If I were born in the Middle East, I would probably belong to one of the three major branches of Islam. If I were born in Japan, I might be a Buddhist or Shintoist. If born in Central America, I would probably be a Catholic. If I were born in America, I could belong to any of several religions. I would share in the cultural beliefs and practices of the local people or my own family.<\/p>\n
However, it’s important to distinguish the difference between a religious culture’s influence and the work of God drawing people to himself by the Holy Spirit. Most people think that Christians merely subscribe to a particular set of ethics and who practice particular rituals. However, a Christian’s life goes beyond subscribing to various ethics of right and wrong.<\/p>\n
The Bible tells us that a Christian is a child of God, not of culture. A person does not become a Christian by his own will power, blood relations, family upbringing, nor by any other agency of mankind (John 1:12-13). Through the gift of faith in Jesus a person becomes a citizen of heaven, and slowly takes up new practices that are often at odds with his former culture.<\/p>\n
What Do You Think?<\/strong><\/p>\n a. If the Creator of the universe himself came into your life, do you think you would continue life like before?<\/p>\n b. If you are a Christian, do you have the same standards in life as your coworkers or fellow students? If so, is that a good thing?<\/p>\n c. If you are a Christian, in what ways have you withdrawn from the culture because of the work of God in your life?<\/p>\n d. Is America a Christian nation? Why or why not?<\/p>\n e. Is someone a Christian simply because of high moral standards and the belief in a higher power?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If I were born in the Middle East, I would probably belong to one of the three major branches of Islam. If I were born in Japan, I might be a Buddhist or Shintoist. If born in Central America, I … Continue reading