Do We Honor Scripture Above Culture?

© 2017 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Various cultures, including ours, practice customs that are at variance with Biblical commands. Yet Christians often excuse such disobedience with the statement, “Well that’s our culture.” Such reasoning gives more authority to man-made customs than to God’s Word, the Bible.

There was once a city named Sodom. Their culture embraced a wicked practice which was later named “Sodomy” after the name of that city. God says the following about this practice:

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)

Because the culture of Sodom was wholly given over to this and other abominable practices, God destroyed that city.

“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.” (Genesis 19:24 25)

After God had done this, Abraham observed the results from a distance.

“And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.” (Genesis 19:28)

Obviously, the authority of culture had been trumped by God’s supreme authority.

Today, many cultures have pursued another practice which violates God’s order for families. He has said that husbands are to “provide,” and wives are to be “keepers at home.” (1 Timothy 5:8 and Titus 2:5).

We know multiple Christian families which have fallen prey to cultures which ignore this. Shortly after their child’s birth, one young mother felt obligated to find a nanny so she could seek employment. Her husband was already well employed. Employment outside the home will significantly limit this dear mother’s opportunities to interact with their children as “keeper at home.” Others will assume these God-given responsibilities.

Shouldn’t we honor God’s commands regarding His assigned roles for parents? God the Son, Jesus Christ, obeyed God His Father, by dying and rising again, for the sins of His people. He did this to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). This loving Savior now says to His people,

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Have you asked Christ to save you? Do we love Him?

Will we lovingly obey His commands above the dictates of culture?

.

You may leave comments for Tom & Kathy (website administrators) below.