Cultural Christianity Back in the Day

Cultural Christianity back in the day, the 1940's was far different from the cultural Christianity of today.

Back in the day when I was a young child most church goers condemned movie, spoke against divorce and remarriage, the women wore a hat as their covering, every woman, one did not go bowling because the allies were in the back of taverns, smoking and drinking alcohol was condemned and many other things that if followed would spare people much heart ache and keep them from sin.

Sadly though, we were taught these things as rules but not told why we should not do them. When Christ was not the reason then inquisitive children would ask why and the answer came back, "because they are sin." Not because they dishonored Christ, but because we just don't do those things.

I remember being chastised by my mother for asking why we shouldn't do something. As I grew older I surmised that my mother didn't really know the reason except that in order to be a "good person" our culture doesn't do it so we shouldn't do it.

Fast forward 50 years to present day and cultural Christianity looks far different from back in the day.

Today cultural Christianity accepts shacking up, drinking to excess, unequally joked relationships, divorce and remarriage, cursing as a form of everyday communication, filthy movies as long as there is only one place in it that blasphemes God, ultra sensitivity to correction as well as mocking and demeaning those who have a standard to live by. "Do not judge" is one of the most used mantras of our time as well as the word "mean spirited" in association with a rebuke for sinfulness.

At least back in the day people had a standard, even if they didn't know why they had the standard.

God showed me many years ago that God commanded the head covering as a demonstration of a woman being under her husband as the authority. 1 Corinthians 11. That scripture has been twisted to deny what God actually said. Most women today who claim to obey their husbands will not obey God in this matter of covering.

When I was a child I asked my mother why every woman in church has a hat on and the men do not. She explained to me that a woman's outfit was not complete without a hat. She used to quote a famous fashion designer that stated that "an outfit without a hat is like the cake without the frosting."

Sadly the purpose and meaning of the covering was lost in the cultural Christianity. The women wore the hat but didn't know the original purpose of covering the head was Biblical.

Then we have those who have attempted to reinterpret the Bible to say that the covering was for back then in Bible times and not for now. If that were so then why do the men still remain uncovered. The same passage that commands the covering speaks about the man being uncovered. Why do we still ask a man to remove his hat in church and do not ask the women to cover?

When God's word is reinterpreted to fit the culture, the new interpretation becomes inconsistent.

I know men who adamantly demand to be obeyed because of the same passages about head coverings, but negate the head covering. Why do they think they can pick and choose which commands to follow!!!!

I am sure there are many people who question it is disrespectful to wear a hat in the meeting of believer, who think it is based on culture. It began in obedience to Christ that the man should be uncovered while the woman is covered.

Another misunderstanding is based on Islam. That is that the woman covers her head to conceal her hair. That is not Biblical. When a woman covers her head in obedience to 1 Corinthians 11, she is doing it to honor her head, which is the man. She honors Christ by honoring her head, the man.

When we seek to obey Christ we will be mocked, lied against and rejected for our choices. Those that do not want to obey the Bible will accuse us of not being submissive when we have demonstrated a life time of it toward our husbands.

There will be those who will accuse us of not obeying God when we will not obey their human rules and demands. Twisting the scripture to fit the culture has led to rebellion against truth on every level.

Perhaps it might be good to pray for God to show us everything we do that is not Biblical and for Him to show us His truth.

Judges 17:6
"6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"