The Culture of Christ
Acts 10-15 describe the ministry of the apostles in the first decade or so after the ascension of Christ. The tragic martyrdom of Stephen set off a series of events that changed the trajectory of the ministry. If that event had not happened, the disciples might not have dispersed to other countries and cities. The apostles were undoubtedly committed to preaching the gospel but had not considered teaching outside Jewish congregations. Even after their dispersal, they limited their activities to Jews living in other areas of the world.
The first story in the chapters is of the Centurion, Cornelius. The scripture describes him as a devout man who gave himself regularly to prayer and fasting. It is not clear what religious tradition he held to, only that he was a God-fearing man who gave alms to the poor. What is implied in the story is that his heart was right before God and was rewarded with a visit from an angel that instructed him that he should seek out Simon Peter, who was authorized to teach him the truth and proclaim to him the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The problem was that Cornelius was a gentile. Jewish tradition, which the disciples still clung to, precluded interaction between the two cultures. To prepare Peter for his visit to Cornelius, Peter had a recurring dream that showed him that God had the power to change things considered unclean, clean. God showed Peter unclean animals, then told him to kill and eat them. To follow that command was to break one of the most revered practices of the Jews. Peter protested, but the Lord assured him he could make what was considered a severe taboo acceptable.
Peter went and taught Cornelius the gospel and testified of the risen Lord. Cornelius and many of his associates believed and were filled with the Spirit, which was a sign to Peter that, indeed, the Gentiles were ready to hear and accept the gospel. The new believers were baptized.
When Peter returned to church headquarters, he was scolded for breaking with the long-held tradition of the Jews, but when he explained the dream and the results of his preaching, the disciples were convinced.
However, in the years following that momentous policy change, many challenges arose that needed sorting out. Like today, cultural differences and traditions created barriers that were difficult to break down, even when they held back positive changes for the people. Most of the resistance came from converted Jews. Unsurprisingly, they resisted the changes of centuries-long religious traditions and accepted those who didn’t share their practices. The most contentious practice was circumcision. That was the thing that once separated believers in the true God from all others. Much to the delight of the non-Jewish converts, they determined it was not required.
The fantastic thing about the gospel of Jesus Christ is how it can bridge cultural divides and create a new culture that welcomes all who accept it. However, new converts sometimes find it difficult to abandon their old ways and drop their former life. Even established Christian traditions get set in their ways and fail to accept instructions from the living oracles of God. In fact, many of the differing sects reject the idea that God still speaks to prophets, contrary to the entire corpus of the Bible, an eons-old record of God instructing his children through his chosen mouthpieces. The irony is that nearly every believer thinks that God can speak to their heart, which is absolutely true, but has abandoned the practice of worldwide prophecy.
The culture of Christ is the only one that is genuinely inclusive. The only stipulation is that people conform to his teachings. He taught that a person must be born again, meaning that your old habits, culture, and traditions must die, be left in the grave, represented by immersion in water, and be brought into a new life when raised from the depths. This powerful imagery is reinforced as believers take the sacrament or communion weekly.
Being a faithful Christian requires us to keep current with new revelations as societies evolve. As evidenced by the biblical stories, God adapts his programs to the spiritual preparedness of his people. Christ came and gave a higher law because the old law had become a god to those who lived it. Old things had to be made new to refocus God’s children, which created a new culture.
The culture of Christ keeps us fresh, new, and spiritually alive. The Book of Mormon states in 2 Nephi 25:23-25 says it perfectly, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.” (Keep in mind this was written before Christ’s earthly ministry.)
Today we are bombarded by false traditions and expected to conform to a culture that is the antithesis of the culture of Christ. The concept of inclusion is preached non-stop and constantly contradicted by those who stand at the pulpits of woke ideology. Anyone who dares to defy them is roundly condemned and ridiculed. This hypocrisy would be laughable if the effects on society were not so damaging. The forces of evil have managed to buy up and corrupt educational, political, and popular culture and indoctrinate a rising generation.
But an all-knowing, loving God has reserved his best for this time in history. Like the generation that founded the United States of America, this new generation is beginning to see through the smoke of the woke. Those who are steadfast in the culture of Christ will be the catalyst that turns the tide of evil in the world. Believing in the Bible is only a start. Believing in the God and Christ of the Bible requires us to look to living prophets and seek and receive personal revelation. Believe this promise found in John 14:16-18, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
That is the culture of Christ.