Religion and Culture, What's The Difference?

Ok there's this thing been bothering me inside out, up and down, left and right...aiyoo U get the picture la.

I was once asked this question :

"What is the difference between Religion and Culture?"

I like hero go and answer the individual back, but at the same time I asked myself again, what is the difference. I know I can look it up the dictionary or google it or wikipedia it, but from biblical point of view I am a little blur. I asked my LG leader,Thomas, about this and I got his feedback.

I posted this on our FACEBOOK GROUP, but so far not much feedback on that topic. So I asked Ps.Mark, Our CCKL's Senior Pastor, here is what he said:

Of course, each of us have our own heritage and that culture will definitely affect us. There is nothing wrong with cultural practices – the point is this:-



Where any cultural practice ‘contradicts’ or clashes with the teachings of Jesus, the teachings of the Word of God, it must be put aside. We can’t use our own “culture” as the excuse for doing things that are contrary to the Word of God.



We are first made in HIS image, and then 2ndly in the image of our parents. Which means, you are FIRST a CHRISTIAN, and SECOND and Indian. (just like me J)...



I hope this makes sense. There are a lot of good things about different cultures which we should embrace, but this is a question of priority more than anything else.



God wanted HIS people to follow HIS commands not the practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites – when they took on traits that were from those countries that were different to the commands of the Lord, that’s when it brought His people into problems. And the same goes for us today.


Holla back at us or post up your comments on this matter