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| Monday, September 01, 2008
Culture Speaker : George ChuaTranscribed and paraphrased by Annabelle Bok and Dawn Fung This is an excerpt from CreateLeVoyage.com's Writers' Group in July 2008. "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of God bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:8-10 With discerning eyes, we need to view the word "culture". We have a world culture that is based on human achievements, even humanitarian works, which is basically man glorifying man. The root of such culture is plucked from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That is why the "tradition of men, the basic principles of the world" and "philosophy" may rationalise good and evil but it cannot give you life. The other tree, the tree of life, can only be tasted in Jesus who said, "I come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10)." Paul highlights in Colossians just how deceitful and empty world culture really can be because it is "not according to Christ". Therefore, there is a stark contrast between what is of the world and what is of God. The world culture is steeped in unbelief in God, a detrimental choice. A good example is in Numbers 13 where ten spies refused to believe that they could overcome the giants in the Promised Land, whereas Joshua and Caleb thought differently, "These giants are bread for us to eat; surely, we can take the land." The Israelites' unbelief cost them 40 years in the desert (instead of 11 days if they had journeyed into Canaan). Although God is faithful to provide them with manna in the desert during that time, the desert was not God's best for them - the Promised Land that they rejected, was. The episode showed that the majority of the Israelites still clung onto their idea of how things could be done, instead of believing in God for victory. Such unbelief can still be found in the church. Many believers today believe God redeems them out of slavery but they don't trust Him enough to walk out of the desert and into the Promised Land to enjoy the milk and honey. The wilderness is a tiring place - metaphorically, believers who are stuck in this wilderness feed on the same food daily and do not walk in the abundance of their eternal life on this side of earth. Out of sheer fear, and lack of confidence in God, believers may backslide, like the Israelites who demanded that Moses take them back to Egypt, into a world that still seems fascinating. Yet we know that this world and its culture is hollow. I used to consider myself someone who had embraced freedom through music, bohemian living, drugs, and anything else that I felt emphasised my individuality and independence. When I came to Christ, I realise that freedom is not "being able to do whatever you want". The sad truth was that such freedom was no freedom at all. Any concept of freedom that can be traced to a worldly source (and not Christ) is a lie because this world's culture belongs in bondage to the prince of this world (John 14:30), the father of lies. Only a true understanding of who we are in Christ can set us free. The word of God says that we are heirs of God (Gal 4:7) and we are free in His Spirit (2 Cor 3:17). In this newfound status and freedom, we acquire things not by doing something in order to earn something else. Simply by being (in Christ), we inherit everything that is of Christ. As an heir of God, I no longer have to let the world tell me what to think, say or do. I now take reference from my Father, who is high above everything. I take reference from my Lord, who laid down His life for me to set me free! When you identify yourself with Him and just enjoy being with, loved by and walking with Him, you find true freedom that overcomes unbelief and ultimately, the stronghold of world culture. We need to realise that Christianity is about how everything is already done - we live out Jesus' kind of life via his finished work on the cross - and not doing to earn God's approval. I used to be tired of church because I was never taught what I should be before I could do. Consider the prodigal son's elder brother complaint, "This son of yours came back from wasting his inheritance, and straightaway you slaughter the fatted calf for him. What about me, who's been serving you all these years?" This response is not unlike believers who put their value in the things they do for God, "What about me? I've been leading worship for the last 24 years. God, what have You done for me?" One of the hardest and most impossible things for people to do, is to be holy. They don't understand that holiness is a done thing - it is being in Christ who is holy, that they become holy. And in Christ, holiness is enjoyable, natural and freeing. God recently said to me, "Holiness is freedom! That's why I want to make you holy!" And it's consistent with the Bible because the Bible says that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, and that Spirit is the Holy Spirit. And when you know who you are based on what Jesus has already done, you will do the right things. Being in Christ means walking in the Promised Land and not in the wilderness. The Bible says that all the promises of God are "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 1:20). In the New Testament, the Promised Land is the bride of Christ (Rev 21:2), a place prepared for us without sorrow, full of life and glory because Jesus is its temple (Rev 21:23). It is a place of power, which this generation will experience (John 14:12). It is full of indescribable joy (1 Pet 1:8) and tasty goodness of the Lord (Psalm 34:8). It is a place of destiny where our void is filled, and we have reconciliation with God who we call Father. It is a place of satisfying love because God is love; in Him, we learn to love because he first loved us. With the revelation of being 'complete in Christ', our idea of "culture" reaches beyond the metaphysical and into the supernatural, where we exist and are created. True culture is life according to Christ. It frees us to make decisions that are godly (like Daniel and Joseph) even if it goes against world culture. It causes us to be full and complete because He is all that. I thank God that I do not have to "live low" any more. I do not have to depend on my own intelligence, human wisdom or logic to try to find my own way in this world. Today I can depend on a Father who loves me and who sent His Son for me because of what He has done for me. Christ is our source of culture, our taste in life and our decisions ahead. In Him is where we truly belong, and thrive.
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