Weeding Out Harmful Cultural Influences

Weeding Out Harmful Cultural Influences

The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

Mark 4:18-19

I traveled to Europe this summer, and other than the ancient cathedrals and cobblestone streets, I was amazed how similar things were to where I live. People dressed fairly similarly, ordered the same coffees, listened to the same music. With the Internet, television, and music, once-varied societies seem to be merging into one.

Because the Amish have set themselves apart, their culture, customs, and values have stayed the same for hundreds of years. They’ve not only held on to what matters most; they’ve also built an invisible fence between themselves and globalization. Many Amish today have relationships with coworkers and tourists, so modern living is familiar to them. They simply choose not to join in.

Resistance to computers, electricity, and automobiles restricts the Amish in some ways, but it has also freed them. They are able to live as they believe, in simplicity, obedience to God, and peace—without comparing themselves with others.

As Christians we have the ability to choose what influences we allow into our homes. It’s our job to “weed out” those that are harmful. If we don’t, then too easily the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things will choke out the Christian teaching we’re trying to impart.

We read in Romans 12:2, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you” (The Message).

Dear heavenly Father, help me to weed out any ungodly influences that have a way of creeping into my life. Help me to see that “different” is good if I’m different because of You.