The Power of Culture

Here are some of the definitions of culture from dictionary.com:

“The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.”

“The predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize the functioning of a group or organization.”

“These patterns, traits, and products considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population: Edwardian culture; Japanese culture; the culture of poverty.”
“These patterns, traits, and products considered with respect to a particular category, such as a field, subject, or mode of expression: religious culture in the Middle Ages; musical culture; oral culture.”

Here is a definition of subculture from dictionary.com:

“a group having social, economic, ethnic, or other traits distinctive enough to distinguish it from others within the same culture or society.”

How Cultures are formed:

Once we are born into a culture we are exposed to precepts that shape our thoughts, feelings, emotions, values, morals, and actions. Cultures are typically formed in two ways. First, culture is shaped by a few powerful people that have or had great influence over their society and that influence while it may be changed, typically in some form or another is passed down from generation to generation. We see this in governments, institutions, & societal traditions.

Secondly, culture is shaped by a subculture, a small group, or remnant of people that gain influence over others in society. We see this in many social movements such as the “hippie” movement in the 60’s. MTV started as a small cable music network playing music videos 24 hours a day to a media conglomerate which great social influence.

How the kingdom of heaven is formed on the earth:

“Another parable He spoke to them: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened (Matthew 13:33).”

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, 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 (Matthew 28:18-20).”

It’s pretty clear that we are supposed to take what Jesus taught us into the world and to change until the day of His return but in order to do this accurately we must first learn what the kingdom of heaven is.

What is the culture of the kingdom of God?

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).”

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).”

We can say that kingdom culture is heaven’s culture. Anything you read in the Bible about the kingdom of heaven (with the exception of Lucifer’s fall of course), is what God wants on earth.

Walking in the Spirit at an individual level expands the kingdom!

We don’t walk in the Spirit only for ourselves but also for others!

What part do we play in changing lives?

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).”

People seek either what is missing in their lives or to be free from what is in their lives. Many in the church are right with God through the blood of Jesus but much fewer are in peace & joy in the Holy Spirit. How can the world be convinced through us if we are still in bondage through the works of the flesh?

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).”

If we want to be a light unto the world as He was, we must walk in love and His Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).”

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).”

If we walk in love and the fruit of the Spirit, we will go to people (led by the Spirit) or they will come to us (convicted by the Spirit) seeking how to fill an empty void or how to get free. We then lead them to Him and the Spirit does the rest. This is how the kingdom is spread through us individually.

Promoting kingdom culture corporately not only expands the kingdom but changes lives!

Just as any well run organization knows, corporate culture is the foundation in which actions, expectations, and behaviors are set. As our congregations are called to represent the kingdom, the corporate culture of our congregations should also accurately reflect kingdom culture.

As leaders we should evaluate our congregations to see if we are accurately representing kingdom culture, values, and principles. We should ask ourselves questions like are lives being changed? Are believers being transformed into the image of Christ? Are they walking in the works of flesh or fruit of the Spirit? Is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit found here? Are we fulfilling the call He has put on our ministry?

We must also remember that we must be led by the Holy Spirit at all times, making ourselves available and positioning ourselves to what God is doing.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14).”

The bottom line is that if we want lives to change we must give the Spirit of the Lord freedom to do what He wants to do even if we don’t understand it. He is the one that truly changes lives and we should do whatever we can to preserves, promote, and facilitate His work through us.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).”

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord ( 2 Corinthians 3:17-18).”

Prayer:

I am blessed that you took the time to read this teaching. I pray that the Father of Glory will bless you will wisdom, understanding, peace, joy, and boldness in order to not only allow Him to transform your life but the lives of those around you in the name of His precious son, Lord Jesus Christ! AMEN!