By: Elizabeth Haarberg
Influencing Culture
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.
The word “culture” comes up often in conversations in our society. The definition of culture is “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group, the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.” What are the influences on culture?
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 New International Version
Negative influence is like a worm, but it can change culture in an instant through ego, money, and greed. See the posted verse above for some examples. Positive influence is slow and methodical through sowing seeds of goodness and thoughtfulness.
Tainted culture responds quickly to bribes, offers, the currency of the moment and immediately there is change, but most of the time it is not sustainable due to the culture being attached to the person making the offer, a behavior modification. Positive culture is more difficult due to no carrot being dangled for change, it is a heart change, deep and rooted in something good.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version
There will be fruit in the positive culture that is measured by the attributes listed above. The negative change will potentially also have aspects of paranoia, easily angered, or other fear issues.
Discernment, which is given by the Holy Spirit, is the tool to determine the true culture present. You don’t have to lean on yourself to decide whether something is good or bad; God will give you the discernment to understand. You can pray, worship, and connect with God so you can hear and understand what is happening in the culture you are in.
