Acculturation: The Culture Familiar to Me

Think about one’s acculturation. Merriam-Webster defines acculturation as “cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture.” “Also : ‘a merging of cultures as a result of prolonged contact.’” If you are a New Yorker and move to Atlanta, GA for example, your accent may change after you have lived there a while.

If you have had the privilege of travelling to another country, especially one with a culture very different from your own, then you will better understand acculturation. America is a large country and has varying traditions, accents, habits, foods, and culture from that of another state in America. Take, for example, the differences between the deep south, a Georgia native, compared to that of a native New Yorker. The accents and culture in those areas are different. Even in the same city one’s acculturation may vary by neighborhood. In Louisiana one may celebrate Mardis Gras, eat crawfish, speak with a Cajun-French accent and/or American “southern accent”, dine on crawfish etouffee and king-cake, walk, talk, and live differently than someone that lives in Wisconsin for example.

As Christians we are to be set apart. Live not according to the customs or culture in which we live, but above all live according to the word of God, the Bible. When I first traveled to the “east”, Asia, I got a better view of American culture from that of an outsider. Take Christmas for example, have you ever thought of it from the perspective of an outsider? I mean, ponder it…”so you mean to tell me that you cut down a perfectly good, healthy tree, bring it into your house, and set it in your living room as you would flowers in a vase? Then, you buy wrapping paper and wrap gifts to put under that tree, hang lights, sing carols, and maybe even have light-up figures on your lawn or other decorations, and celebrate the birth of Christ and/or the coming of ‘Santa’ (a whole explanation in and of itself)?” The concept of putting a large tree in your living room sounds absurd when you say it out loud. Things that are normal to some people may be absurd to others from another country. When travelling to Thailand I was told to make sure I didn’t sit cross legged on public transportation and if I did to cross my legs at the ankles as it is considered very rude to point at someone with your foot. I could go on and on about societal rules or customs in various other countries. The point is that we are all different, having our own acculturation depending on where we live and how we are raised. What is acceptable in your local culture may not be acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. We are to, first above all else in one’s local culture, live according to God’s culture, the word of God. First I am a Christian, second I am an American.

“Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.' II Timothy 2:19-26

We are in this world but not of it. “'If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.’” John 15:19 'You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.’” I John 4:4

“'…and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.’” Mark 4:19

“'Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—'” Colossians 2:20

“…'which all concern things which perish with the using— according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.'” Colossians 2:22-23

In Leviticus chapters 18, 19, and 20, several laws are decreed among them one commonly cited in debates on homosexuality which, in this generation, is widely accepted in parts of America, Europe, and other nations. "'You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people. ‘Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.’ ”' Leviticus 18:22-30

Show God's love for others and "love thy neighbor as thyself" but do not promote or condone sinful behaviors. One can show love and tolerance without condoning, accepting, or even promoting such behaviors. As an example, I have several gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transvestite acquaintances but am careful not to accept or appear to accept homosexuality, gender dysmorphia, etc. Jesus himself sat with prostitutes, tax collectors, and other sinners that committed grievous acts. He sat with prostitutes but did not condone or commit prostitution himself. As Christians, we are to be as Christ-like as we can be while being sure not to condone or promote sinful acts. Be a living testimony of God's abundant love and mercy. My various LGBTQ+ acquaintances all know well my stance or thought of the matter, but they also know that I show only love towards them. Sit with them and even dine with them but they are not what I would call "inner-circle" friends. They are not and should not be in your circle of influence. For example, I do not confide in them or go to LGBTQ+ events with them. I don't waive the rainbow flag but I don't snatch the rainbow flag from a person's hands and burn it either. If they want to waive the flag, let them. My acquaintances know my stance and they also know they can count on me to show godly love towards them. There are very common sayings that come to mind: "live and let live" and "to each his own."

Love the sinner: hate the sin and not the sinner. "'...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.'" Romans 3:23-266

"'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'" Romans 12:2

'“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed'" Isaiah 10:1