Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Culture Pt 2
Now I will continue from my last article. Every nation also utilizes a specific symbol or symbols to represent and to assist to inspire patriotism, loyalty, pride of a nation, as well as a strong sense of national identity. The most familiar symbol of any nation is its flag. A nation's flag symbolizes its history, the sacrifices, suffering and triumphs of its people, and what the people have constituted themselves to be. All of these things relate also to the culture. There are few national symbols that are more powerful than the flag. This is why I am so surprised that this government would allow some individuals to disrespect the flag of this country without some kind of punishment. I find it strange that this country would allow the citizens to disrespect it's national symbol by burning it's flag without punishment, but yet expect its young men and women to fight or go to war under it.
There is another element that all nations share in common. That is a constitution. A constitution is a contract between the people and their government. In many ways a constitution is a cultural document because it contains in codified form of laws, ideals and values of the people (or of the king, depending on who wrote it). Furthermore, all nations have a moral code. A nation's moral code embodies the moral standards under which the people have agreed to live and by which they have chosen to govern themselves. In the Kingdom of God, there is no exceptions. ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. If you will notice, we are to give, not lend to those in need. That is the law and principles of the Kingdom. In most cases, a moral code consists of both written and unwritten standards. The written standards are expressed through laws and statutes, while unwritten standards are transmitted primarily through traditions, customs and culture. For example: Respect other people's property--don't bear false witness in court--don't steal--don't murder--do not commit adultery. All of these are part of the moral code in virtually every nation and government on planet earth. By the way, guess who created those laws. Yes, you guessed it. The Lord God of the heavens and earth.
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.”
But the world system chose to apply some of it to their nation's constitution, but reject the Creator and the King.
I will continue in my next article.
Leviticus 25:35-38 Exodus 20:1-17
~~W.R. Luchie
Continue to Part 3
