Counter in Every Culture

One of Mark Twain's most thought-provoking and critical commentaries on life in his day was the delightful novel "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." In many ways these days, I feel as though I may very well be living the tale of "A Missouri Boarder on President Kim's Campus." (Folks, like me, from Missouri are neither "Yankees" nor "Rebels" since ours was a "border" state). For, even after nearly six months of attempted assimilation, I still find myself often "at odds" with the expectations and practices of my new surrounding culture.

Many of the practices and behaviors that I'm told are "cultural," though, seem to be in actuality characteristic of human nature in every culture. What might appear to be a rude, assertive pushing to the head of the line is really not so much a manifestation of a cultural tendency as it is an evidence of a self-focus that is common to humanity as a whole -- and, that whole clearly includes me. The splinters that I've so meticulously identified in the many dark eyes about me are truly fragments of the burgeoning beam protruding from my own. 

What I'm coming to understand, however, is that a life seeking to be lived according to the teachings and practices of Christ will, in very many respects, be counter in every culture that it encounters. I believe this is true because so much of what we defend and even attempt to protect as "culture" is all too often an institutionalization of human behaviors that are, by their very nature, at odds with the life we humans were originally designed and created to live with one another. 

Behaviors that are frequently accommodated by playing the "culture card" are in reality the very ones that should instead be targeted for transformation.  Instead of asserting ourselves to positions of higher recognition, we are called to "associate with the lowly." Rather than striving for authority and control over others, we are commanded by Jesus to "love one another as I have loved you." In the place of retaliation and anger when harmed or offended, we are charged to forgive and "bless those who persecute you." 

Jesus was the ultimate counter to his culture in both his teaching and example.  And so his followers should be in theirs.

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.  ~ (Luke 22:24-27)