A lot of us take pride in our ethnic background, heritage or places of birth or origin. Some of us take stock in the fact that we are sons and daughters of great people or nations, derived from a strong lineage either in regards to geographic or ethnic origins and in a lot of cases racial origin and identity as well.

It seems only natural to take pride in your identity, culture and heritage as self awareness and identity are a part of the internal mechanism that maintains our self esteem and self image.

In the course of my travels I have noticed a phenomena born out of the elements of this “pride” in culture and heritage that is bringing about some dangerous and pretty destructive patterns of behavior that I feel are not only keeping Christians stagnant and ignorant but in most cases is also driving people backwards as they attempt to journey on the path to Mount Sion.

After my recent trips to Ethiopia and South Africa I came away with a more concrete understanding of devotion and faith amongst Hebrew Christian entities in both countries but most particularly in Ethiopia. I have been inspired to offer my observations and suggestions to anyone who cares to listen as I put forth the question, Do you have or strive to attain and represent the culture of Jesus Christ?

It seems that in most places I travel, especially amongst Armstrong based or former Armstrong/British Israelite based churches I keep hearing people describe themselves as “proud”, “proud descendants of such and such”, or “proud people of this tribe or that ethnic origin”, etc. The same can be said and witnessed in other churches as well and I honestly direct my thoughts towards ALL PROFESSING “Christians”.

The notion of “Proud” Christians seems like a paradox or contradiction, and theologically it is, as “Christians” or followers of Yeshua are supposed to be humble and contrite in spirit as they walk in their lives and stand for Christ and the Kingdom of God.

In my personal opinion I feel this pride issue is one born of a struggle to remain relevant in an increasingly secular world that is in actuality “burnt out” with Christianity in general. I also feel that as human beings wrestle with the trauma and pain of being rendered insignificant through cultural homogenization, they basically rebel and lash out, at times violently to get their point across.

This happens to extend itself to the church as well where I have seen people act out, lash out and in cases commit morally questionable and egregious acts due to a conviction based on culture and not in Christ or any sense of biblical morality. It seems that amongst most of my fellowship, there is not a humble bone in some of their bodies…..

“Culture Before Christ”

I come across a lot of people who will say and intimate that their focus is Christ within the framework of their culture. They present themselves as “proud Jamaican Christians…” “Proud American Christians” Or “proud Irish Catholics” or “I am from Tigrey and I am Orthodox”….etc, etc… Frankly all of this completely contradicts the morality and standards presented and promoted as behaviors of those called by Jesus Christ. The meek who will inherit the earth are proceed by the proud and violently narcissistic. As “Professing Christians”, we are not to be proud of anything in such a way that it hinders our witness. Pride in our race, our culture, financial status or anything in a sense that it determines our morality and behavioral steps in place of the standards and guidance of the Hebrew Scriptures is unacceptable before Christ.

Sadly, in my circles I never hear anyone saying “I am a follower of Yeshua the Messiah and an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God. Very few witness or present the witness or stance in Christ like they present their cultures and physical identity. It seems as though people witness to their cultural walk, heritage and identity first while their witness and walk in Christ are presented as secondary if not third in line.

Recent events in my life have all but confounded me as to the true state of the Christianity around me. My environment is Hebrew Roots, and I firmly subscribe to the words of the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians Chapter 1, verses 3-14 and later into chapter 2 as the basis for my identity, culture and heritage. I strive to live and walk as a citizen of the Kingdom of God, sojourning for the time being in this present world as one of the “called out ones”, a pilgrim and temporary citizen of Babylon. My beliefs are strange in Babylon, my care for the poor and disadvantaged are major aspects of my life focus. My desire to treat all people with sincere respect and care is almost considered moral treason by some. Yet, these are some of the behaviors that a truly converted Christian are called too exhibit and make life practice…FROM THE HEART.

I was until recently in fellowship with a congregation that claimed to have the same understanding of who they are in Yeshua. This congregation ultimately suffered an abysmal end based on this same cultural pride and vanity super ceding the grounding and responsibility that extends from a relationship and calling with Yeshua the Christ. As I witness “trending topics” like sacred names, sacred texts, racial identity and Jewish Identity becoming the hallmark of conversations within the Churches of God, I notice that people are focusing on “majoring in the minors”, confounded by insignificant issues with which they have no expertise nor technical knowledge and ignoring the deeper issues pertaining to the Christian walk like Love, sincere fellowship, charity, social justice and unending sacrifice for one another. Compound this with various aspects of the culture issue and you have one of the many reasons for the abysmal failures of Christianity at large. I hope that those that can see these things and examine themselves and list their personal and congregational short comings in these areas can gather themselves, repent and attack these issues before it’s too late.