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The word culture is defined by Webster’s dictionary as:
a: the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations -
knowledge + belief = behavior – Pastor Killings
b: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time
c: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization
Culture basically is the social make-up of a community which gives it its identity - What they are known for.
When we get saved there must be a cultural shift from being unsaved (what we were) to being saved (who we are).That shift sets off/effects a divine disturbance in the atmosphere, environment and place we are in. It begins with us, the individual, and then spreads to affect others in our surrounding. Their reactions or responses can either be good or evil, positive or negative, friendly or unfriendly, but they will not be neutral or indifferent. If it’s neutral or indifferent it is because we are lukewarm and have need of the fire of the Holy Ghost.
We are in this world but not of it. We are no longer a by-product of its origin or influence. We were once darkness but now are light. We were once bound but now are free. What we were once acclimated to now becomes repulsive to us and we in turn become repulsive to it. We hate what God hates and love what God loves. Everything changes from the inside out as we give way to our new life/nature/identity with Christ.
Our citizenship is in Heaven , our identity is found in Jesus. Our assignment is to establish Heaven’s rule here in the earth. We have been sought out, called out, and now sent out. Our mission, if we choose to accept, is to affect society with the One we’ve been infected by – Jesus.
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