A Culture Of Relationship
Well folks,
we have come to the end; the final instalment in my kingdom culture series! I
hope you have enjoyed the content thus far. My aim in this series has been to
highlight some of the values of authentic kingdom culture and to juxtapose that
against the prevailing culture in the world. My hope is that the series has
provoked thought and inspired you to live the values of the kingdom wherever
you are!
In 1976 Edward T. Hall proposed a model for viewing culture as an iceberg. The part of an iceberg that is visible above the water is only 10% of its mass. The remaining 90% lurks hidden below the surface. Hall proposed that culture is the same; what we can see; the food, festivals, flag and fashion, is only 10% of what constitutes the culture. Underpinning that are dispositions, values, attitudes and beliefs. Let’s transpose this to the local church. The worship songs, preaching, activities, etc. are the most visible expressions of the culture but what I have been trying to focus on in this series is the underlying beliefs that lie below.
For this
final piece I have chosen an issue which I believe is at the very bottom of the
iceberg – love. I believe that love expressed through relationship is the very
foundation of kingdom culture. I do not believe that anything achieved or
constructed in the kingdom is of any value or merit or integrity unless it
comes from a motive of love that finds expression through relationship.
Jesus said
that all the Law and the Prophets depend on two commandments:
- You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind. - You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love for God and love for others are the foundational values of the kingdom.
Paul said
that the most powerful exhibit of spiritual
gifts or the most pious expressions of religious duty are all nothing if they are
not done with love. Wow!
What does
this mean for us? Well one practical implication is that God is not impressed
by and He doesn’t respond to, mere spiritual activity. Often, I hear people say
that the church would be better if we pray like we used to, or we attend
services like we used to. I understand where those sentiments come from but the
answer is not in the activity. The answer lies first in the quality of our
relationship with God and with others. The activities are the 10% overflow from
the 90% foundation.
I have found this to be a radically life-changing understanding. It means that our lack of victory in a situation may be more linked to the heart attitude we have toward our spouse than the time we put in in prayer.
This was recently brought home to be in a very tangible way. I was struggling with mild depression. I felt overwhelmed by the challenges in my marriage and the melding of two families under one roof. Extended family members weren’t making it any easier either. But worst of all my prayer life was nonexistent and my bible study was dull. Then God showed me that I had been carrying around a little undercurrent of resentment toward my wife. I thought it was nothing. I thought I had good reasons why I should feel that way but God saw it and He did not share my view. I was stopping the free flow of His love. The moment I saw it and acknowledged it for what it was, my life changed.
The same principle applies to other spheres of our lives. If we want more of the Presence of God in our ministry, don’t necessarily focus on what activity we need to add or change, focus on who we need to forgive or who we need to ask forgiveness of, or maybe which other ministries, leaders or denominations we pull down!
Kingdom power and the Presence of God flows and endures where
people know His heart and live His values.
My dear friends, devote your lives to loving God completely and loving others well. Nothing else is of greater eternal consequence!
