Christianity’s Symphony: The Blueprint for Superior Cultures
Not all cultures possess the same value. Some cultures are in fact superior to others. This may sound like a controversial idea to those that have been influenced by the ideals of a modern egalitarian world that vilifies both distinction and disparity.
This assertion prompts a pivotal query: What benchmarks distinguish superior from inferior cultures? Cultures that have greater conformity to God’s Word and uphold truth, beauty, and goodness in their fabric are superior to cultures that do not share these ideals. Cultures that have adhered to Christian laws and principles have experienced significantly greater freedom and flourishing than those that have not. In fact, freedom and flourishing are exclusive to Christianity, considering that both are fundamentally anchored in Truth-embodied in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Freedom and flourishing are elusive ideals outside of Christianity.
More than any other religious influence, Christianity has indelibly molded fundamental ideals and innovations. Its impact resonates in the spheres of free speech, the rule of law, modern medicine, free market economies, literacy, academia, scientific discovery, as well as contributions to art and architecture. It holds a central, commanding role in the historical and contemporary narratives of some of the world’s most esteemed cultures.
Christianity also provides the most formidable resistance to systems that are enslaving and destructive. It serves as the most formidable threat to tyranny, to the mass murder of children in the womb, to anarchy, to corruption, and to poverty.
“...the moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws… All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible." - Noah Webster, 1833
The Moral Compass of Cultures: A Symphony or a Discord?
Every culture possesses an edifice of moral values that dictates how its adherents behave. What people believe dictates what they do. With this in mind, it is imperative to transcend the notion of culture as a mere collection of sentiments tied to a specific group. Culture extends beyond individual idiosyncrasies; it encompasses shared beliefs, values, customs, practices, and languages that collectively define a group.
One particularly insidious notion promulgated by enemies of God is the concept of a morally neutral world. This perspective paints various aspects of life as ambiguous realms, devoid of inherent right or wrong, good or evil. The widespread acceptance of this view can be attributed to the pervasive rise of secularism, a movement seeking to divorce God—along with truth and morality—from seemingly non-sacred domains of existence. Consequently, a deceptive consensus has emerged, blurring the lines between neutrality and objectivity in areas such as education, law, entertainment, festivity, science, politics, and vocation. Efforts to neutralize these facets of life amount to a defiant endeavor to erase God from reality, granting individuals unrestrained power over their lifestyles.
When God created all things, He ascribed moral value to His creation by calling it good. Secularism is man’s attempt to redefine goodness, and in so doing, pry the ownership of created things out of God’s hand. Efforts to normalize the notion of neutrality is an attempt to do evil with what God has called good. The trajectory of neutrality will always veer toward vice and never toward virtue.
Considering Critical Crossroads: Reasons Why Neutrality is a Pitfall
The concept of cultural neutrality has various pitfalls that necessitate careful consideration.
It undermines God’s sovereignty
God is sovereign, meaning He rules and reigns above and over all created things. To assert the notion of neutrality is to undermine God’s sovereignty, implying that there are some realms of life that are excused from having to submit to His authority. The notion of neutrality is an attempt to neutralize God’s sovereignty and the all encompassing authority of His Word.
God is not campaigning for His sovereignty and Lordship. He is not engaged in a struggle to claim neutral territory. In actuality, all realms already fall under His domain. The predicament does not lie in the inherent sovereignty of God but rather in the reluctance of humanity to recognize and willingly submit to it.
It undermines man's sinfulness
Human beings are makers of culture, but are also fundamentally corrupted by sin. The concept of cultural neutrality, often assuming an inherent amorality in man, overlooks the fundamental enslavement of sin that characterizes human nature. King David, the eminent psalmist of Israel, articulated a poignant anthropological truth in confessing his own transgressions: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." This is the natural condition of man: each person has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Cultures crafted by human minds and hands, bereft of the redemptive grace found in Christ, inevitably mirror the sinfulness of their creators. This sin-laden foundation shapes beliefs, values, customs, and practices toward a trajectory of wickedness rather than righteousness. To deny the inherent sinfulness of mankind is to embrace a falsehood, reject the need for a Savior, and remain complacent in a culture marked by dysfunctionality and inferiority.
Human moral compasses are anything but neutral, and consequently, cultures reflect this inherent morality. The shared tenets of beliefs, values, customs, and practices—the very bedrock of culture—are invariably tethered to the object of people’s worship. Human beings unfailingly find themselves governed by what they revere. The pertinent question is not whether, but rather, which entity a society will exalt. In truth, people will either worship idols or the true and living God; there exists no neutral ground in this equation.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.- 1 John 1:8-10
It limits the scope of our obedience
Should there exist spheres and facets of life beyond the scope of God's sovereignty, an implication arises — certain domains wherein His image-bearers need not bow to His authority. Should this hypothesis hold, our obedience to God would be confined to realms perceived as religiously sacred: the observance of holy ordinances, church attendance, personal devotion, consistent tithing, and the pursuit of moral rectitude. Although these practices embody virtue and necessity, they risk becoming the totality of what many regard as pious, often at the expense of embracing a holistic life dedicated to the glory of God. Vocation, academic pursuits, political affiliations, and the like may be treated as realms exempt from the obligation to submit to God's authority. Consequently, the notion of neutral ground becomes a platform where individuals can appease their subjective, and often liberal, interests.
It weakens our understanding of the Great Commission
If cultures were deemed morally neutral, the directive of Christ to disciple the nations would lose its significance, implying a lack of necessity for redemption. Enacting the great commission involves not only delivering the message of salvation but also cultivating cultures worldwide that submit all facets of life to the sovereignty of Christ the King.
Western missionaries grappling with engagement in new and less developed cultures often wrestle with the fear of inadvertently imposing vestiges of Western civilization that may render them guilty of ‘colonizing’ the minds of the people they care to serve. While this concern holds some validity, missionaries must keep in mind their overarching mission — to be kingdom builders, establishing colonies for Christ's kingdom. Their purpose extends beyond preaching the Gospel and populating heaven; it involves confronting cultural idolatry and constructing godly cultures that are distinct from the prevailing world. Disturbing the decorum of godless cultures is often necessary for faithful ministry. The Christian values and ideals that made western civilization exceptional are the same values that the rest of the world needs, because truth, beauty, and goodness are absolute and must be applied in all places. Unfounded fears propagated by overly sensitive Marxists should not deter Christians from their duty to disciple the nations.
It is essential to note that within nations, certain individuals, fearing the potential ‘loss of their culture’ or a ‘disturbance of social appeasement’ will resist applications of a Christianity that demands their repentance in forsaking particular customs and practices. Their sentimentality about cultural practices often leads them to dismiss Biblical challenges, maliciously ignoring and branding the truth as a Western construct devoid of relevance. For them, appeasing their culture takes precedence over obeying the laws of the King of kings. This predicament highlights a grave consequence of the notion of neutrality, obscuring individuals from recognizing and repenting of their inherent sinfulness and idolatry.
It breeds syncretism
The concept of cultural neutrality creates fertile ground for the proliferation and consolidation of syncretism. It opens the door wide for opposing belief and value systems to coexist without undergoing scrutiny. This phenomenon explains why numerous individuals comfortably accommodate and endorse ideologies such as Marxism, feminism, socialism, pan-Africanism, humanism, globalism, animism, climate alarmism, and an array of other flawed ideas alongside their professed Christian convictions. Despite their fundamentally atheistic and pagan nature, these ideas have permeated the belief systems of many who identify as Christians. Many Christians affirm the idea of applying Biblical principles in all areas of life until these principles clash with deeply ingrained cultural beliefs and practices. In such instances, individuals and groups often react in one of two ways: either defiantly choosing to appease the culture rather than submitting to God’s Word, or attempting to "Christianize" erroneous ideas and practices by misusing Bible verses to justify their questionable lifestyles.
Many Christians display a greater sense of loyalty to preserving the interests and sentiments of their respective tribes than they do to pioneering and developing godly cultures in the spaces they inhabit. In their minds, their fundamental duty is to appease and preserve the values and practices of the tribe, often prioritizing these above their duty to God.
Consequently, Christ is inadvertently treated as a mere add-on rather than the ultimate authority and Lord over their lives.
It causes devils to smile
Devils revel in the doctrine of moral neutrality. Through its embrace, the masses are anesthetized and veiled from recognizing the goodness, glory, and grace of God in various facets of reality. The acknowledgment of widely accepted neutral ground serves as a testament to the progress of their sinister agenda within the hearts and minds of many. The concept of neutrality emerges as a weapon wielded by secularists, aiming to pilfer, dismantle, and annihilate that which God has deemed good and has determined to redeem.
Cultural Dichotomy: Contrasting Superior and Inferior Traits
Superior cultures are distinguishable and can be recognized as distinct from inferior ones. Consider the following contrasting traits between superior and inferior cultures:
Cultures that speak the truth freely are superior to cultures of appeasement and flattery. Cultures that value and honor modest apparel are superior to cultures that normalize nudity. Cultures that respect the value of time are superior to cultures that waste and misuse time. Cultures that value excellence in their work ethic are superior to cultures that employ a laissez-faire attitude in their labors. Cultures that are literate are superior to cultures that are not. Cultures that value aesthetic quality are superior to cultures that hold little regard for beauty and order. Cultures that have limited civil governments are superior to cultures that are steeped in Statism. Cultures that uphold meritocracy are superior to cultures that manipulate equality of outcomes. Cultures that value personal responsibility are superior to cultures that institutionalize victimhood. Cultures that protect human life and dignity are superior to cultures in which human dignity is neglected and murder is rife. Cultures that protect people’s inalienable freedoms to forcefully protect their lives and private property are superior to cultures with disarmed citizens. Cultures that value healthy marriages are superior to cultures rife with divorce and sexual licentiousness. Cultures that value the role of fathers are superior to cultures that normalize single motherhood. Cultures that value strong and virtuous masculinity and superior to cultures that are effeminate. Cultures that value women being feminine nurturers and beautifiers who embrace marriage and motherhood as normative vocations, are superior to cultures ruled by feminist thought and practice. Cultures that value Christian Education are Superior to cultures that propagate secular humanism in their academic pedagogy. Cultures that value logic and critical thought, are superior to cultures that are animistic and superstitious. Cultures that value good neighborly manners are superior to cultures that isolate people from one another. Cultures that value freedom are superior to cultures that function on the basis of fear. Cultures that value fertility are superior to cultures that normalize sterilization and death. Cultures that produce more than they consume are superior to cultures that consume more than they produce. Cultures that uphold the rule of just laws are superior to cultures that are rife with corruption and anarchy. Cultures that honor and uphold God’s law are superior to cultures that disregard it.
The standard that must be used to determine the morality of a culture is nothing other than the Word of God. The church in submission to His word must exemplify a distinct and superior culture toward establishing Christ’s kingdom on earth.
How will the world know that Christians are a holy people? It’s through their living out a holy culture that is distinct from that of secularists, pagans, and religious legalists. This goes beyond having distinct professions to having distinct customs and practices; accompanied with a distinct liturgy and rhetoric.
Culture Building: Confronting and Crafting for God's Glory
God does not share His glory with anyone and does not yield even a fraction of His sovereignty to those who oppose Him. He rejects any submission to secular notions of neutrality designed to deny His existence and rule. It is imperative not to be deceived by the falsehoods propagated by God's adversaries and operate as though God is indifferent to His glory in seemingly non-religious spheres. Life, in its entirety, is meant to be lived for the glory of God, requiring every aspect of our lives to adhere to His moral law and standards.
Every Christian bears the responsibility to confront godless and inferior cultures with the truths found in God’s Word and to construct holy cultures characterized by faithfulness, freedom, and fruitfulness.
Brother this was VERY well said. Keep up the great work to help people biblically think through these things. This neutrality strikes great blows into Christendom!
Thank you so much! These truths are so beautifully expressed. Soli Deo Gloria!!!