INTRODUCTION
When Jesus came into this world, He grew up in a Jewish family. He also followed the Jewish traditions and customs as His way of life. It was also in this Jewish culture that He started His kingdom ministry, proclaiming to the people of Galilee, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). Further, the Scripture states that all the religious practices observed by the Jewish people—the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, the burnt offerings, the sprinkling of blood—are all a foreshadowing of the good things that were to come in the future through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:1-4). Because of these religious cultural practices, many Jews could understand the underlying reasons for their culture when Jesus came and fulfilled the prophecy and the work of redemption. Not only that, but the Apostle Paul also took advantage of the Athenian culture to preach the one true God when he visited Athens during his second missionary journey (Acts 17). From these biblical examples, it can be understood that culture is an integral and inevitable factor that should be considered when educating people about the Gospel.
Since culture holds such significance in Christian education, one might ask what culture is and where it comes from. The English word ‘culture’ is derived from the Latin term cultus, meaning tilling, cultivating or refining, and worship.[1] he English word ‘culture’ is derived from the Latin term cultus, meaning tilling, cultivating or refining, and worship. It can be used in many different ways. Culture is mostly used to describe activities, behaviors, events, structures of life, rules, norms, learning, problem-solving, the origin of a group, and its heritage or traditions.[2] In other words, culture can also refer to the symbolic element of social life.[3] Humans are social beings, and to survive and thrive, they must work together. One cannot live as they please, or else it will result in chaos and ultimately extinction. Therefore, they must find ways to live together. In that process, culture arises. According to Matsumoto, culture arises from four sources: group life, environment, resources, and the evolved human mind.[4] Therefore, it can be said that culture is a way of thinking, feeling, believing, a way of life, an abstraction from behavior, learned behavior, a storehouse of pooled learning, the social legacy the individual acquires from his group, a set of standardized orientations to recurrent problems, and a mechanism for the normative regulation of behavior.[5]
From the above points, it can be said that culture creates an identity for people. Since it encompasses the dimensions of cognitive, normative, and material aspects, it becomes a sensitive matter. It can also be said that culture is the core of human existence. For these reasons, culture plays a vital role in the behavior of human beings. Knowing this, the Apostle Paul and other great men of God gave special attention to the cultural context of their target audience or group when they preached the Word of God and educated them in the knowledge of Christ. Therefore, this paper will focus on the importance of culture and will bring out its implications for Christian education.
II. IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE
Culture is a way of life and nobody can be escaped from it. However, every person, community, society, nationality, and country have their own culture which is distinct in some way or the other. Culture is also how people identify and distinguish from each other, and it is also where people take pride in it. Therefore, it is essential to know why it is so quintessential for a person and a community. The following points point out the reasons why culture is salient.
i.
Culture provides a sense
of Identity and belonging
A human being's ultimate longing and quest is to
know one’s identity and sense of belonging. People feel complete and satisfied
when they can identify with a culture and belong to a community.
One of the primary ways in which culture
provides a sense of identity and belonging is through the transmission of
shared values and beliefs that are passed down from one generation to the next
through traditions, customs, oral communication, and socialization. These
shared beliefs include family behavioral norms, religion, gender roles, and
social structure. These elements create a sense of identity within a society.
Moreover, cultural identity factors such as language, food, art, dance,
expressions, music, and personal experiences contribute to cultural identity
and foster a sense of belonging to that particular culture and society. When a
person can identify with all these identity factors, he or she develops a
strong sense of belonging.[6] Nishat points out that cultural identity and belonging
can be broken down into three categories: personal, social, and cultural
identities. When she wrote about “personal identities,” she was referring to
individual preferences and interests, which include hobbies, music, and
activities that a person enjoys. Social identity includes one’s affiliation
with a social group and involvement in social activities, such as various
sports and group events. Cultural identity, she wrote, should be based on
categorizing individuals according to their societal norms, values, and
expectations.[7] For instance, when a
foreigner comes to India, even though they are initially unfamiliar with the
culture, if they can adapt to the food, religions, traditions, and practices,
they begin to feel a sense of belonging and can identify with Indian
culture—unlike those who cannot. Moreover, based on these identity factors, one
can determine their sense of belonging to that particular cultural group.
ii.
Culture
shapesreligious Beliefs and Practices.
Culture and religion are closely intertwined and interconnected aspects that often influence each other significantly. Culture teaches us what to believe and what the values and norms of a particular community should be. In light of this, Durkheim said that the church is the place where the beliefs and practices of a community unite into a single moral community.[8] Cultural values and norms are then reinforced through religious teachings. In their study on "Cultural Similarity Among Coreligionists Within and Between Countries," Ph.D. students from the University of British Columbia discovered that religious groups tend to moralize a wider range of behaviors compared to nonreligious individuals. The more people are rooted in culture, the more religious they tend to become. Cultured and religious societies, which prioritize sexual morality, display stronger family bonds, cooperative inclinations, and greater generosity in comparison to nonreligious, individualistic individuals.[9] The teachings of integrity, honesty, and other moral standards set within a culture are embedded in religious teachings. Cultural rituals that are passed down from one generation to the next are also incorporated into religious practices. Culture influences the way a person approaches gods and expresses their devotion. Some cultures remove their shoes when they come to worship, while others require men to wear suits and ties. The way a person prays, meditates, and dresses for worship is influenced by culture. Additionally, the music used in worship varies according to the culture. It also ultimately affects how a person perceives gods—as wrathful, powerful, sovereign, merciful, demanding, etc.[10]
iii.
Culture
creates mutual understanding and respect.
Cultures demonstrate the diversity of people, and when there is proper cultural awareness, it serves as an essential instrument to foster mutual understanding and respect among different groups. Cultural awareness enables people to recognize their differences, promotes respect, and enhances awareness.[11] This process also involves cultural empathy, which means understanding, appreciating, and respecting other cultures’ values, perspectives, and practices. Cultural empathy includes understanding cultural differences, respecting diversity, being sensitive to various cultures, being open to learning, building bridges, and adapting communication styles. All of these elements promote mutual understanding, leading to peaceful coexistence.[12]
iv.
Culture
develops Personal values.
Culture plays a vital role in the development of personality. In the field of psychological anthropology, studies have found that different cultural influences—such as the environment and engagement with other cultures—impact people’s values, belief systems, and opinions on various matters of life. With respect to elders, Asian countries have placed greater emphasis on respect than European and other cultures. This is because they are taught that respecting elders is noble and brings blessings to one’s life. These shared values and beliefs are passed down from one generation to the next within Asian cultures. Moreover, the nature of a family—whether patriarchal or matriarchal—determines the roles and responsibilities of men and women. Sometimes, sadly, a person’s self‑worth is determined by the culture and society from which they come. This is especially prevalent where class distinctions and gender discrimination exist. A person from a lower social class may think they do not deserve much, while a person from a higher class may believe they can achieve anything.[13] Moreover, how a person values personal independence and achievement depends on the nature of their culture. Individuals from individualist cultures value independence and personal success, while those from collectivist cultures value harmony and loyalty to family, believing that their worth and purpose lie in living together with others.[14]
III. IMPLICATION FROM CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PERSPECTIVE
Every area that Christian education touches is
present in the elements of culture, and vice versa. Therefore, culture and
Christian education are inseparable. To understand this statement, it is
important to know the scope and influenced areas of Christian education. B.
Tye, in his book Basics of Christian Education, identifies four
dimensions of Christian education. From these, he states that Christian
education incorporates religious instruction, socialization, personal
development, and liberation. As religious instruction, Christian education
focuses on teaching Scripture; transmitting and conserving the faith;
indoctrination; catechesis; and belief formation. The socialization aspect
includes nurturing faith, imparting Christian behavioral models, habit
formation, enculturation,[15]
and even conversion. The personal-development approach emphasizes growth
through faith development, spiritual formation, moral development, and
character formation. The liberation approach centers on critical thinking about
global contexts of oppression and transformation toward new, faithful
lifestyles.[16] Since culture and Christian education share
common elements, drawing out the cultural implications from a
Christian-education perspective is paramount for any Christian educator.
i.
Identity and belongingness.
In culture, one discovers one’s identity through
shared values and beliefs that are passed down from one generation to the next.
This includes behavioral norms, religion, gender roles, and social structure.
Identity and belonging are created by the personal, social, and cultural
identities that culture provides. Culture often fails to do justice when it
comes to these identity issues. Therefore, a Christian educator must help
people understand that their identity and belonging do not lie in their
personal, social, or cultural identities but in the Word of God. The identity of
human beings is rooted in Genesis 1:27, which reads, “So God created man in his
own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created
them.” When people view their identity through the lens of the Bible, gender
discrimination and gender‑based undervaluation will be diminished. In the past,
members of tribal communities in Northeast India identified themselves by their
social and group activities, one of which was headhunting. When they received
the gospel, the so‑called “headhunters” began to call themselves “soul hunters
for the Lord,” which is an aroma of the living God. Their value system—focused
on war, honor, and prestige as marks of bravery—is now giving way to Biblical
peace, harmony, and unity. Therefore, it is important for Christian educators
always to reflect on the impact of culture on identity and belonging in the
light of the Gospel so that people may know and live out their true identity.
ii.
Religious
Beliefs and Practices.
In most cases, culture teaches individuals
what to believe and what the values and norms of a particular community should
be. Culture shapes how a person perceives and approaches God. For these
reasons, some cultures adopt animism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam,
and other religions. Moreover, the way each of these traditions approaches its
deity is different, and how they perceive God—as wrathful, powerful, sovereign,
merciful, or demanding—varies. Christian educators must be very careful in this
matter. The apostle Paul’s approach in Athens should be applied here. A
Christian educator should be open to discussion and willing to learn about
others’ religious practices. Organizing interreligious dialogue is a great way
to start. After hearing their perspectives, the Christian educator should present
the gospel thoughtfully, not defensively but as relational communication. They
must explain the characteristics of God: how He is the ultimate Creator,
Provider, Sustainer, and a just Judge who will judge the whole world—and, most
importantly, how Jesus Christ offers redemption.
iii.
Mutual understanding and
Respect.
When culture promotes and celebrates
differences, it aligns with the Word of God. Cultural awareness and empathy
foster mutual understanding and respect among peoples. In cultures where people
understand each other’s values, perspectives, and practices, they become
sensitive to one another’s customs and are open to communicating and learning
from each other. In this scenario, the Christian educator should encourage them
to continue the good practices they already have. At the same time, he or she
should introduce Biblical teachings on peace with others: “Be at peace with one
another” (Mark 9:50); “Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:13);
“Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16); and “Pursue what makes for
peace and for mutual up‑building” (Romans 14:19). In doing so, when they hear
the gospel and recognize similarities with their cultural practices, they will
find it easier to accept Christ and embrace the gospel. For believers, these
teachings will serve as a reminder and as a tool to stay on track.
iv.
Personal values
Personal values are shaped by a culture’s belief system, environment, and engagement with other cultures. A person’s honesty, integrity, compassion, respect, and accountability depend largely on their culture. When personal values rely entirely on culture, their observance can shift with changing circumstances. For example, one might display full integrity when working for a private company but not when employed by a public organization. Similarly, a person may show compassion and respect toward relatives but not toward strangers. In some cultures, women view themselves as less significant than men because their culture instills harmful personal values in them. Likewise, a patriarchal culture places greater importance on men, while a matriarchal culture values women more highly. Neither approach is encouraged, as both violate biblical principles of human dignity. Therefore, from the perspective of Christian education, personal values must align with the Word of God. Colossians 3:12 and 1 Peter 2:17 state that believers must clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and show proper respect to everyone. Thus, a person’s values are rightly placed when they are based on the Bible.
Before
a person is influenced and transformed by the Word of God, they are first
indoctrinated and enculturated by their culture. Culture determines their
identity, where they belong, what and how to worship, how to live alongside
other cultures, and how to develop their values. Although culture holds great
importance in a person’s life, it does not always offer what is best for them.
Therefore, Christian education intervenes in these areas, aiming to reform and
guide cultural change in line with the Word of God.
[1] Indian
Culture and Heritage (New Delhi: National Institute of Open
Schooling, n.d.), 1.
[2] David
Matsumoto and Linda Juang, Culture and Psychology, sixth. (United
States: Cengage Learning, 2017), 8.
[3] Bryan
S.Turner, ed., “The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology,” Culture (UK:
Cambridge University Press, 2006), 111.
[4] Matsumoto
and Juang, Culture and Psychology, 8–12.
[5] Introducing
Sociology: Textbook for class XI (New Delhi: National Council of
Educational Research and Training, 2024), 67.
[6] Anasgainutdin,
“Culture and Identity: How society shapes who we are,” Medium (April 6,
2023),
https://medium.com/@anasgainutdin/culture-and-identity-how-society-shapes-who-we-are-670941fc1a05.
[7] Fajr
Nishat, “A Desire to Belong: Navigating Cultural Identity,” Nickerson
Institute of Integrative Health Training (n.d.),
https://www.nickersoninstitute.com/blog/navigating-cultural-identity-a-desire-to-belong.
[8] Emile
Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (New York: Free Press,
1995), 47.
[9] Cindel
J.M. White, Michael Muthukrishna, and Ara Norenzayan, “Culture similarity among
coreligionists within and between countries,” no. 118 (37) (September 7, 2021),
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2109650118.
[10] “How
Culture Affects Religion,” Unacademy (n.d.),
https://unacademy.com/content/nda/study-material/geography/how-culture-affects-religion/#:~:text=Culture%20plays%20a%20significant%20role%20in%20shaping%20religious%20beliefs.,that%20culture%20can%20impact%20religion.
[11] “Importance
of Cultural Awareness: Everything to Know,” Impactly (2023),
https://www.getimpactly.com/post/importance-of-cultural-awareness#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20the%20main%20motive,relations%20than%20having%20a%20conflict.
[12] “30
Cultural Empathy Examples for Global Understanding,” Bitglint (November
28, 2023),
https://www.bitglint.com/cultural-empathy-examples-for-global-understanding/.
[13] Lisa
Sparrow, “The impact of culture on Personality: A detailed analysis,” MyPersonality
(August 21, 2024),
https://mypersonality.net/blog/article/personality-and-culture.
[14] Sanju
Pradeepa, “What are cultural values? A comprehensive guide for all,” Believe
in Mind (January 18, 2024).
[15] “The process by which an individual learns the traditional
content of a culture and assimilates its practices and values”
[16] Karen
B. Tye, Basics of Christian Education (St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice
PRESS, 2000), 16–17.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS:
B.
Tye, Karen. Basics of Christian Education. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice
PRESS, 2000.
Durkheim,
Emile. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. New York: Free Press,
1995.
Indian
Culture and Heritage. New Delhi: National Institute of Open Schooling, n.d.
Introducing
Sociology: Textbook for class XI. New Delhi: National Council of Educational Research and
Training, 2024.
Matsumoto,
David, and Linda Juang. Culture and Psychology. Sixth. United States:
Cengage Learning, 2017.
Pradeepa,
Sanju. “What are cultural values? A comprehensive guide for all.” Believe in
Mind (January 18, 2024).
S.Turner, Bryan, ed. “The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology.” Culture. UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
ONLINE SOURCES:
“30
Cultural Empathy Examples for Global Understanding.” Bitglint (November
28, 2023). https://www.bitglint.com/cultural-empathy-examples-for-global-understanding/.
Anasgainutdin.
“Culture and Identity: How society shapes who we are.” Medium (April 6,
2023).
https://medium.com/@anasgainutdin/culture-and-identity-how-society-shapes-who-we-are-670941fc1a05.
“How
Culture Affects Religion.” Unacademy (n.d.).
https://unacademy.com/content/nda/study-material/geography/how-culture-affects-religion/#:~:text=Culture%20plays%20a%20significant%20role%20in%20shaping%20religious%20beliefs.,that%20culture%20can%20impact%20religion.
“Importance
of Cultural Awarness: Everything to Know.” Impactly (2023).
https://www.getimpactly.com/post/importance-of-cultural-awareness#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20the%20main%20motive,relations%20than%20having%20a%20conflict.
J.M.
White, Cindel, Michael Muthukrishna, and Ara Norenzayan. “Culture similarity
among coreligionists within and between countries,” no. 118 (37) (September 7,
2021). https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2109650118.
Nishat,
Fajr. “A Desire to Belong: Navigating Cultural Identity.” Nickerson Institute
of Integrative Health Training (n.d.).
https://www.nickersoninstitute.com/blog/navigating-cultural-identity-a-desire-to-belong.
Sparrow,
Lisa. “The impact of culture on Personality: A detailed analysis.” MyPersonality
(August 21, 2024). https://mypersonality.net/blog/article/personality-and-culture.
By, Liangsuanthang H
Youngreformed2025
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