Cultural Relevance

After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.  The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal.  They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt.  They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them.  And they angered the Lord.  They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.  This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions.  He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.  Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned.  And the people were in great distress. [Judges 2.10-15]

To us, from the writer's perspective, it was obvious that Israel was deviating from God and His ways.  However, to the people of Israel, I can imagine they were somewhat relaxed in thinking they were simply adapting to the culture in which they lived.  Sound familiar?

The old cliche, "When in Rome..." perhaps reveals one of the most dangerous human social actions possible. 

Following and serving God is a culture.  It is a culture with no room for deviation.  It is a culture that, by nature, is intolerant of variation.  It is a culture of complete reverence for the LORD and no other.  It is a culture of non-conformity to any other culture.  All of this says one and the same thing: there is no allowance for any other culture in the culture of God.

I realize that in the USA the church has adopted much of its own culture.  And, by "much of its own culture," I mean the ways of the world and not the ways of God.  I could attempt to begin to list those deviations here, but I am afraid I am totally unqualified to do so with any accuracy or sufficiency.  Or, perhaps I am simply afraid of indicting myself!

I will however offer an important question we should each ask ourselves regularly concerning our life and practice of devotion to God: Is my devotion to God (including religious practices I employ both private and public) pure in God's eyes, or is it contaminated with worldly culture (albeit ever so religious)?

We need to carefully consider all we do in the name of the LORD but for the sake of the culture in which we live.  Just how much do we do because we are attempting to keep up with culture?  Consider how many times we hear the phrase "cultural relevance" in our religious meetings!

I personally believe we have some explaining to do...  Or repenting...

Father, please forgive me for adopting and adapting to culture not born of Your Spirit.  Please give me grace to see deviation in my devotion to You and discard it - returning (or, turning, whichever the case may be) to pure and undefiled religion in Your sight.