Culture Shock

I personally experienced culture shock when I went to India a few years ago.  HUGE culture shock.  The food, the clothes, the people, the lifestyle.  I was in a very remote, poor area.  Large cities like Chennai or Mumbai are very modern compared to Tenali in the province of Andhra Pradesh.  I hope to go back there one day.  I learned to appreciate so many things I had never been exposed to before.  And while I would love to see some help and change for hygienic and safety reasons, I would not change a thing about the culture. 

Yesterday I was reflecting on another type of 'culture shock'.  The kind that comes right from within my own community.  When I was a teenager I used to go to dances at my school.  I loved dancing!  (still do) I usually worked the snack counter and danced up a storm while I served the food.  During slow moments, I got on the dance floor with my friends and had a blast.  When I would go to church on Sunday and tell my friends there about my weekend, I would get strange looks.  Some even went so far as to kindly point out that 'Christians' do not do these things.  Really?  I mean, I know I still had a lot to learn, but did the Bible really say it was wrong for me to dance?

Over the years, I have experienced this kind of 'culture shock' over and over.  You watch those types of movies?  You listen to that music?  You find that funny?  Let me stress that none of these issues was about sin.  These were all regarding the 'cultural' differences of denominations and churches.  Now I realize it was just a whole lot of legalism and tradition.

I am so thankful that the God I know does not condone this type of behaviour.  He wants me to experience MANY different cultures - whether they are in another country or just around the corner from me. 

I saw a video yesterday that deeply affected me.  It's the 'Revelation Song' performed by Northwood Worship.  (Search it on Youtube...you won't be disappointed.  Languages are Vietnamese, Spanish, and Hmong.)  Beautiful! 

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come.