Today’s Reading, Leviticus 16-18
Focal Scripture: Leviticus 18:3 “Do not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs.”
Culture is a difficult mindset to change. I have been around culture that is positive and I have been around culture there is negative. The negative cultures always focus on self and making the individual happy. These cultures are about power and dominance. They elevate success over the process. Positive cultures on the other hand put the group over the individual. This type of culture also makes much of character and success is a byproduct of that culture. Society has no power over a positive culture. The reason why is because a positive culture will tune out the noise fight against them.
In today’s reading Moses is told to not follow the practice of the Egyptians. He then is told to not follow the practices of the Canaanite’s either. The Israelites are expected to create a culture that focuses on God and not on society. A culture that make much of proper worship not human worship. A culture that was positive and unlike the current cultural climate they just came from.
I can tell you from experience that trying to change culture is difficult. It doesn’t matter if it is in a church or a sports team. Often you have to work with and sometimes against the current people that were part of the previous culture. The ones who were used to a certain culture will either buy in a on what you are changing or they will fight against it at all costs. However, when the new culture clicks it changes everything. People are excited about the changes. They stop focusing on results and start focusing on the process.
The challenge that we have as believers is we must fight against the culture we are currently in right now. We are told that giving into the world’s desires is loving and inclusive. We are told that we have to change what we believe to be considered kind and compassionate. Thankfully, we know that being a Christ follower goes against all cultures in the world. It requires radical obedience and it also requires passionate pursuit of biblical standards. This means what the worlds desires can’t be practiced if it violates scripture.
So what about you? Do you follow the current culture or do you follow biblical culture. For us to make a lasting impact we must be biblical. The world and everyone we meet must know where our allegiance lies. Christian culture is always counter to the world. That is something to embrace not fight against.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Leviticus 19-21
