Living In The 3rd Culture: 2017

“. . . there is no favoritism with Him.”

We all have favorites: favorite flavor of ice cream, favorite food, favorite restaurant, favorite article of clothing, and yes, your favorite place to sit in church! Having “favorite things” is a normal part of life. However, when favoritism moves from food, clothing, places and such, to people, everything changes. Truth be told we have all benefited from favoritism or felt the negative effects of it.

Favoritism, or partiality, is preferring one person or a group of people over another. Much of this happens without us being aware of it as we naturally gravitate to certain people over others. However, the “ugly” side of favoritism is when it is done on purpose and at the expense of others. This often causes pride in the one favored and shame in the one who is not. For example, favored students get more attention and leniency in the grading process, while neglected students suffer with poor self-esteem and poor grades. The examples go far beyond childhood as we see those who are considered beautiful, handsome, thin, smart, successful and yes, white, experience benefits of being favored. While those who are not find themselves marginalized.

Yet the Gospel screams the radicle and comforting message that “there is no favoritism with God” (Eph. 6:9b). That’s good news! In writing these words Paul is telling “masters” that they should not threaten their bondservants. There was a deep social chasm between these two groups of people. The master was powerful and affluent, while the bondservant had few rights and had gotten into that position because they were in debt. Yet Paul tells them that the Gospel turns the normal status quo on end by reminding the master that he is indebted to the Master who is heaven: The same Master as the bondservant! Therefore, do not show favoritism.

The Greek word Paul uses in this verse literally means “to make unjust distinctions between people by treating one person better than another.” ^{^[1]} Peter uses the same word after seeing God bring the Gentile Cornelius to his door (Acts 10:34). James warns against it in the church (2:1,9), and Jude uses it negatively to call out false teachers (v.9).

As Believer’s we have been adopted by a God who is not partial (Dt. 10:17) to His children. He does not show favoritism! We all started out dead in our sin and trespasses, “but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:1,4,5). We all receive the same favor and as His children “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).

I find these words very encouraging! God doesn’t have a favorite preacher! God does not play favorites despite of how it may feel. It’s a fact, the Bible says it clearly, God delights equally in all His children! That’s good news!

^{^[1]} Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996).

Priceless

Several years ago, I was given a Mont Blanc pen from a friend which at that time was valued at several hundred dollars. As you may have guessed, it is not a pen that I carry around in my pocket, and unfortunately, because of its value I never use it. It seems absurd that I wouldn’t use the pen for the very purpose it was designed for. What good is it sitting in a drawer?

We also have a couple of containers in our house stuffed with cheap pens of an assorted variety. Most were purchased in bulk for just a few cents apiece. Some work and some don’t, but most write poorly and pale in comparison to my Mont Blanc. But they are easily accessible, so I end up using them despite their poor quality.

Believers have been given an extremely valuable gift that is often relegated to a coffee or bedside table. That gift is the Word of God found in our Bible. Like a Mont Blanc pen, it comes in different translations and assortment of formats, but its value is too high to place any dollar amount. Though we may be fortunate enough to have several Bibles around our house its value remains. In fact, there are many in the world who would give everything they own to be able to have just one!

Unfortunately, we do not read the Bible as we should and resort to booklets, articles, devotionals, blogs, podcasts, and radio programs where we get bits and pieces of the Bible. Like my cheap pen collection, they work sometimes, and can be helpful, but never comes close to the real thing! In the end, we fall into the habit of substituting what is expedient for what is truly beneficial and life changing.

The Bible is priceless because it is the Word of God. It is how the God of creation speaks to us. Through the work of the Holy Spirit it is a living document that actively works God’s grace into us: It changes us! Like a surgeon’s scalpel, it cuts deep and exposes our thoughts, intentions, doubts and fears. That means spending time in God’s Word helps us sort out our own feelings and struggles. It does not leave us exposed, or in shame, but points us back to Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith” where we always find mercy, forgiveness, and strength for whatever trial we may be facing.

“For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

“No One, None, Nothing.”

My wife and I enjoy our walks. It is good exercise for my worn-out knees, a chance to enjoy the changing seasons, see the deer and turkey, get caught up on the day’s happenings, and to pray. Always along on our walks is our dog Simba who probably enjoys the walk more than we do. On most days, he strides between us as we make our circuit. Aggressive dogs, garbage trucks, speeding cars, and other potentially intimidating things don’t seem to bother him. If you were to join us on one of these walks you would notice that he regularly looks up at me and “checks in” by touching his nose to my hand or leg. As long as I am there and not concerned, neither is he.

Jesus was very specific when He said “Do not be anxious.” In fact, He said it 3 times in Matthew 6! The apostle Paul picks up the same theme in Philippians 4 where he writes “do not be anxious about anything.” Literally, that means the Believer should not “have an anxious concern” about “no one, none, nothing.”

Unfortunately, a command like this can cause our anxiety to spiral out of control as our inability to stop worrying or being anxious fuels a new anxiety that God will be mad at us if we cannot stop worrying! Please understand that this is a command, but it is one that is given by the One who said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt. 11;29-30). You see it is not a command to try harder, but a command to worship!

God’s people were designed and created for worship, but the sin the still surges in us causes us to make secondary things in our lives primary. When we do that, we stop worshiping God, and in essence start worshiping whatever we are worried about. Jesus is not calling us to a lackadaisical lifestyle as there are legitimate concerns in life, but a call to loosen our grip on what we worry about and spend time with the Savior who is only fully in control – there is “no one, none, nothing” that He does not have His hand on. And He loves and cares for you!

Worship is a gift that we take for granted. It is not simply another ritual “good” Christians do, but a time when we seek the LORD and find deliverance from all our fears, anxieties and worries. David understood this truth and wrote this Psalm,

I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:4-8).

Make it your ambition to spend time in daily in personal worship, and weekly as God’s people worship together. It is a precious gift, that time in our walk with the Savior when we “check in” with Him, taste His grace, and are reminded that He is still walking with you in this journey of life, still carries His “rod and staff,” and you are safe! “Be anxious for nothing” and enjoy the walk!

Thoughts on Worship

One of my earliest recollections of a worship service was one held under an enormous Mango tree behind our house in Bwiru, Tanzania. Yes, you read that correctly, worship under a Mango tree. The large tree with its wide spread branches provided shelter from the late morning African sun. Several rows of wooden benches lined neatly in rows faced a primitive pulpit. Looking back, I am surprised that my parents allowed it, but on one occasion I had a seat in the balcony. . . one of low laying branches. Another unique aspect of worship under a Mango tree was that my golden Rhodesian Ridgeback dog was also able to attend. No, this is not an argument for covenant animals in worship, but an example of worship conducted before the eyes of the unbelieving world. As we sang, prayed and heard the Word preached, young heard boys paused their herding, and passersby stopped and observed.

Obviously, there is a lot I liked about worshiping under the Mango. What child wouldn’t enjoy sitting on a branch with his loyal dog lying below! Nevertheless, looking back after serving as a pastor for over 30 years, what I now appreciate was the opportunity for God’s people to do transcendent worship before watching eyes, and seeing them drawn in to what was going on. It was a not revival under the Mango tree, it was God’s people gathering for worship.

Because worship is God’s people gathering to celebrate Him, it makes sense that we do it following what is given to us in Scripture. Or put another way, God is the one who gets to make the decision on how He is worshipped. If you are tempted to think that regulating worship, is narrow, outdated, or foolish, please know that buried beneath these simple requirements there awaits a precious gem of grace: a means of grace. The Reformers described it as “ordinary” realizing it is not the only way God works, but it is the normal way that He provides spiritual nourishment.

Far too often we look for God in the extraordinary, thinking that the transforming power of God is only found in the unusual, spectacular, or what stirs emotionally. On the contrary God’s normal or “outward and ordinary” way of working is “the Word, sacraments (the Lord’s supper and baptism), and prayer.” (WSC 88)[1]. This has its foundations early in the life of the New Testament church where Believers “devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers” (Acts 2:42). Word, sacraments, fellowship, and prayer where the focus of worship and vital to God’s blessing.

The grace of saving faith that enables us to believe is the work of the Holy Spirit and ordinarily comes through the ministry of the Word.

Our faith then is strengthened by the same grace that comes only by His “Word and Spirit” as we are “enabled more and more to die unto sin and live and live unto righteousness” (WCF 10:1; 14:1; WSC 35). Sadly, the very thing needed for spiritual vitality has become so “ordinary” that it is considered boring or irrelevant! I am however absolutely convinced a worship service formed around what Scripture teaches, screams the gospel and is powerfully transformative to the believer and unbeliever alike.

In addition to Word, prayer, and sacrament, is the singing God’s people which ministers grace as we praise the Lord, call on his saving power, and encourage one another. As Jesus sings with us, (Heb. 2:12) we are drawn to him as well as one another. Here at Covenant singing is very important to us. We also believe that God centered (means of grace) worship transcends style and trends and uses the best music and a variety of instruments. We also believe what we sing should be both formative (teach) and expressive (meaningful and emotional). Therefore, our worship is neither contemporary nor traditional, but one that firmly grounds us in our Biblical Reformed heritage, yet invites and draws a diversity of cultures as well as the unchurched.

[1] WCF – Westminster Confession of Faith, WSC – Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Third Culture Defined

The term “Third Culture” has been used in various ways. One “Third Culture” group “consists of those scientists and other thinkers in the empirical world who, through their work and expository writing, are taking the place of the traditional intellectuals in rendering visible the deeper meanings of our lives, redefining who and what we are.”Another common use of “Third Culture” in fact describes my personal experience. The term was first coined by sociologist Ruth Hill Useem, professor emeritus of sociology and education at Michigan State University. She used the term to describe children growing up outside their citizenship countries because of a parent’s work abroad. A “TCK or Third Culture Kid has since been defined as, “someone who as a child has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture" Though I am a TCK, it is my desire to use the term in referring to the people who make up the true Christian Church (Theologically defined as the “Invisible Church”). In other words, the Church is a Third Culture. Scripture teaches us that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law and the punishment of Hell, and through faith in Him we become citizens of His Kingdom, receiving not only the full benefits of citizenship in His Kingdom, but indeed the right to become sons and daughters of God. The moment, we step into this Kingdome we experience a new and different culture. We are no longer in the kingdom of darkness, but now live in the kingdom of light and that changes everything! At the same time we never went anywhere physically as we continue to work, live, and play with the same people as before, we see the world differently, we no longer truly fit – we are “in the world, but not of it” -- we have a new culture. For most of us this life changing experience occurs within our birth culture and our Christian experience is saturated by those influences. For those who grew up in non-Hispanic White North America, Christianity is uniquely different than those who grew up in an African American context. Our birth culture effects how we live out our faith in the Kingdom of Christ. Yet the Kingdom of Christ requires one more cultural shift and that is away from birth culture and into a culture made up of people of every ethnic and cultural group that has ever existed on the face of the earth. This Kingdom is no more North American than it is Tanzanian or Tibetan. It is a unique or shall we say a “Third Culture” that integrates elements of all cultures into one new and better one, where there is no Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:26-298). In fact Revelation 7:9-10 gives us a description what this will look like one day:“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." A Third Culture Perspective is one that understands and appreciates that God gathers people from every ethnic and cultural group and brings them into the new culture of His Son Jesus Christ. It is a perspective where birth cultures are appreciated and respected as coming from God, but none are superior. It seeks to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, pays attention to culture, our own as well as others, and then attempts to bring them together. It is a perspective that “seeks first His Kingdom and His Righteousness” and lovingly and passionately enjoys and glorifies God in all we do. It is a perspective that welcomes immigrants….