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What are the things you love about being American? Think about those things. Also think about the things you particularly appreciate about your own town. Sure there are things about the USA, and even your local town, that aren’t according to your own specific preference but don’t think about those things right now; spend time thinking about the positive things. America has a unique, free culture. Along with freedom, America offers cultural things like baseball and hot dogs. Whether you like these things or not these things make America what it is. A country without baseball and hot dogs is no less a legitimate country, but it’s not home. We like home.
Now consider that your child tells you he is leaving the country; moving out without looking back. Not only is he moving away from America, but he is also renouncing, relinquishing his American citizenship. Not only will he not enjoy the small-town benefits of America but he will no longer enjoy the benefits of American citizenship either.
Now suppose that your child moves to Denmark; marries a Danish wife; becomes completely entrenched in Danish culture (even to the extent of mocking fundamental American qualities). Your grandchildren are raised in a somewhat similar, yet quite different, culture than you live. They not only have no appreciation for American culture they also have no affinity for American symbols such as the American flag; or icons such as Ronald Reagan.
None of these things enhance life, but they’re all things associated with the culture we know and love. Each of these things speak to our heart of home.
How many of us have been on a trip and noticed across a parking lot a vehicle with the same state on its license plate as ours? Upon closer investigation you find that they’re also from the same county as you also. Instantaneously you’re friends with the individuals. Why? Because they’re from home! Perhaps if you saw that same person in Wal-Mart last week you would have been fuming at them for taking the last (particular item) off the shelf, or because they were rude by pushing into line ahead of you when you were in a hurry; but suddenly your feeling neighborly toward one another because of your connection to home.
A few weeks ago I posted a post titled Slow Fade. Through comments (public and private) I realized that not everyone understands the permeation of the religious culture I have been raised in. Well meaning, good intentioned friends have made unintentionally unkind statements because of their ‘own pathetic lack of empathy’ (to quote one of them). I have written this post in order to hopefully expose that each of us are permeated, immersed culturally, some of us have just been ‘fortunate’ enough to be equally consumed by a religious sub-culture at the same time. While I understand that these religious things may not necessarily represent Christianity or the kingdom of God, they DO represent a familiar culture which is not easy to shed.
If I would have one request it would be this, be gracious and merciful with us (whomever ‘us’ may be) as we slowly emerge from the cultural influence we’ve been intoxicated by.
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11 comments:
That's a helpful analogy, Bro. I enjoyed the post very much. Well said.
And will you be gracious and merciful to those who still appreciate the culture you were "intoxicated" in?
I haven't been?
Your posts frequently challenge me, even as we have very different backgrounds. We do, however, have many similar thoughts and experiences. Do you ever wonder if there is a 'stage' in life during which we question what we were brought up with? Does it ever make you wonder as you look around and see the 30-somethings all around you stepping away from what they've always done? Do you ever wonder if we are just trying to be independent, do our own thing, find something new. . .when what we have and know is really where we should be? I just wonder about a lot of things sometimes. . .
I feel confident, however, that the TRUTH is what we have to stand on.
from xanga site wonderinone, I'll stop just lurking and let you know why I read your site! :)
My sister is a nurse & used to be GB. She says she enjoys being able to go up to people & say"your a GB aren't you?" Since I just had this conversation with her I can understand where you are coming from.
I love the Hoblit Boys, they are so "open faced". You can see right into their hearts and you love their transparency!
I really think what you are saying is why every one drags their feet from making the jump out of the OGBB.
o the pain....
Keep your face to the SONSHINE OF HIS LOVE!
You know, another thing, you can take your membership out of the OGBBC, but you are always OGBB, for life. It's family, friends, roots, but it doesn't have to be a burden. You can link arms with other Believers, love those you served with and pray for all, and always Praise Him for your heritage and that is fine.
i hope you know i love you, and i have been pathetic, merciless and pathetically merciless many times in my past.
however, there seems to be a constant disconnect to me. didn't the culture contribute to the problems that caused you to leave the fellowship?
it seems that you view it as you've left a completely neutral culture because of poor theology. from my perspective, you left a fellowship because their poor theology which deeply deeply effect the culture. that "culture" did not lead to the gospel, but locks many in an anti-gospel legalism. in that sense, the culture is not amoral, it is immoral.
to me, this isn't that different than our brothers and sisters who have left south africa to come to the states. do they miss family still in south africa? yes. do they miss some of the foods, music, beaches and weather? yes. do they miss worrying that they may be killed, robbed or beaten just trying to walk out and get the mail? no.
know that you aren't alone in this kind of battle. and it's not just g.b.'s and former g.b.'s who have been down this road.
personally, i think your struggle is helped if you put your hands to the plow, remember why you felt these changes were necessary. does it involve sacrifice? sure, but we offer our bodies constantly as living sacrifice to Him, for He truly is the only One capable of talking about sacrifice.
As Arlene stated "you are a gb for life". AMEN. This goes for anyone who grew up in the fellowship. So, just embrace it, and be thankful for your heritage. Go forward with the good and biblical you have learned there (gb) and pray that God will destroy any root of bitterness that might spring up within you because of what you didn't appreciate.
Did you notice what "Anonymous" just said?
"...pray that God will destroy any root of bitterness that might spring up within you because of what you didn't appreciate."
How about this?...
...pray that God will destroy any root of bitterness that might spring up within you BECAUSE OF THE HERESY THAT WAS TAUGHT TO YOU THERE AS WELL.
Good Grief. When he says "because of what you didn't appreciate" he makes it sound like "well there was NOTHING WRONG there, so don't be bitter just because you couldn't appreciate a good thing when you had it!"
Give me a break, Mr. or Mrs. "Anonymous".
By the way, you are not a GB for life any more than someone is bound to be a Mormon for life or a Jehovah's Witness for life or a Catholic for life.
Just because you were raised in a cult doesn't mean you have to carry around that cult's baggage for the rest of your life.
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