My culture or your culture?
Cultures are formed out of historical practices and norms. There are cultures and subcultures, i.e. cultures within a culture, associated with an individual, nation, organization, family or business. Cultures do change depending on what is allowed to infiltrate and influence the existing cultures of these entities. What is for certain, is that culture should not be a forced thing for any person – it should not be forced by anyone or forced upon anyone.
Cultures usually have boundaries of some form, most of which are entrenched in the legal framework of a nation. For example, a nation that determines murder of another human being deserves imprisonment or death penalty, would certainly not allow for an individual or group within that nation whose ideologies disagree with that, to demand that their subculture be accepted. However we see university students fighting to encourage such.
Another example is the sacrificing of children by death to some form of god, that was practised in the past by many non-Christian religions could not be welcomed in a nation which condemns murder of any human being. Having said that, we saw where the promoters of abortion in the USA were fighting to encode laws to ensure that a mother has the right to kill her baby even after he/she is born, despite murder being a crime. Many were pursuing allowing illegal actions of all forms by redefining the actions to conform to an acceptable one, that does not violate the already ingrained laws affiliated with murder. Why was this?
If culture and subcultures represent the choice of practice of individuals, within relevant confines of the legal framework of a nation, then how can any government make a particular practice or belief mandatory? If public health crises deem it mandatory based on sound knowledge and not just someone’s opinion, should that be accepted? If a government has personal ties with nations based on the historical associations perceived by the individual leader as ancestral, does he/she have a right to force it on the nation at large?
There are many Caribbean people that are enamored with the African continent because it is perceived by some as the home of their ancestors. Their belief leads them to venerate the very name of the continent and as such the African culture is embraced and inculcated into their lives – the clothing, religion, language and ideologies. There was a popular reggae artiste in Jamaica who sang a song headlined :” No matter where you come from, as long as you are a black man, you are an African…” This song has affected the minds of generations, so much so that even if they have 75% white and 25% black in the genetic make-up, they are told they are black and must embrace the African culture as theirs. This is fundamentally wrong.
The Caribbean is a fusion of many colours, nationalities and religions and their natural culture is not African in its purest forms. Africans are the first to tell us that. An individual may choose to embrace and live out the African cultures at his/her will. However, when a leader deems it his/her business to cast his/her ideology of Africanism on the nation to the point of even forming spiritual ties and giving over large land areas to anyone who boasts African nationality and call it “honouring our heritage”, that is a clear case of Tyranny/Authoritarianism/Communism. It is a psychological game manifesting as a reward of years of indoctrination using songs and history lessons that are ideological and erroneous.
Many religions do not conform to the Christian religion and our Lord and Master alone must be our culture. His dictates are what we must conform to. Interestingly, His laws have formed the moral laws of every nation but yet there are many governments who are determined to wipe out the very written word of God. He has told us in Romans 12: 1 –
“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”
Christians therefore cannot just be so bamboozled that everything that says “culture” is acceptable. Caribbean Christians must not be so “bamboozled” such that everything that says Africa , we must worship. A Christian’s culture must reflect the holiness and wisdom of God, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The lack of this is the weakness of Christianity that has caused leaders to take advantage of our nations spiritually weak status and remove bibles from schools, and have instead brought in “mindfulness sessions”. The cultural transformation ought not to be in the direction of the devil’s agenda, but instead in the direction of God’s plan and purpose. However, if Christians are charting the path to undertake ancestral and national culture, some of which are hinged on demonic practices, then what will be the results?
The Church is the One to prepare earth for Jesus’ return. The earth was given to the Church to occupy (have dominion over) until Jesus returns. All of creation moans and groans for the manifestations of the sons of God (The Church). What culture are we using to effect these?
Only the culture of JESUS can bring these into effect.
It is time for the Body of Christ to stop being ignorant and rebellious and let Jesus reign.
The world needs that!