(2) Proper Use of Culture

The book of Colossians reveals that the all-inclusive Christ should replace every element and aspect of our natural human life. Humanly speaking, culture is very good. Every society is preserved and maintained by culture. If people did not have culture, there would be much more work for the police department and the law courts. At present, the work of the police and the courts is a supplement to the culture of a society. When a person does not conduct himself properly according to culture, the police may intervene. Every nation, society, and community is preserved by culture, the law, and the police.

If, after reading these messages on Christ versus culture, Christian parents tell their children that they no longer need culture, this will be a serious mistake. Without culture, children would act like animals. Children must be raised according to the standards of culture. Before they are of a proper age to receive Christ, the children must be built up in culture. The more the children are trained according to culture, the better it will be for them. The children must be trained to honor their parents, to love their brothers and sisters, to behave properly toward their neighbors, to be good students in school, to obey all laws, and to respect their teachers and other adults. Because children are too young to behave according to Christ, they must be taught to behave according to culture. If we did not have culture, we would be barbarians.

The use of culture can be compared to the function of the law in the Scriptures. The law was decreed by God. Romans 7:12 says that "the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good." Used rightly, the law kept God's chosen people in custody until the coming of Christ. Rich families in ancient times had custodians who exercised custody over the children. Although culture is right and necessary, it is also subject to misuse and can actually keep people from Christ. Culture should be used to keep the children until they are able to receive Christ and live according to Christ. Children need to be preserved by culture while they are growing up.

As Moses gave the commandments to God's chosen people, parents must give commandments to their children. But when the children are able to realize their need for Christ and repent, we should minister the rich Christ to them and help them to receive Him. We should tell our children that the culture we gave them was only good for a certain time and that now they need to receive Christ. Hence, culture is used by God through parents to keep their children in custody until the time comes for them to receive the Lord. It is important to see this proper use of culture. (Life-Study of Colossians, Message #49) http://ministrybooks.org/life-studies.cfm

文化的正當用途

歌羅西書啟示這位包羅萬有的基督，應當頂替我們天然人生活的一切元素。就著人來說，文化非常好，每一個社會都是藉著文化而蒙保守並得以維持的。人如果沒有文化，警察局和法庭的工作就要多得多了。目前，警察局和法庭的工作是補社會文化的不足。當人不照著文化正當行事時，警察就來干涉。每一個國家、社會、團體，都是藉著文化、法律、和警察而蒙保守的。

如果基督徒的父母讀到這些論到基督與文化相對的信息後，告訴他們的兒女說，他們不再需要文化了，這是一個嚴重的錯誤。沒有文化，小孩子的行為就會像禽獸一般。小孩子必須照著文化的標準來養育。他們在達到接受基督的適當年齡之前，必須先在文化上得著建立。小孩子越照著文化受訓練，對他們就越好。必須訓練小孩子孝敬父母，友愛兄弟姊妹，對鄰舍舉止合宜，在學校作好學生，遵守所有的法規，並且尊敬師長和長輩。因為小孩子太年幼，無法照著基督行事，所以他們必須受教導，照著文化行事。如果沒有文化，我們就會成為野蠻人。

文化的用途可以比作聖經裡律法的功用。律法是神頒佈的。羅馬七章十二節說，『律法是聖的，誡命也是聖的、義的並善的。』律法正確的作用，乃是看守神的選民，直等基督來到。文化雖然是正當且必需的，卻也容易被人誤用，而實際的使人離開基督。文化應當用來看守小孩子，直到他們能接受基督，並且照著基督而活。小孩子在成長的過程中，需要藉著文化得蒙保守。

摩西怎樣把誡命給了神的選民，作父母的照樣也必須把誡命給他們的兒女。但到了兒女能體會他們需要基督並且悔改的時候，我們就該把豐富的基督供應給他們，並且幫助他們接受基督。我們應當告訴兒女，我們所給他們的文化，只適用到某個時期，如今他們需要接受基督。因此，神藉著父母用文化來看守兒女，直到他們接受主的時候來到。看見文化這種正當的用途是很重要的。(摘自『歌羅西書生命讀經』第四十九篇) http://www.lsmchinese.org/