I have had the privilege in the past years to travel to many countries and to work with many different groups.  At one point in my military career I was a liaison officer and I worked with government, military and business professionals from about 30+ nationalities at one time.  In the ministry we have always had a heart for the body of Christ and this has given us opportunity to work with many different denominations and streams in the Church from many nations.

Each culture is unique and displays aspects of God’s character.  For example, I’ll never forget our first missionary journey to the Philippines and the importance of the family in their culture, respect for older people, and hospitality.  It did not seem to matter if the people we encountered were Christians or not, they displayed these cultural values in a godly manner.  Yet, at the same time, there were aspects of the culture that did not reflect godly values and there were some cultural practices that are what I’d call neutral.  In other words, the cultural expressions reflect nothing either positive or negative with respect to godly values.

For example, I’ve been to a country before where it seems as if bribery and theft is a readily accepted part of life.  That is definitely not acceptable in the culture of the kingdom of God .

I’ve also seen some cultural expressions that are what I’d consider neutral.  For example, I’ve found in some Middle Eastern countries that it is courteous when speaking to another to get very close to their face to speak.  Yet, in western culture it is courteous to maintain a greater distance.   

Sub-Cultures

I have found that there are sub-cultures within cultures.  Each country is unique but so also is each city.  The cultures and subcultures in Seattle Washington are very different from Dallas Texas even though both cities reside in the United States .  How much greater is the difference when we compare London England to Nakuru Kenya ? 

Now consider that the Church is found in each one of these locations and there is a sub-culture that goes with every denomination or stream.     Consider how different the Baptists are from the Assembly of God.  Or, what if we compare a Vineyard Church to an Episcopalian Church ?  The Bible teaches us in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are supposed to be one body but it sure doesn’t look like that now.  How on earth can the Lord get His body to connect and work together in each city, each state, and each country and beyond for His glory?

I believe it begins by understanding that when we got saved, we became citizens of a new kingdom.  There is a culture that is unique in that kingdom that transcends each of our personal experiences.   We have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God and there is a unique culture in this kingdom.

What Does Culture Mean?

Let’s take a moment to define what culture and being a citizen means? 

One of the definitions of culture in Encarta Dictionary is “ people with shared beliefs and practices: a group of people whose shared beliefs and practices identify the particular place, class, or time to which they belong.”

According to Encarta Dictionary a citizen is a legal resident: somebody who has the right to live in a country because he or she was born there or because he or she has been legally accepted by that country or, somebody who lives in a city: somebody who lives in a city or town rather than in a rural area

So what does the Bible say about those who have accepted Jesus Christ as both Lord and savior?

Ephesians 2:19-22  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 

Colossians 1:13-14  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  KJV

Hebrews 12:22   But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem , to an innumerable company of angels, 

Believers are now citizens of a new kingdom and there is a culture in that kingdom.  How on earth will we ever learn to connect with each other and work together both locally, nationally and internationally?   I believe that one of the keys to accomplish that is a revelation of “the culture of the kingdom.” 

The Culture of the Kingdom

The culture of the kingdom transcends the culture of our country, our city, and each of our denominations.  What do I mean by the culture of the kingdom?  The culture of the kingdom is based upon the Word of God instead of our unique traditions. 

What are some of the characteristics of the culture in the kingdom?

Love

Greater love has no man than this than he lay his life down for his brother ( Jo hn 15:13 ) 

Faithfulness

The same commit to faithful men who will teach others (2 Timothy 2:2)

Servanthood

If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all (Mark 9:35 )

The economy of the kingdom:

Tithes, offerings, sowing and reaping.  (Malachi 3:8-12, Galatians 6:7)

 

Respect and honor

Submitting yourself one unto another in the fear of God and in honor giving preference to one another (Ephesians 5:21 & Romans 12:10 )

 

Truth

Speaking the truth in love and a righteous man keeps his word even to his own hurt.  (Ephesians 4:15, Psalm 15:4)  

 

Forgiveness

You must forgive others to be forgiven (Matthew 6:114-15)

 

 

Power

We are to be like Jesus and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed and destroying the works of the devil. (Acts 10:38 & 1 John 3:8b)  For the kingdom of God is not just in word but also in power (1 Corinthians 4:20)

This is one of the keys we have found to help us cross cultural barriers in countries and denominations.  We practice the culture of the kingdom realizing that the culture of the kingdom of God can transcend all other cultures.  It lays the foundation for relationship both personally and corporately.  It is summed up in the two greatest commands that Jesus gave us in Mark 12:29-31 which say that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  

As we move forward, will there be misunderstandings?  Certainly there will be!  But if we walk and are led by the spirit of God then we will walk as sons of God (Romans 8:14) displaying His wisdom, grace, mercy, love and truth.

I like something that Robert Ricciardelli the  Director of Visionary Advancement Strategies says on his website http://www.vision2advance.com/ . 

In Essentials, Unity

In Non-essentials, Liberty

In All Things, Love

Another way that we will transcend our various cultural differences will be to focus on our common purposes given to us by the Lord and by practicing the “culture of the kingdom.”

Our Common Purpose!

What are those common purposes?  We are all called to preach the gospel to every creature, to make disciples of all nations and to become a house of prayer for all nations.  To me, that describes a focus on establishing 24 hour prayer in cities, planning evangelistic outreach in our communities and abroad, and ensuring that we have a discipleship plan in place for those who make Jesus both savior and Lord.  It is during that discipleship process that the new believers are introduced into the “culture of the kingdom.”

We cannot build the house of the Lord by ourselves.  Do we really believe 1 Corinthians 12 when it says that God places people in the body where it pleases Him?  You will find in many communities several churches within a few blocks of each other.  Can you believe that God would put a Methodist Church , a Baptist Church and a Charismatic Church in the same neighborhood?  If God really does place people in the body where it pleases Him, then perhaps we’ll need to discover what is unique about the “other church” around the corner and seek to discover how we can work together to build HIS house in OUR community!

I am very encouraged today for I see more and more of God’s leaders from various streams and denominations realize that we will have to work together to transform our cities and some are taking action.  These leaders have begun to see the Church as not their church but His Church with a realization that they are but stewards, who are responsible to present to our Lord a bride without spot, wrinkle or blemish.

I’m thankful for the time that we live in and praise God for the glorious Church I see coming together. 

I don’t find myself just dreaming of the love, signs, wonders and miracles that the early Church displayed.  But I find myself dreaming of the “greater works shall you do” (John 14:12 ) and that the glory of the latter house will be greater than the former (Haggai 2:9).  Folks, we live in some of the most exciting times in history and God in all of His wisdom and sovereignty choose to have each of us live during this time.  What an honor this is to live today.

I expect to see us walking in greater miracles, great character and displaying His love to all.  I expect His people to present a glorious display of the culture in the kingdom of God.  So I am praying that you will fulfill your purpose, walk in everything that God destined you to do,  for His glory in Jesus name.