Cultural Differences

Dear Victorious,

Our church bills itself as one that is "culturally relevant." The preacher talks often about how we need to consider the culture around us and engineer our ministries and programming "for the culture." Somehow this seems wrong to me. Doesn't giving culture differences so much attention create a risk of watering down the gospel truth?

Norman P. - Lakeland, FL

Dear Norman,

Yes, it does. Christians are called to stand against their culture. We are not to blend into our culture. Of course you preach in a language that the people can understand. But you have to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you even as you try and translate into another language. There is great danger in trying to accommodate cultural differences. Cultures can be wrong. Traditions can be wrong. And God's truth needs to prevail in the face of those wrongs.