Culture and Its Many Manifestations Part 3

Focus Point 8: Now let us speak on the eighth element: Ethics--
To be ethical is to be honest. If someone overpays you, should you keep the money or do you take it back? Keep in mind, kingdom ethics is always proactive. Jesus made this statement:
Constitutional Scripture: Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Constitutional Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22) Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven."
Please note: The Lord pulled a number out of mind to make a point. "Seventy times seven" isn't a literal figure; it is seven times extended indefinitely. In other words, in the Kingdom culture, forgiveness is ongoing. We forgive as often as necessary, just as we would hope to be forgiven as often as necessary. Again, we are to take our example from our king; as He has forgiven us, and keeps on forgiving us, so are we to do the same with others.
Focus Point 9: Social norms--Remember, whatever is regarded as normal in our society reveals our culture.
Example: Is shacking up (living together) "normal"?
Example: Are out-of-wedlock pregnancies and births "normal"?
Example: Is cheating on taxes "normal"?
Example: Is corruption in government "normal"?
Example: Are honesty, integrity and fidelity both at home and in the workplace "normal"?
Question: What are the norms of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Here are a few that Paul, the ambassador of the Kingdom, called "The fruit of the Spirit":
Constitutional Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 22)But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Focus Point 10: Dress code-- Keep in mind, that culture also manifests itself in the way their people dress. How we dress speaks volumes about our values and ideals as well as how we feel about ourselves.
Please note: Of course, since the Kingdom of God is invisible, there isn't such a thing as a "uniform" or prescribed manner of dress. But there is such a thing as a certain demeanor which Kingdom citizens are to carry themselves which identifies them as children of the King. Read the statement that Simon Peter instructed the female citizens of the kingdom and how it applies equally in principle to every citizen:
Constitutional Scripture: I Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4) Instead, it should be that of your inner self, and unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit; which is a great worth in God's sight.
Focus Point 11: Food-- Now food has always been a cultural distinctive. So as certain dishes, certain ingredients and certain seasonings are associated with certain regions of the world or certain regions within a nation.
Example: Such as curry is a distinctive of East Indian cooking.
Example: Beans and rice are staples in Mexico.
Example: Hamburgers, hot dogs--frankfurters--are trademarks of America, among other things
Please note: As citizens of the kingdom here on earth, we need food to strengthen and nourish our bodies, but we also need heavenly food to nourish our spirits. Jesus made this statement:
Constitutional Scripture: Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live by bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God".
Please note: There was another time that Jesus made this statement to His inner circle of followers:
Constitutional Scripture: John 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work."
Focus Point 12: Permit--Here us something that you must be aware of; we reveal our culture by what we permit in our lives. Remember what we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and what we loose on earth is loosed in heaven.
Focus Point: Keep in mind; If we "loose" lewdness and immorality, those things will characterize our culture. If we "loose" corruption and dishonesty, we will have a corrupt and dishonest culture. But on the other hand, if we "loose" love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and the like, our culture will reflect these traits. We as Kingdom citizens in good standing, have the authority to bind and loose, for the social, moral and spiritual good of our fellow human beings.
Focus Point: This is why it is important for us to be involved in and to engage in the popular culture and challenge it with the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Please note: Jesus made this statement when speaking to Peter:
Constitutional Scripture: Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
To be ethical is to be honest. If someone overpays you, should you keep the money or do you take it back? Keep in mind, kingdom ethics is always proactive. Jesus made this statement:
Constitutional Scripture: Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Constitutional Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22) Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven."
Please note: The Lord pulled a number out of mind to make a point. "Seventy times seven" isn't a literal figure; it is seven times extended indefinitely. In other words, in the Kingdom culture, forgiveness is ongoing. We forgive as often as necessary, just as we would hope to be forgiven as often as necessary. Again, we are to take our example from our king; as He has forgiven us, and keeps on forgiving us, so are we to do the same with others.
Focus Point 9: Social norms--Remember, whatever is regarded as normal in our society reveals our culture.
Example: Is shacking up (living together) "normal"?
Example: Are out-of-wedlock pregnancies and births "normal"?
Example: Is cheating on taxes "normal"?
Example: Is corruption in government "normal"?
Example: Are honesty, integrity and fidelity both at home and in the workplace "normal"?
Question: What are the norms of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Here are a few that Paul, the ambassador of the Kingdom, called "The fruit of the Spirit":
Constitutional Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 22)But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Focus Point 10: Dress code-- Keep in mind, that culture also manifests itself in the way their people dress. How we dress speaks volumes about our values and ideals as well as how we feel about ourselves.
Please note: Of course, since the Kingdom of God is invisible, there isn't such a thing as a "uniform" or prescribed manner of dress. But there is such a thing as a certain demeanor which Kingdom citizens are to carry themselves which identifies them as children of the King. Read the statement that Simon Peter instructed the female citizens of the kingdom and how it applies equally in principle to every citizen:
Constitutional Scripture: I Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4) Instead, it should be that of your inner self, and unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit; which is a great worth in God's sight.
Focus Point 11: Food-- Now food has always been a cultural distinctive. So as certain dishes, certain ingredients and certain seasonings are associated with certain regions of the world or certain regions within a nation.
Example: Such as curry is a distinctive of East Indian cooking.
Example: Beans and rice are staples in Mexico.
Example: Hamburgers, hot dogs--frankfurters--are trademarks of America, among other things
Please note: As citizens of the kingdom here on earth, we need food to strengthen and nourish our bodies, but we also need heavenly food to nourish our spirits. Jesus made this statement:
Constitutional Scripture: Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live by bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God".
Please note: There was another time that Jesus made this statement to His inner circle of followers:
Constitutional Scripture: John 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work."
Focus Point 12: Permit--Here us something that you must be aware of; we reveal our culture by what we permit in our lives. Remember what we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and what we loose on earth is loosed in heaven.
Focus Point: Keep in mind; If we "loose" lewdness and immorality, those things will characterize our culture. If we "loose" corruption and dishonesty, we will have a corrupt and dishonest culture. But on the other hand, if we "loose" love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and the like, our culture will reflect these traits. We as Kingdom citizens in good standing, have the authority to bind and loose, for the social, moral and spiritual good of our fellow human beings.
Focus Point: This is why it is important for us to be involved in and to engage in the popular culture and challenge it with the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Please note: Jesus made this statement when speaking to Peter:
Constitutional Scripture: Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.