Love is the bridge to culture

The following is taken from "Redefining Revival" by Bill Beckham I just thought it was spot on

"Jesus is able to bridge the great cultural differences because of love. God so loved the world is a cultural declaration. Love can cover a multitude of cultural sins and differences. Love is not puffed up with its own personal and cultural rightness; it sees life from the perspective of others. Love values people, protects the diginity of everyone and celebrates differences. Love neutralizes the pride of life and sees inner qualities rather than outer differences. Love looks into the heart.

Around the world mothers love their children in the same way. Parents dream the same dreams for their sons and daughtes. Friendship is cherished. Heartache, depression, exhileration and laughter are exprerienced universally. People long for freedom and dignity. Around the world the babies that God creates are all the same before culture makes them different.

Jesus knew that if the heart of man changes then culture changes. change the heart and the culture becomes better. Change the culture and the heart can remain the same.

True revival always penetrates to the roots of earthly cultures and changes the fruits of culture to God's Kingdom values. Revival in the twenty first century will not happen until the church begins to live out God's kingdom culture on earth."


God bless

Carol