22/10/2024
THE GOSPEL AND CULTURE, 3 DAYS EVENING SERIES.
REFLECTIONS FROM THE JUST ENDED WEEK CELEBRATIONS
PART 1
Introduction
1. Worshipping God through Culture is not new.
2. Diversity in worship is biblical.
3. Contextualization is essential.
SUBJECT: Is it a sin to worship God in our cultural dresses?
Everywhere the gospel was preached in Scriptures, it was done with the culture of the people in mind. When the Europeans came to Africa, the gospel was presented to us in an European culture ( dress, drumming, dance, songs, etc) such that we think we need to dress in a suit, an European culture dress before our worship is accepted.
Is God only an European who should be worshipped only from an European culture context?
Here are ten (10) reasons why Worshipping God in our African cultural dresses is Biblical and not a Sin
1. Jesus himself dressed to worship God in the culture of Jewish tradition because he was a Jew. He never dressed European or African.
_Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48_
Jesus wore traditional Jewish clothing, including a:
1. *Tallit* (prayer shawl): Symbolized Jewish identity and faith.
2. *Tzitzit* (fringe): Represented obedience to God's commands (Numbers 15:37-41).
3. *Kippah* (head covering): Showed respect for God and tradition.
2. God created diverse cultures, and our cultural identity is a reflection of His creativity.
3. Early Church worship incorporated cultural elements (Acts 2:42-47).
Early Church worship uses cultural dress, drums, dance, etc
4. Cultural dress facilitates cross-cultural evangelism (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Using cultural dress can help bridge the gospel to unreached cultures.
5. Scripture emphasizes heart attitude over outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7)
God looks at the heart, not outward appearance, so worshipping him in cultural dress is not a problem to him.
6. Cultural dress promotes cultural relevance without compromise (2 Corinthians 4:2)
7. Early church leaders wore cultural attire (Acts 21:26).
Paul and other leaders wore cultural dress during worship.They worship with their cultural dresses and would sometimes adapt to other cultures in order to become relevant to the people.
8. Cultural dress reflects God's common grace (Matthew 5:45).
God's common grace allows diverse cultures to flourish.
9. Worshipping in cultural dress fosters community (Psalm 133:1).
Cultural dress can unite believers across cultures.
10. God's kingdom encompasses diverse cultures (Revelation 21:22-27)
Heaven's diversity reflects God's love for all cultures.
CONCLUSION: Christianity itself has no culture on its own. It takes its culture from the cultures of the people the gospel is preached to. The gospel is therefore said to have a cultural context. In Africa, most men of God and some Christians worship God in European or Jewish attire whilst on African soil, thinking that is what God has approved. God approves of the African cultural dress as well. Worshipping him through African cultural dress is therefore Biblical and Not a Sin.
TO BE CONTINUED
Ps Samuel Quatey Huago (SQH)
