IS CHANGING CULTURE OUR JOB?

Like many Christians, every year, I read through my Bible. I found myself in the book of Leviticus, where God is saying do not do these “detestable things” to a new people he was forming. It got me thinking. What are these detestable things? It is almost as the “normal” way of life was not God’s plan for his creation. The long list of sexual acts of men sleeping with men, children sleeping with parents, children sacrifice, demonic powers, false gods, and defiling the land. God is exclusively teaching and speaking to His people, but not the outside culture. He says I am the Lord your God and follow me. He is hinting to not do what they do.

In current culture we see the same behaviors. However, now it is “normal” like it was back then, and people actually fight for these “detestable things” and try to sway others into doing them.
How can we change a culture that does not want to change? Should we speak against it? Should we let people be allowed to do these “detestable things” around our family, and why are we subjected to this behavior?

Here are some thoughts about being Christian in an unchristian culture:

1. Follow Jesus. In Leviticus, God is setting His people up as a theocracy, not a democracy. He is giving them a new way to live that honors Him as the Creator. Today, we must read, listen, and hear the words of God if we have any hope of staying on track in a dark and perverse culture. We must do the things Jesus said to do and act on them in order to shine light into the darkness.

2. Be Kind. Many people in humanity are kind, but for Christians choosing kindness is a matter of choosing to obey God. We are called to be kind, always. We live in a volatile, emotional spewing culture where everyone thinks a person’s voice needs to be heard. If you are not careful you will believe that your voice is more important than God’s. When people are mean and unkind, you fight for kindness. Matthew 5:1-12 says that when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside. After he sat down and the disciples had gathered around, Jesus began to teach them:

Blessed are those who are poor in spirit: the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who are mourning: they will be consoled.
Blessed are those who are gentle: they will inherit the land.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice: they will have their fill.
Blessed are those who show mercy: they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those whose hearts are clean: they will see God.
Blessed are those who work for peace: they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of their struggle for justice: the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is excellent; they persecuted the prophets before you in the very same way.

3. Love like Jesus. The Beatitudes, listed above, are the Lord’s attitudes, and they need to be your attitude. These behaviors fight against the detestable things. These behaviors help you remain in the will of God each day to share Christ. The culture is being fooled by the satanic powers that drive them. It is the bi-product of sin and the voice of anti-christ. There is nothing the devil will not do to destroy the hope that Jesus has for people. You must see others as Jesus sees them and love them so that they know you are standing in the love of Jesus.

4. Souls don’t have sexuality. The LGBT voice has grown in nature over the years. However, at the end of every life, there sits a soul that will choose heaven or hell. It does not matter if you are rich, poor, gay, straight, known or unknown. You will have an end date. People will either hear God’s plan of salvation, or they will perish in flames forever. God does not hate people, but he desires them to follow Him, when they choose “detestable things” over Him, they will perish. The exposed culture will remain to do what it does for pride and pleasure. Culture will continue to live separate from the Lord, so the people of God, must hear Him and choose to obey and follow His words. That will be the changing force in the culture.

Is our job to change culture? What do you think?