May 19, 2010

How Far Can I Go In My Culture?

The above question is asked again and again among Native American believers. “As a follower of Christ, how might I use our native prayer songs, dances, drumming, ceremonies and even crafts?” These can be difficult questions. However, many believers facing these issues have found it helpful to honestly ask themselves three questions. First; does this ceremony, ritual or activity have anything to do with the spirit world that is not of God? Second; is there any syncretism involved? (Blending the worship of spirit powers, not of God, with Biblical worship of the one, true God) Third; is this a matter of indifference in my culture? (One about which God has given no clear direction in His Word).

First; concerning the question about the spirit world. God clearly spoke to His people when He said, in His moral law, “I am the Lord your God…You shall have no other gods before me.” The word “gods” means spirit powers that are enemies of the true God. (Exodus 20:1-3) The phrase, “before me” means, “in my face or presence”. An Indian man once told me that you can find Jesus in the kiva and the sweat lodge. I asked him if there were enemy spirits there. He had to admit that there are spirit powers in those places that are not of God. The phrase “you shall have…” implies union with, involvement in, some kind of relationship with or worship of these spirit powers. The word, “worship” is defined as “to declare the worth of”. Spirit powers want people to declare their worth. They know that when that happens in places of worship, the worshippers are declaring the worth of the arch enemy of God the Creator. That arch enemy of God the Creator is Satan. No true believer desires to do that. Therefore, to honestly ask this question is of extreme importance. Are there spirit powers involved?

The second question is also important. Is syncretism evident in this ceremony, ritual, or activity? Syncretism is the most subtle working of the enemy. As noted above, syncretism is being defined as “blending the worship of spirit powers, not of God, with Biblical worship of the one true God. It is quite obvious that where there is syncretism there are spirit powers, not of God. Therefore, God is not there. A classic example of syncretism is the worship of the golden calf, the sex goddess of Egypt. Aaron, the priest, called it the “Lord God who brought you out of Egypt. We will have a festival to the Lord.” (Exodus 32:1-6) The people thought that the Lord God was in the festival and ceremony, but was He? Absolutely not! Therefore, any syncretism is only returning to the first question. Are there any spirit powers declaring their worth before the face of God? Sad to say, some Native Americans are teaching that it does not compromise God’s truth by combining worship of Jesus with Native American spiritual ceremonies. They teach that Jesus is in the ceremonies with you and has more power than the other spirit powers. They further teach that if we accept this teaching and join in ceremonies as believers, we will be better able to witness and lead people to the Lord. However, the question must be honestly asked, “Is the Lord there in the midst of His enemies encouraging His people to worship Him?” Obviously, the answer is No!

Now let us consider the third question. Is syncretistic worship a matter of indifference? At sometime we all have asked, “God, why did you not make all things in life crystal clear?” In attempting to answer the third question, believers often have different opinions, and conflict within the body of Christ arises.

In order to adequately answer the third question, any believer considering cultural worship practices must first ask himself the first two questions. If the honest answer is that in a given activity there is no evidence of ungodly spirit powers or there is no syncretism involved, the believer possibly may participate with a clear conscience.

However, the answer is never quite that simple. There still is the problem that what may be acceptable for one believer may not, because of conscience sake, be something in which another can participate. The more the writer deals with this question of indifference, the more evident it seems to be that God means it as a test of true love between Christians. Believers are then asked to answer yet another question. “Can one who says he cannot participate in this cultural activity still love the one who says, that with clear conscience, he can, and vice versa?” Therefore, in this area of indifference, we must ask ourselves two more questions. First, “Am I a stumbling stone to another believer?” And secondly, “Am I judging him because we do not agree?”

The writer has developed an in depth CD series related to the topic we have just discussed. It is entitled “How Far Can I Go in Culture?” It is available at CHIEF’s Media section. The material is a Biblical exposition of passages that deal with these three questions regarding culture. You are encouraged to look for this series on the Resource page. You are also invited to respond to these thoughts with your questions and insights.

One Comment

Lance Echo-Hawk says:
April 14, 2011 at 7:09 pm

To me, this is a position stated in the negative (what you cannot do). Spirit involvement and syncretism I get. I’m not sure what is meant by the term “indifference” used in the above sense. Is it, “some things in culture are neutral” and therefore a non-issue?

I would be interested in reading a position stated in the positive, one that illustrates concretely what is ok to intake part in without compromising the faith. Do you have someting online?

Personally (and in general terms) I think cultures are a lot like individuals who come to faith in Christ. Some practices and ways clearly need to go, others are either not an issue or are good for living a strong life. I suppose we could each come up with examples from our own walks with God what stayed and what didn’t, for the sake of the faith…especially those of us who came to the Lord later in life, not raised in Christian homes.

LANCE

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