My Culture

Where do you live? Do you know? It’s not just the location or an address on Google, but what influences are putting pressure on you and your family. Or do you attempt to influence the culture around you?

I live in a society that celebrates and encourages a way of life where…
· the pursuit of happiness and personal pleasure are always the top priorities,
· the possession of material goods and property are not just a need, but used as a determination of one’s personal worth,
· the focus is on gaining social position through powerful relationships instead of simple common friendships,
· the fulfillment of one’s personal desires triumph over helping the less fortunate.
I choose to live here so I may learn to be counter-cultural in my own life’s journey. My personal values must be clearly different from those values that this society promotes.

It has been my personal observations that the church community too often mirrors the society’s values within. When relevance to a culture is valued, that culture has an insidious way of enticing the most sincere believer into its web of deceit and clouds the mind. What one sees now and possesses now glitters so briefly. It is fleeting like the wind.

In this society, a time of hardships is coming; not all at once but over a series of events and changes. During this time, the way of life that I mentioned above will be seriously challenged. Happiness will be where you can find it. True happiness will be within. Material items will be much more expensive and an unexpected liability rather than an asset. Power relationships will be strained while real ones will be strengthened. Personal desires may need to be set aside for the broader common good. We will see some who will continue to enjoy all this life has to offer while many start to suffer.

R.E.M., an American rock bank wrote a song that says it best, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.” The world will laugh at the person who hopes patiently for eternity’s glory and Christ’s return. It is sad to see many who seem to crave acceptance by the culture instead of God’s loving heart. I wonder how the new few months will unfold. I wonder if I will be ready for the change over the next few years. Change is coming and it is now all good. Tighten your belt and hang on to Jesus and His promises.


Geysir Joe