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"The Problem with Culturally Focused Churches " | Watch this episode on VimeoFollow Us On VimeoListen to the Audio PodcastSubscribe on iPhoneSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe on SpotifyThe Problem with Culturally Focused ChurchesIn the United States, there are roughly 400,000 churches. This estimate includes Protestant and other Christian churches, plus Catholic and Orthodox churches. Within this number, some churches gather based on skin color, nationality, stylistic reasons, lifestyles, and even hobbies. Here in Texas, we have cowboy churches. How should we think about these kinds of church gatherings? Should churches be gathering and centering their identities around cultural identities? Does the Bible offer us any guidance? Join us this week on the Straight Truth Podcast to hear Dr. Richard Caldwell share his thoughts with Dr. Philpot on this issue of culturally centered churches as he looks at the Word of God and what it says about the church.

Dr. Caldwell states that our identity needs to be taken from the Scriptures. We must ask ourselves if we really believe what the Bible says about everything. Do we believe what the Bible says about humanity? Do we believe what the Bible says about the church's identity now in Christ Jesus, which is one new man in Christ? Do we really believe these things? Dr. Caldwell is convinced that we use biblical language and tip our hat to the Scriptures, but we do not believe what they teach.

Dr. Caldwell shares an example regarding the whole racial issue. He explains that the Bible does not deny the reality of nations, different languages, and cultures. Those are realities. But the Bible clearly teaches that man, all of humanity, emerged from one man and one woman. Adam and Eve are the father and mother of us all, meaning that the human race is one in Adam. The differences between us, like hair color, eye color, skin color, etc., are all explained naturally. But they do not mean different versions of humanity. And if we really believe this, it is how we will see people. We are not saying to be colorblind. We are saying we need to be biblically enlightened. We are to see the world through the eyes of truth that God has revealed in His Word. Doing so fundamentally transforms the way we see people.

Organizing and gathering churches together because of language barriers is one thing. But to organize and gather around the color of our skin, temporal likes and dislikes, hobbies, fads, and cultural lifestyles is to not believe what the Scriptures teach about our identity. This is to not believe what the Lord’s Word says about who we are and why we exist. We are to organize and gather around Christ, not around our culture. We are to be organized around the Word of God and all the instructions given to us regarding the church from the New Testament.

But what about people who are more comfortable in these culturally centered or focused churches? People often find themselves more comfortable in church environments surrounded by people who share the same skin color or where people dress the same way. Maybe people find themselves more comfortable for stylistic reasons or feel they can worship more freely in these environments. What can be said about this line of thinking?

Dr. Caldwell suggests that people must ask themselves why they are more comfortable. Does their answer pass the test of a biblical worldview? He says we really need to challenge ourselves in these things to see if we are seeing things biblically or not. Sometimes, our comfort level is felt because we are not seeing things biblically. Much of the time, our choices are driven by our preferences. But we need to see if our preferences are holding us back, keeping us from experiencing growth. If a church we are in is sound and strong in the Word of God and its body life, but the music style is not our preference, this presents an opportunity for us to grow. Why care about preference? If the church is biblically sound and strong, and they sing the truth in a manner that represents reverence and order, what does it matter? Often, this manifests a self-centered view where everything exists for me rather than a Christ-centered view where everything exists for the glory of God. These two perspectives are very different, and we need to challenge ourselves and ask what is driving our thinking and emotions here. The more it can be about Christ and the truth, that is where we need to be.

About The Straight Truth PodcastThe Straight Truth Podcast: Christian Opinions in an Increasingly Secular World. Join Dr. Richard Caldwell, Dr. Josh Philpot, and their guests as they discuss news events, current affairs, and cultural issues from a Biblical point of view. Find the truth at www.straighttruth.net

The Straight Truth Podcast is a weekly opinion show hosted by Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot. Straight Truth is available as an audio podcast on iTunes or as a video podcast through YouTube or Vimeo. The duration of the podcast is approximately 10 minutes. We release new episodes every Thursday.

The topics discussed in the Straight Truth Podcast are current events, matters that challenge traditional Christian values, and questions submitted by audience members. Dr. Caldwell, Dr. Philpot, and their guests seek to answer these questions with Biblical truths and from a Christian conservative point of view. The Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God; it alone is and will be the basis and authority of
answering any and all questions.

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Season 28 CreditsProduced byJuan Carlos ClaveriaExecutive ProducersJoshua PhilpotDavid AndersHosted byJoshua PhilpotSocial Media Descriptions byMichele WatsonGraphic DesignDavid NavejasDP / EDITING / COLORJUAN CARLOS CLAVERIASPECIAL THANKS TO THEFOUNDERS BAPTIST CHURCHMEDIA TEAM VOLUNTEERSSpecial Thanks toEl Centro NetworkMusic byLynneMusicMotion GraphicsThe Media StockSet DecoratorMolly AtchisonThe post The Problem with Culturally Focused Churches appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.