The Problem with Culturally Focused Churches
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
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In the United States, there are roughly 400,000 churches. This estimate includes Protestant and other Christian churches, plus Catholic and Orthodox churches. Within this number, some churches gather based on skin color, nationality, stylistic reasons, lifestyles, and even hobbies. Here in Texas, we have cowboy churches. How should we think about these kinds of church gatherings? Should churches be gathering and centering their identities around cultural identities? Does the Bible offer us any guidance? Join us this week on the Straight Truth Podcast to hear Dr. Richard Caldwell share his thoughts with Dr. Philpot on this issue of culturally centered churches as he looks at the Word of God and what it says about the church.
Dr. Caldwell states that our identity needs to be taken from the Scriptures. We must ask ourselves if we really believe what the Bible says about everything. Do we believe what the Bible says about humanity? Do we believe what the Bible says about the church's identity now in Christ Jesus, which is one new man in Christ? Do we really believe these things? Dr. Caldwell is convinced that we use biblical language and tip our hat to the Scriptures, but we do not believe what they teach.
Dr. Caldwell shares an example regarding the whole racial issue. He explains that the Bible does not deny the reality of nations, different languages, and cultures. Those are realities. But the Bible clearly teaches that man, all of humanity, emerged from one man and one woman. Adam and Eve are the father and mother of us all, meaning that the human race is one in Adam. The differences between us, like hair color, eye color, skin color, etc., are all explained naturally. But they do not mean different versions of humanity. And if we really believe this, it is how we will see people. We are not saying to be colorblind. We are saying we need to be biblically enlightened. We are to see the world through the eyes of truth that God has revealed in His Word. Doing so fundamentally transforms the way we see people.
Organizing and gathering churches together because of language barriers is one thing. But to organize and gather around the color of our skin, temporal likes and dislikes, hobbies, fads, and cultural lifestyles is to not believe what the Scriptures teach about our identity. This is to not believe what the Lord’s Word says about who we are and why we exist. We are to organize and gather around Christ, not around our culture. We are to be organized around the Word of God and all the instructions given to us regarding the church from the New Testament.
But what about people who are more comfortable in these culturally centered or focused churches? People often find themselves more comfortable in church environments surrounded by people who share the same skin color or where people dress the same way. Maybe people find themselves more comfortable for stylistic reasons or feel they can worship more freely in these environments. What can be said about this line of thinking?
Dr. Caldwell suggests that people must ask themselves why they are more comfortable. Does their answer pass the test of a biblical worldview? He says we really need to challenge ourselves in these things to see if we are seeing things biblically or not. Sometimes, our comfort level is felt because we are not seeing things biblically. Much of the time, our choices are driven by our preferences. But we need to see if our preferences are holding us back, keeping us from experiencing growth. If a church we are in is sound and strong in the Word of God and its body life, but the music style is not our preference, this presents an opportunity for us to grow. Why care about preference? If the church is biblically sound and strong, and they sing the truth in a manner that represents reverence and order, what does it matter? Often, this manifests a self-centered view where everything exists for me rather than a Christ-centered view where everything exists for the glory of God. These two perspectives are very different, and we need to challenge ourselves and ask what is driving our thinking and emotions here. The more it can be about Christ and the truth, that is where we need to be.
I've noticed that some local churches in my area are eerily yet biblically unaware that their practices and traditions are rooted in their cultural idolatry, rather than genuine Christian worship born out of supernatural regeneration by God’s Grace. Despite their organized structures, their communities lack the transformative fruit of righteousness that comes from following Christ. This reminds me of the church in Luke 4, where the congregation appeared to be godly but rejected Jesus' gospel message and sought to harm him when he confronted the sin of self righteousness rooted in their ethnic idolatry. Furthermore, I'm concerned that many Christians and pastors lack biblical discernment, as they over prioritize their own lives and families protection over the well-being of their fellow believers. They fail to recognize and address false conversions and leadership within the church leaving wolves to feel the most comfortable in their flock. This stems from a lack of deep love and knowledge of Jesus, leading to churches being united in their cultural and ethnic identities, nationalities, and idolatrous practices - a phenomenon that has historically persisted in this country.
“having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.”
2 Timothy 3:5-9 ESV
“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ESV
“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.” 2 Peter 2:17-20
A cowboy church is not referencing football 🤣
It's a rural church, those in the farming industry, etc. I don't attend one, but I have and the most important thing is teaching the entire counsel of God. Period.
Denominations are worse...
So you don’t see that calling a church a 'cowboy church' an effort to establish a denomination?
Would a 'cowgirl church' label be acceptable to you, or would it raise concerns about exclusivity or cultural emphasis?