Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Culture Pt 1
When the government fails to uphold a standard for its people, but embraces the beliefs and culture of the immigrants that reside in it, that is a sure sign of decay. Culture encompasses many things. Once you understand the culture of a people, you will understand the people. Everything that makes a nation and a people is wrapped up in their culture. For example, every country has land which is territory. Without land there is no country. Historically, the land that a people inhabits significantly influences the culture they develop. For example: desert dwellers are unlikely to develop a maritime culture unless they reside along the coast. Their culture will reflect the arid environment in which they live.
Another key component is the country's language. A country is not a country unless it has one major language. There are many nations of this world who have numerous sub-languages and dialects. But every nation always decides on one major language because language identifies you as a country. By the way, language is the key to having unity. It is also a key factor in a nation's culture. I love the fact that Jesus made this statement: "I and My Father are one.”
As I stated earlier, all countries have laws and principles. Every nation draws up a body of laws that everyone must obey to ensure peace, order and security for their citizens. Without law there is no country, because the absence of law leads to chaos, and you can't govern a country or maintain a stable government in chaos. This is why the Lord God put the Ten Commandments in place.
And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
Many individuals have stated that these aren't good for now, but are the old covenant. That is a religious mindset. In the Kingdom mindset, His Word stands and His principles are the same. It is what Jesus did that holds back the Lord God's wrath from those who are disobedient to His Word.
I will continue this in my next article.
John 10:30 Exodus 20:1-19
Continue to Part 2
Another key component is the country's language. A country is not a country unless it has one major language. There are many nations of this world who have numerous sub-languages and dialects. But every nation always decides on one major language because language identifies you as a country. By the way, language is the key to having unity. It is also a key factor in a nation's culture. I love the fact that Jesus made this statement: "I and My Father are one.”
As I stated earlier, all countries have laws and principles. Every nation draws up a body of laws that everyone must obey to ensure peace, order and security for their citizens. Without law there is no country, because the absence of law leads to chaos, and you can't govern a country or maintain a stable government in chaos. This is why the Lord God put the Ten Commandments in place.
And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
Many individuals have stated that these aren't good for now, but are the old covenant. That is a religious mindset. In the Kingdom mindset, His Word stands and His principles are the same. It is what Jesus did that holds back the Lord God's wrath from those who are disobedient to His Word.
I will continue this in my next article.
John 10:30 Exodus 20:1-19
Continue to Part 2
