Cultural Bias and Spiritual Depth

The Christian life is meant to be lived out of a since of identity and not out of a sense of duty. This makes Christianity difficult for Americans and other self-promoting cultures. We Americans like the honor and prestige that comes from being accepted into an organization or a recognized body because of our merits. We like to be liked and want to be wanted because of what we do and not because of who we are.

In America we don’t even really have an effective way of celebrating a person’s identity. We celebrate accomplishments, but have no system other than relational and familial conscience to give approval to a person’s inner qualities. In most instances a person’s inner qualities are only acknowledged when they’ve been seen through the lens of a great deed.

This is not how it is with Jesus. He looks to the heart and knows that when the heart of a person possesses love for Him that the fruit of God-honoring labor will follow.

We must work hard to fight against the cultural bias we possess and seek to have a heart that is immersed in the love God gives and seek to do good because of it rather than a life that does good to win the love of God.

We cannot earn the love or acceptance of God. It is a gift we receive. And once we’ve received that gift there is nothing that God can’t ask of us.

Pastor Jason Pettus