Devo Week 27

You are God’s Field -- Culture as Soil

All people groups can be traced back to the Tower of Babel. When God multiplied their languages, those present at the Tower would have carried and repeated stories like the Creation and the Great Flood everywhere, as they scattered. This means treasures were buried in the cultural soils throughout the earth.

Key Concept: Culture as Three-Dimensional℠

Culture as Three-Dimensional℠ is a term I coined while living and working among the Akha and Akeu of Northern Thailand. By three-dimensional (3D), I mean there are aspects of culture that are divine, dirt and demonic.

By divine, I mean that God would be remembered in their legends, myths and histories at some level. In other words, if people groups are made in God's image there will be unique aspects of their language and culture that point back to God. Again, as the apostle Paul mentioned in Acts 17:22-28, God is not far from any people group and created them all from a common ancestor.

Also, there will be divine markers within each culture and language. These are simply God's fingerprints and encounters among each people group. As we find evidence of God at work, we draw attention and point them to God and the coming of His Son Jesus. One of our examples was the The legend of the Buffalo Skin among the Akeu (see Devotional 5), as this points to the coming of Jesus within their context, similar to the Peace Child (see Devotional 4).

By dirt, I mean those things that point to humanity, as Adam was made from the dirt (the very meaning of his name). All humanity was made in the image of God and can house and express the glory of God. Things that have human origin and are true can simply be pointed to God and sanctified. This could include proverbs, food, clothing, tools, customs or rituals which can be pointed to God or reveal His truth. One example of this was something I observed at Akha funerals. They bury their dead in the ground, making a coffin out of a tree. At the end of their ceremony each person usually takes a handful of dirt to throw upon the coffin in the hole before covering the body. This reminded me that we were created from dirt and following death our bodies return to the ground. This reflects the creation of Adam from the ground.

By demonic, I mean certain aspects of culture that are demonically bound and inspired. There can and most likely will be elements of both within cultures. God watched over the Jewish culture and race closely, as the Messiah, covenants, temple worship and scripture came through them; yet only 50 days following the Exodus the Israelites were already in idolatry. It should not surprise us, then, to find demonic bondage in any culture.

When discerning demonic strongholds, consider the following ...

1) Things that reveal truth yet have demonic bondage may be sanctified through the blood of Jesus. There was nothing in the history of the Cross that was holy until Jesus died there. Before Jesus, the Cross would have been used for criminals and insurrectionists.

2) Things that are against the nature and image of God should be stopped or eradicated. This would include abuse, abortion, widow burning, killing of twins, cannibalism, to name a few.

Key Word Definition: identification (noun)

-- the process of associating the self closely with other individuals and their characteristics or views.

-- psychological orientation of the self in regard to something (such as a person or group) with a resulting feeling of close emotional association.

Excerpt from Devotional 27 with highlighted word:

"The only way to know what you’re dealing with is by getting your hands dirty. By digging beneath the surface. Like soil, culture runs deep through the ways and daily practices of the people. How well you lay the groundwork depends on your level of engagement -- of identification -- with the people."

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:9

“For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.”