh and blood, kith and kin with Christ, you cannot be sluggish, your blood would simmer with rage.

Hadn’t Paul and Barnabas rioted against them, Mosaic law would have enforced the church and made the crucifixion of Christ meaningless. No true Christian would endure the occupancy of the church by a particular culture. Be it Judaism, eastern or western. Because, the church belongs to each of us in this vast World. The wonder in which people of various race, languages, and region becoming a sole body is called the church. The divine beauty of the church is unity in diversity. The only cord that binds us together in this unity should be the love of Christ, not the culture.

It is not a huge deal to unite people of various cultures and cramming them with the compulsion of sole worship, in a sole language and with sole habits. If it happens so, then it is utterly worldly. It is only when the Holy Spirit of God that binds us together with the adorned cord, we obliviate ourselves and expire from the twines of the race, language and sect, as we enter this Savanna.

Beloved readers, this article is about giving importance only to spiritual matters. Let the ones who boast about horses and chariots, keep boasting about it. Nonetheless, we are called to boast about the Glory of Christ Jesus.

We are incited to close the eyes of flesh and open wide our spiritual eye. Let us not heed to unwelcomed talk but only the word of God. Not the outside of the vessel, but the inside of it is vital for God. Not the culture, but the essence of Christ in us is of only concern to the Kingdom of God.

‘For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;’ (Acts 15:28) Behold, how good is our God! You are procured through the blood of Christ to live as a spiritual being. Therefore, never become a slave of the worldly habits.

I thank God for Apostles, chapter 15. It is good that the system of circumcision was nipped in the bud. Or else, the evangelist has to holler with a dagger. Won’t the people flee hither and tither when they see a preacher with a spear? Circumcision of heart, in the spirit is the true circumcision, said the Apostles decisively(Romans 2:29).

It is good that we, the New Covenant Christians are not obliged to wear dresses as Old Testament Jews. I could not even imagine my friends and I, wandering in the streets of our city, dressed in those long robes as Jews. Thanks to the ancient Apostles who did not burden us with such laws (Acts 15:29). The Bible does not instruct us to wear white robes that are visible to the worldly eyes. But we ought to obtain an immaculate white dress from Christ which is visible to our spiritual eye (Rev 3:18). And we are supposed to maintain the raiment holy (Rev 3:4). The one without the garment shall be pushed away into the unfathomed, dark chasm (Matt 22: 11-13). Not the Biblical culture, but the gist of Christ must be accepted.

In weddings, you can either wear wedding chain, or you can exchange wedding rings as you wish. The Bible never impels anything on us. But the Bible instructs the husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church, and the wives to submit themselves to their husbands as the church surrenders itself to Christ (Ephe 5). We are advised to live without a blemish. Not the system of marriage, but being together as one flesh is important. If our families do not testify the crux of Christ, what other faith does this planet have?

Thank goodness, the system of funeral is only seen in the books indoctrinated by the church, not in the Holy Bible. You can either bury or incinerate the dead as you wish. But you should overcome, extinguish and bury the ‘self’ (Rom 6). The soul that had not gotten rid of ‘self’ shall not enter the heaven, even if thousands of Bishops pray for its demise. Not the Christian culture, but the quiddity of Christ is crucial.

When God has given us this liberty, we should be cautious not to bear any signs or symbols of idols in the name of culture. We can christen our children either with Biblical names or with our languoid names. The Bible never obliges us to christen our children only with biblical names. But it is essential to raise them in Christ, according to the Bible. If not, see, in today’s Christianity, how the world brims with Josephs lying in the lap of Potiphar’s wife, deaf old Samuels who could not heed to God’s call, foolish Solomons wandering to buy wisdom, Peters disowning Christ, not thrice, but three hundred times!!

Dear readers, not the culture, but the quality of Christ is significant. Not Judaism, but the words of the Lion of the tribe of Jude is crucial. Not the outside of the vessel, but the inside of it is vital!!