WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

CONVERSION AND CULTURE
religious Athenians, Paul expresses who this true God is (Acts 17:22-31). The
Sinai covenant speaks about our responsibilities to God and man. There are
moral absolutes. Although God accepts that humankind has different standards,
the fact remains that all have fallen short even of their own standards.
The fact of sin is greatly obscured in religions which stress self-effort
and salvation by works. The covenant brings out the need for true conversion
as all humankind stands self-condemned before a holy God.
From another aspect in the covenant, God desires the blessing of the
whole human race. To Noah, He makes a covenant that is universal in its scope
(Genesis 9:9-17). To Abraham, and through him, all the families of the earth
will be blessed. This promise is most significant for those who respond in faith
to the Gospel, as the blessing promised to Abraham becomes theirs. 9 The
patriarchal system of the Old Testament is familiar all over Asia. Today, as always,
God desires not just the conversion of individuals, but of families, clans and
peoples.
In the New Testament, the concept of the Kingdom is central in the
Gospels. This teaching is not entirely new as the Old Testament has many
references to God’s sovereign reign as King over creation and all history. David
affirms this in Psalm 24 “The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it ... he is
the King of glory.” God’s realm includes and embraces all that exists, seen and
unseen. It is characterised by holiness, righteousness and love. When Jesus
came, He unveiled the Kingdom with His own presence. He began His ministry
by preaching the Kingdom. In fact, the Kingdom was the first and the last
thing He talked about. The Kingdom offers present and future hope for all. The
Gospel is all about Jesus and His Kingdom and that is what we are called to
advance.
The concept of the Kingdom is relevant in ministering to peoples with
their own cultural and religious backgrounds. In emphasizing the importance
of cultural understanding, we need to be reminded that the Kingdom is supracultural
(above culture). The teaching of the Kingdom points to supra-cultural
principles and values for all human societies. God is transcendent and above
any human culture. And yet He reveals himself in the context of human culture.
This makes the incarnation of Jesus all the more profound. The qualities and
values of the Kingdom which God desires are modelled and communicated in
the person of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus is truly Lord of people’s lives and priority is given to seeking
God’s Kingdom and righteousness, their whole direction in life changes.
True conversion and change occur when allegiance is given to Christ as
Lord. Sadly, however, in many instances, the introduction of the Gospel does
not bring about genuine conversion. People may accept the outward forms of
9 Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:8,9,15,16; 4:26-29
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