Wrestling Preconceived Notions of Religion
They all seemed to understand what the others were talking about and I felt so different. They spoke of theology and denominations I had never heard of. Are you Methodist? Baptist? Presbyterian? I didn’t know there were so many types of Christians. I thought there was Jesus and that was it.
It was my first semester in college and I was far from home. I had moved from the island of Oahu to the east coast of Virginia to go to a small liberal arts college. Culture shock doesn’t even begin to encapsulate that first semester.
It wasn’t just the temperature change and the dress code requirements, but even people’s theology and understanding of practicing their faith was something I had never experienced before.
You don’t realize how deeply where you have been raised shapes you until you interact with a culture different from what you have known. Suddenly, you have to wrestle with preconceived notions you didn’t even realize you had.
That captures my freshman year of college and I’m so grateful for it. It is in the tension that you become more deeply rooted. You can also learn some new things while you are at it.
At 18, my theology was not that deep, but my understanding of the relationship and experiencing God was rich. In coming to understand how most of the western culture understands their faith (rooted in the Greek understanding of learning), I came to better understand the tenets of my faith. But because of my upbringing in Hawaii, I could also better articulate to others how other cultures’ expressions of faith, while seemingly different, are actually a beautiful extension of His work on earth.
Vivian Mabuni recently wrote about this in her book, “Open Hands, Willing Heart.” Most of western Christianity has been rooted in Greek linear thinking; so much so that many have come to assume the two are synonymous. But there is a whole other way of viewing the world that is circular in nature and rooted in eastern culture. This is 100 percent God’s territory, too. In fact, many of the roots of our faith came directly out of north African culture -- including the way we study the bible. Don’t believe me, check out respected theologian, Thomas C. Oden’s, “How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind.”
Human nature’s tendency is to find the familiar and stick with it. When we do that, we will fail to grow. It’s in the tension of pushing through the discomfort of what is different that our faith takes flight. We need other cultures and perspectives to shake up our thinking and make us wrestle with the big issues of life.
I just returned from a week in the Philippines where I was able to meet my sponsored child through Compassion International. What a gift it was to see the world through another’s eyes. It gave me a deeper appreciation for other cultures and His spirit at work in every nation and peoples.
“The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
If we don’t seek to know and understand different ways of seeing the world, we will miss out on the big picture of the Kingdom of Heaven. He is the God of every tribe and every nation. Each culture holds its own seedbed of God’s spirit. In coming to embrace that diversity, we will come to understand God’s heart for the Church.
How can you leave your comfort zone and learn to understand God as the Creator of every nation? Is there a new friend or expression of faith currently on your radar? Could the push back in your soul actually be an invitation to investigate further and find out how much more of Himself God wants to reveal to you?
Don’t shy away from the discomfort of the unknown. He is big enough for any questions you might have. Ask Him what He would have you learn from that experience and situation currently staring you in the face. He promises that if we knock, He will answer. He has answers that will not only satisfy your soul, but will stretch your understanding and appreciation of just how awesome He is. Lean in. He will meet you there.
