Thursdays post--out of town

Culture, World-view, and the 'Old Way'

Like many around the world with televisions, my wife and I have been really enjoying the Olympics. And like many, the joyful endings to some of the featured stories are inspiring. I have a Facebook friend who has been frequently posting things like, “soft lighting and voiced-over narratives=tears.” There is just something about the effort, time, and energy that goes into the strict focus of training that most of the athletes on the world stage display. It is truly awesome.

We especially cheer on the Americans. When the Americans win something, we dance. When the Americans stumble, we sag. It is comical, actually—dozens of people we will never meet seem as close as family. When an American raises up the US flag, I feel a pride that I can't compare to any other thing in the world. Even though this a post-Christian nation, I am still proud of her. What is also interesting, to me at least, is that in the proximity of so many athletes and our ability as spectators to observe different cultures in a tight and rarified area, there is a difference in conduct. I mean, there are thousands of people from various countries—the Summer Olympics are even bigger—and every one of the people carries different cultural assumptions about behavior, social statuses, presentation of self, etc. etc.

It might just be me, but is there a difference in the way that certain people celebrate when they are from different countries? I might just be looking too far into it, but is there a spectrum of conduct from one gold medal winner from, say Korea, and another from Austria? From China to Canada? The American snowboarder to the Norwegian cross country skier? (this last one is not fair—a joke: what does the snowboarder say to the skier when they meet? “sorry, dude.” hehe, get it?)

Naturally there are going to be differences in cultural expectations. Now, one may further observe that there are major similarities in training for sports and training within a belief system. But I don't speak to this exact idea. Rather, I am thinking more about the 'openness' of simply talking about spirituality and the variety of this discussion amongst differing countries. For example, in India, most people are bathed in spirituality and are ready to talk about those ideas at any time, day or night—it wouldn't matter if you are in line at the grocery store, the airport, or the port-a-potty (do they have these in India?). However, in most of America, or much of Europe, they would seriously look at you like you just spray painted their forehead. Where a spiritual conversation may be easy and natural to begin in Pakistan, the Caribbean, or Africa, it is likely unsustainable in the current American paradigm (unless, as I do, one considers global warming a religion).

What is it about Spirituality that turns off the West? Do they believe it to be antique and archaic? Does it remind them of long-oppressed memories of the past? Are they afraid? I know that most of the West, we are told, believes that Secular Humanism is the answer to mankind's problems and that IF we just allowed Science (or “The Consensus of Science,” which is self-contradictory if you ask me, but I digress) to educate us, then we could shake off the Old Way once and for all.

Meanwhile, in the East, Spirituality is easy to engage in conversation. It seems that people are almost eager to talk about it, for hours! Now I have not been there, but I have met with many people that have immigrated to the States and have spoken with them quite easily about Christianity. They, of course, are happy to share their experiences, if different, with their religion of choice. I have engaged in conversation with Hindus, Buddhists, and Creoles. Now we in America, as much as is possible, are held to a peaceful set of behavioral rules to follow. But consider the stories we read or news clips that show the conduct of some followers of 'other' religions. In America, I use the weapons that I have at my disposal—that is reason, logic, and rational persuasion. But in India, for example, the Sikhs and Hindus will grab hoes, pitchforks, swords, and sometimes firearms and chase after those with whom they disagree! There is a passion that they bring to their spirituality that, for lack of a better term, is life-changing—is this for the better? Where my passion is to Change Lives for the better, their passion may be to change life for their better.

With all this said, it is clear that World-view differences are clear when spirituality transparent. There is a huge disparity between the Muslim and the Christian in Nigeria. I hear of martyrs, in fact, from both sides in history, though it is typically the Christians who end up on the long end of the sword (this is verifiable). If, like our Declaration of Independence says in the US, that all men are created equal, how does this translate for the future of our Post-Christian Western culture.

When giving the Great Commission on one of his last days on Earth, the resurrected Jesus told a crowd of over 500 that the goal is to 'make disciples in all nations' before He returned (Matt. 28:18-20). We know for sure that this goal is nearly accomplished; the Bible is almost translated into every single language around the globe. But the question is: what is a disciple?

I would submit that a disciple is different than one who is just saved. We don't want people to stay in that condition of newborn Christian. We desire—Jesus desires—them to become like Christ. The goal is to reflect Christ in all things. Paul said it this way: living is Christ and dying is gain (Phil. 1:21). We win either way! So if, Lord willing, our world turns upside down and we no longer enjoy the liberty to preach the Good News in America without fear—which it may come one day—let us not waver for political correctness. We are called to Biblical correctness.

mashmouth
Blackduck, MN
February 18, 2010