If there is one thing the race has taught me it’s that culture is different everywhere, traditions are different everywhere, faith is different everywhere but love is the same; its universal. My host this month in Nicaragua Scott said something that really stuck the first day we met. He said ” there are all different types of cultures, there can be yellow or blue, but we don’t have to choose to be one of them or to like one better. I’m green. My culture is Christ.”
My culture is Christ.
How amazing of a message that is. After traveling for 10 months to 10 other countries before arriving in Nicaragua, we were experiencing these different cultures, trying to understand, blend in and learn as much as possible. Yes, this is important when entering into new countries and living life with new people, but what is most important is Jesus. Being able to put aside all differences, put aside norms and introduce Christ as a new culture, a new way to live their life, a new way to love one another. I think about all the reasons people think they have to love one neighbor but not the other. To give grace to some people but not all people. We witnessed this a lot this year as we entered Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian and non believers homes. We saw the divide that was placed between these people because of their different beliefs, the harm it would bring to communities and families, the fear of rejection, violance or abandonment it brought to people who dared to step out of the “norm”.
When I think about this I think about who I want to be as a believer. I don’t want a label, I don’t want a stereotype or stigma to be held over my head. I want my culture, my religion and my life to demonstrate Christ.
To think that we spend so much time and energy to putting making them so they are separated is absurd to me. A divide between people, some that ultimately believe in the same God. Yes, we want everyone to know who Jesus is, but are we telling them about him or showing them by the way we live our lives, with love, Grace and acceptance? If we can’t love them, how can we show them the truth? The truth being Gods love!
I’ve struggled since I have returned to christ with trying to sort out my own beliefs and opinions. The criticism that you hear in the church body regarding other church denominations is hard to wrap my head around…churches that believe in the SAME God, believe that Jesus IS the way and the light… but because some don’t agree or believe in ALL of the same traditions or say the same prayers they put a divide between them. They place judgment instead of praise, encouragment and unity. Why can’t we be happy that our brothers and sisters know and have relationship with the Lord, they just do it differently and why not try to understand and accept that that’s OKAY. I found myself briefly second guessing my own beliefs and heart towards other denominations because that’s what I would hear and learn from other believers. I then found myself defending churches, defending believers from believers.
How ironic.
Who are we as believers to judge others? When we don’t live a life living out the great commandment (love the lord with all your heart, soul and mind and love thy neighbor as yourself) first, how can we then follow through with living out the great commission? ( go and make disciples of all nations) We need to live by the law of love first, not love for all the other laws. We are filled with all sorts of resources today, but without putting love first we will never be able to make an impact on the world like the apostles did.
I never want someone to think that what I have been doing all year is trying to force people out of a culture or religion that they love or is all they know. I want people to see that all I want is everyone to know who Jesus is, what he has done for my life and how much he loves THEM. I want to be a demonstration of that by loving on them, spending time with them, helping their community in any way possible and sharing my stories, as well as His.
Even if they don’t believe in what I am saying, I hope they believe in my actions and emotions. Even if they don’t see Jesus in their lives right now, I hope they see Him in mine everyday. Even if they don’t understand or want to accept the Lord while I’m there, I hope that I planted a seed so deep that the next time they hear about Jesus, that seed is watered and starts to grow! I don’t want people to look at me and think “oh that girls a Christian”… I want them to look at me and say “oh that girl is full of love, life and Jesus.” In the words of Scott, My culture is Christ. I am Green.
