The Birth of A Culture, Hebrews 11:13-16
Pastor Michael Wise
If your human, your part of a culture. You can’t escape it – you’re born into it – Cultures & sub-cultures.
While in seminary, one of my fellow students was Samoan. Even in winter, when it snowed, he would wear his Samoan dress & sandals. It was a part of his culture.
Culture shapes your views, and perspective on life; even your expectations in life
Sadly, cultural differences can, and have, led to “culture clash”, wars, even crusades.
I was born into the Midwest (Mid-Michigan) American Culture. Three miles away was a town that considered itself the potato capital of the state, and possibly the world.
What choice did I have? I grew up eating, and loving potatoes, its “part of my culture”.
But what if you had a choice, if you could pick any culture you prefer and be born into it…………..what culture would it be?
I hope that after you hear or read this message you have a different response than some might give.
Enculturation is the process by which we learn a culture.
I’ve read that a child learns 85% of it’s culture by age 5. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, culture is caught as well as taught.
Our culture affects us and our church. It affects how we, and the church, relate to God and mankind.
Some Christians talk of a need for contextualizing faith to the various cultures to make it more appealing, easier to adopt; To make God’s world fit with their world.
Contextualization is all right as long as God’s truth is preserved and uplifted. But there is a danger that in the attempt to contextualize we end up with compromise!
Jesus, who was born a Jew, (Mat 1:18), contextualized heavenly truth by expressing it in stories, parables, and themes relevant to the Jewish listener’s culture – to help them understand it. But He never altered or compromised truth to make it more appealing or more acceptable. He met people where they were, but he didn’t leave them there – if they were willing to follow Him. He sought to draw people into heaven’s culture.
For every truth, Satan has counterfeits. There is a distorted view that Christianity should conform/adapt to each person’s cultures. The Bible’s teaching is that God’s children should become a part of God’s culture …
Is there such a thing as a Christian culture??? Yes! Yes there is!
Anthropology defines CULTURE as: an integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of a group of people.
Culture meets the needs of people in its group in 10 areas:
food clothing shelter family
social organization government defense
arts/crafts knowledge/science religion
God provided all of these cultural components for Adam & Eve in the garden of Eden before sin, and will provide them for His children in heaven and the earth made new.
He provided them to ancient Israel. And even though Satan and this world of sin have distorted God’s truth, God still provides His culture for Christians today!
Jesus said in John 3:3 “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven”
Jesus said in Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”
If our citizenship is in heaven, and He gives us His kingdom, doesn’t it stand to reason we must also take His kingdom’s culture?
It’s my understanding that the new earth/heaven, will be the restoration of what was lost. Including all the culture of heaven that was initially given to Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden
Today we are living in a time period referred to as “the last days”, “the time of judgment”, “the time of the end”. It is a time when we are to afflict our souls and prepare to meet our Judge-Redeemer-Creator.
As you consider today’s message – heaven’s culture, it is important to ask yourself some important questions:
Whose culture are you striving & living for?
Will your cultural goals fit with God’s kingdom culture?
The 10 Cultural Components:
1) Food:
The diet in the Garden of Eden was simple: Grains, Nuts, & Fruits (Gen 1:29-30). Vegetables were added after sin (Gen 2:5; 3:17-18)
We understand that after the flood, because it would have taken some time for food to be replanted and start growing, God allowed the introduction of clean meat into man’s diet. We can quickly see in Scripture the effect it had on man’s lifespan – drastically shortening it.
We also understand from Scripture that the eating of unclean animals (Gen 7:2; Lev. 11) was never permitted.
Now if you are going to eat the clean meat, please consider the health consequences on your body, which is really not your body, its God’s temple! Please consider the increase of disease in animals and the effects of chemicals used in the raising of livestock.
And please consider this:
Genesis 9:3-5 “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. 4 “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 “Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.”
Leviticus 17:11-14 “’For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ 12 “Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’ 13 “Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust; 14 “for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.”
That instruction was reinforced by the Apostles in Acts 15:28-31 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. 30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement”
I grew up a meat eater – both clean and unclean meat. To be honest, when I learned and was convicted of this truth, I did not rejoice – though I should have. I used to hunt in my youth. I’ve gutted/skinned a few deer. Every hunter I’ve met understands that the flavor of meat comes primarily from the blood (actually from the impurities contained in the blood before they are expelled as waste). I was taught that after being gutted a deer needed to hang and “season”. In other words, it needed time for the remaining blood to permeate the meat.
But Scripture says that blood is a symbol of life and atonement: We are told in Hebrews 9:22 that “according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission”
Consider Jesus word’s in John 6:53-56 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 “For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
Jesus is referring to the bread and fresh wine/grape juice of communion that symbolize His body and blood.
Isaiah 11:9 & 65:25 says that in the new earth there is no harming or killing. It will be a return to the Eden diet. Why not start now? “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain”
2) Clothing:
In Eden, Adam & Eve wore a robe of righteousness that God had created them with – they were created perfect with a perfect nature. (Gen 2:25)
Of course with the entrance of sin, they realized they were naked and tried covering themselves with clothes that fit their own taste and sense of fashion.
While we should look lovely as Christ’s ambassadors, pride and vanity in our dress and looks is reflecting Satan’s culture. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty and clothing made from precious stones (Ezek 28:13,17).
We see numerous times of when God’s people, including Israel, often in the context of judgment and repentance from a time of rebellion took off their adornment/ornaments – they got rid of it.
- Jacob buried his children’s jewelry and idols: (Gen 35:1-4)
- Israel offered booty, ornaments, to God as atonement: (Num 31:50-51)
- After the golden calf (Exo 33:4-5)
- When building the wilderness sanctuary (Exo 35:22)
In the new earth God’s faithful will wear robes of light and golden crowns. Surely we can wait till heaven for that! In the mean time, He calls us to modesty
Both Peter (1 Peter 3:3-5) and Paul (1 Timothy 2:9-10) write about proper Christian attire, avoiding external ornamentation. The best adornment is modest apparel, that reflects reverence, holiness, and self-control; and a humble converted spirit coupled with good works
In Revelation 3:18 Jesus says “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire (living/working faith), that you may be rich; and white garments (Christ’s righteousness), that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve (Holy Spirit/discernment), that you may see.
If you’re wondering how we get that wardrobe, Isaiah 61:10-11 provides the answer: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Only God can clothe or cover us with His righteousness – imputed and imparted.
And vs 11 gives a reason why: To give the world a living witness!
11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”
3) Shelter:
The Eden garden home was a perfect environment, weather, and otherwise.
Immediately after falling in sin they were given the gospel story in example and illustration, through the sacrifice of an innocent animal to provide garments and the promise that Christ would conquer Satan through His own death.
God used an ark to shelter Noah’s family and animals (Gen 7-8)
He provided a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night to shelter Israel in the wilderness (Ex 13)
David said of God in Psalm 61:3-4 “For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah”
Joel 3:16 “But the LORD will be a shelter for His people”
God is still our shelter today, but He also uses His church as a shelter: Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching”
Jesus said that He was going to to prepare a place for us in Heaven, John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
No death, no hurt, no pain in the new earth!
4) Family:
In Eden God created and defined family and marriage. Adam & Eve were instructed to have children they would raise to love and serve God.
I’ve often thought that we don’t do a proper job of communicating to a non-believing family member the benefits of having an Adventist Christian spouse, parent, son/daughter, brother or sister. It is a great thing they could have. An Adventist pledges to, and relies on, God to be a faithful, trust worthy, honest, and loving spouse/parent/family member.
My dad was rather “stoic”. In fact in my childhood family, emotions like love were seldom discussed/displayed openly. As I began to become more associated with the church I felt a distance building with my dad.
But in my new culture, church family became another family, an openly loving caring family; it’s encouraged and anticipated.
Scripture defines for the Christian culture how to act as parents, spouses, children, and siblings – yes siblings. There is very practical council in Scripture, such as 1 Cor 12; Eph 5; 1 Tim 5
Who is family in heaven’s culture? You have probably heard the term “blood relatives”. For the Christian, blood relatives are simply those saved by the blood of the Lamb. Notice Jesus’ words in
Luke 8:21 “And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”
And Paul wrote in Romans 8:14-17 “but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
What a large, joyful, and united family we will be in heaven and the new earth!
5) Social organization:
In Eden Adam & Eve were one united loving body, till sin entered.
God has a true church, but He said many of His children have not yet joined it…. but they will when they hear His truth proclaimed.
John 10:16 “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
Through the 3 angels message of Rev 14 & 18 God is calling His people out of the culture of a world about to be destroyed into a church where they will find safety and fellowship: Revelation 18:4 “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”
Jesus prayed that His followers would all be united: John 17:20-21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
6) Government:
In Eden they walked & talked with God in person & followed Him. They knew God’s law, even if it wasn’t written on stone yet. Where there is no law there is no sin, yet sin entered through Adam’s rebellion and lack of faith. Cain murdered his brother.
The basis of any government is its laws
Jesus said to be loyal to our own country but loyalty to God is supreme. Mark 12:17 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Jesus also said in John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments”
Jesus said of course we have a reason to love Him – He redeemed us through His own sacrificial death! Like ancient Israel, we were slaves to sin till God set us free. And now He says, if you love me, show me through your actions.
Deuteronomy 5:15 “And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day”
Whether civil, or church authority (“Gospel Order”), God says His culture respects the authority He places above us: Romans 13:1-2 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves”
In the new earth God will still be our God and King. Jesus will reign forever: Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.”
7) Defense:
In Eden God and His truth were Adam & Eve’s defense. They should have listened, trusted, and followed that truth as a defense against Satan.
David wrote that: Psalm 18:2-3 “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Paul instructs us to: Ephesians 6:11-12 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age
Peter said: 2 Peter 2:9 “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
Paul said: Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
8) Arts/Crafts:
I’m convinced that Adam & Eve were very artistic. They were to tend to and enlarge the garden. Imagine relaxing on a hammock of living vines – tlak about “raised bed gardening” J
God gave craftsmanship skills to men to build Sanctuary items (Ex. 31:3 & 35). Christians have been very artistic and skilled at many things.
But the greatest products that a person of the Christian culture can make are:
1) fruit – spiritual fruit or the reproduction of Christ’s character in their life by God’s grace! Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
2) disciples: Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
In the new earth we will plant and build an earthly home (in addition to the New Jerusalem city mansion that Jesus is making for us: Isaiah 65:21 “They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”
9) Knowledge/Science:
In Eden, Adam & Eve were created with perfect minds capable of learning from Jesus and His angels.
Where through formal or informal education, knowledge is important. But the most important knowledge is to know God intimately, as friend, Creator, and Savior God.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God”
Ecclesiastes 2:26 “For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight”
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
In the new earth we will once again walk and talk with God and learn from Him, in person, face to face: 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.”
10) Religion:
In Eden they communed with and worshipped the true Creator God.
Sin distorts truth, religion, and worship. Satan wants you to believe, much like the ancient saying “all roads lead to Rome”, that any religion, even no religion, can lead you to God and heaven. But that is a lie! Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:4-5 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
The new Christian culture cannot be separated from the re-birth experience Jesus spoke with Nicodemus about (John 3:3-8).
Here’s a conversation Paul had with a Roman soldier about Roman citizenship: Acts 22:28 “The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen”
Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
We cannot purchase salvation or the kingdom, it was already purchased by Jesus, with His blood, but we can accept it as a gift of grace.
In heaven as well as the new earth we will continue worshipping God, including every/each seventh-day Sabbath: Revelation 15:2-3 “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!”
Isaiah 66:23-24 “And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.”
Its so easy for us to tell God what His culture should be like… so it conforms to personal wants.
Lucifer made his own way/culture.
Cain made his own way/culture.
The world makes it’s own way/culture.
May I make a simple appeal to you my friend?
If 85% of culture is learned by age 5, may I ask, “how old a Christian are you?”Does the culture your pursuing & living show you have been “re-born” into the citizenship of heaven? Its no wonder Paul said we must die daily!
Here’s a simple invitation, from me to you: Taste and see that the Lord is good. Try it… God’s culture, God’s way,
Are you willing to ask Him the hardest question in the world:
“Lord what do You want and will equip me to do today as a child of your kingdom?”
My Benediction for you:
May your citizenship be in heaven, and, as you eagerly wait for Jesus Christ’s return, may you constantly desire a better, a heavenly country. May God be delighted to be called your God; because He has prepared a city for you! Amen.