Have you ever considered what causes a culture to change? What is it that brings this change that either builds up or tears down a culture or society? I was watching a program the other day about music. It had to do with the era I started paying attention more to the music of the times, the mid to late 50's, into the 60's and 70's. These are the years as far as music was concerned had the most impact on my style of music. Take for instance, Elvis Presely. Here was a time of cultural change that was very noticeable, we came from the era of Lawerence Welk, the Big Bands, and Jazz, Blues, etc. Elvis brought a profound change to society with his style of music that not only changed the music of the time, but began changing how people thought about life styles. I remember a news report about an interview with a woman and her child and what she said about Elvis's music, "I saw him swivel his hips." Now if that statement doesn't show how music and style were and what it was becoming, not sure anything else can show it any better. Over time Elvis began to be accepted and adored until all you had were massive crowds of screaming girls and boys who tried to copy his style and dress. Elvis even today is still one of the most copied musicians. Elvis's music changed not only the way music was viewed, but it changed the way people dressed, wore their hair, and viewed society. Over time as this music was accepted as normal other changes in music began to take place. Watch the documentaries on this sometime and pay attention to how the changes took place.
In the 60's we began to notice another change taking place with music. Although Elvis was still the king of rock and roll, other styles began to merge and bring change to our culture. The Beatles brought a whole new style not only in music, but in how people thought about moral's. There music also over time was accepted as normal. Drugs, sex, and freedom from establishment began to overshadow us. Not the kind that brought relief from pain. etc, but mind altering experiences. Sex was no longer viewed as something sacred but used as a way to express a break from religion and other forms of moral guidance. Then came the 70's with so much free love that one did not know the consequences of their actions any longer. Groups like the Mama's and Papa's, the Monkey's, Creedance Clearwater Rival, and many other's that not only promoted their style of music, they promoted a life style of no moral values. The music and life style seemed to be accepted as the norm for the time.
Here we are in the next century and with a lot of the music now you are not sure what is being promoted or even being said. Language that once was considered very disrespectful began to be used in the lyric's of music, and the music industry promoted it as normal. Freedom of speech they cried, the right of self expression, doesn't matter what society thinks, we have our rights. Yes, society began to change, our culture of the past began to die out and a new way of thinking emerged and we accepted it as normal. Even the Christian music changed from one style to another, of which a lot of it if someone did not tell you it was Christian you would not have known it by the lyrics or the style. Music definitely played a part in cultural change, but the biggest contributor was the acceptance of it. When something is done long enough it becomes the norm and accepted as right. Whether music brought about change in our culture or was nothing more than an expression of what was going inside man's heart, music played a role in cultural change
There are of course many other factors that help bring about change in a culture, but the result is the same, a lost culture either for the better or for the worse. The question still remains, what brings about this change? Why do we accept things that we know are not right or good and make them a part of our society or culture?
Let me take us back and look at the culture that existed in the beginning, a culture that was pure and right from its very inception. This culture would be called Kingdom culture, a culture set in motion by God Himself. Here man had all the freedom in the world, freedom to name, freedom to expand, freedom to care for, freedom to worship, no shame, no guilt, plus he had the authority to do it. There were very few rules, just one to be exact, don't touch the tree. But, something happened to bring a permanent change to a perfect society or culture. Something happened that is still happening today, and in my opinion, I believe it would be called selfishness, or rebellion. We thought we could do it ourselves and we listened to the outside influence and allowed it to alter our thinking. Instead of doing it the way of the Creator, God, we figured we had the power to do whatever we wanted without consequences, even though we were told what would happen if we disobeyed and broke the one rule, don't touch the tree. The consequences were separation from the Creator and death. The outside influence then became the authority over this world instead of the created being "Man." So ever since, societies and cultures have been changing and not really for the better. The more we accept as normal into our culture the farther away we get from the original culture. It is not normal for an outside influence to affect the Kingdom culture but since man was given authority over this world God must allow us to accept anything we desire into it. The problem is we listen to the outside influence instead of the Creator of this world. What a mess we have made of it all.
So, what do we do? Every year we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, God's only Son who was sent to this world to redeem it from its lostness. Every year we recognize there is a God, but we do not return to the Kingdom culture that was meant for us because we fail to follow His instructions for returning. It's very simple, accept Christ as the only begotten Son of God, let Him be the Lord of your life and listen to His instructions. If you believe this and believe that He came to this earth, gave His life for you and me, and was resurrected on the third day you can reenter the Kingdom culture. Look at John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Now that is not so hard is it? Why not let the influence of the one who created us in the beginning bring about the change in our culture by changing what the outside influence has destroyed? Life change takes time, culture change takes time, but when in the Kingdom culture we have the source of power to bring about the change we desire. Look at it this way, by living in God's Kingdom, all we need to do is follow His constitution, HIs Word, written down for us through the centuries. We can find it most anywhere, in a library, in a book store, on your shelf, under your bed or even on your nightstand. It is called the Bible, or God's Holy Word.
I know we could sit down and discuss cultural change for a long time and never really agree on every topic that brings about change in culture, but one thing for sure, God laid out His plan and we need to follow it or we will continue to suffer the consequences of breaking the one rule, don't touch the tree. Touch rebellion and the consequences are the same as with Adam and Eve, separation and death. If you want to change the culture of this world, then start with you, let God change you and His influence will permeant out from your heart and into the world around you.
May God truly bless you today and keep you under His wings of protection and influence.
In the 60's we began to notice another change taking place with music. Although Elvis was still the king of rock and roll, other styles began to merge and bring change to our culture. The Beatles brought a whole new style not only in music, but in how people thought about moral's. There music also over time was accepted as normal. Drugs, sex, and freedom from establishment began to overshadow us. Not the kind that brought relief from pain. etc, but mind altering experiences. Sex was no longer viewed as something sacred but used as a way to express a break from religion and other forms of moral guidance. Then came the 70's with so much free love that one did not know the consequences of their actions any longer. Groups like the Mama's and Papa's, the Monkey's, Creedance Clearwater Rival, and many other's that not only promoted their style of music, they promoted a life style of no moral values. The music and life style seemed to be accepted as the norm for the time.
Here we are in the next century and with a lot of the music now you are not sure what is being promoted or even being said. Language that once was considered very disrespectful began to be used in the lyric's of music, and the music industry promoted it as normal. Freedom of speech they cried, the right of self expression, doesn't matter what society thinks, we have our rights. Yes, society began to change, our culture of the past began to die out and a new way of thinking emerged and we accepted it as normal. Even the Christian music changed from one style to another, of which a lot of it if someone did not tell you it was Christian you would not have known it by the lyrics or the style. Music definitely played a part in cultural change, but the biggest contributor was the acceptance of it. When something is done long enough it becomes the norm and accepted as right. Whether music brought about change in our culture or was nothing more than an expression of what was going inside man's heart, music played a role in cultural change
There are of course many other factors that help bring about change in a culture, but the result is the same, a lost culture either for the better or for the worse. The question still remains, what brings about this change? Why do we accept things that we know are not right or good and make them a part of our society or culture?
Let me take us back and look at the culture that existed in the beginning, a culture that was pure and right from its very inception. This culture would be called Kingdom culture, a culture set in motion by God Himself. Here man had all the freedom in the world, freedom to name, freedom to expand, freedom to care for, freedom to worship, no shame, no guilt, plus he had the authority to do it. There were very few rules, just one to be exact, don't touch the tree. But, something happened to bring a permanent change to a perfect society or culture. Something happened that is still happening today, and in my opinion, I believe it would be called selfishness, or rebellion. We thought we could do it ourselves and we listened to the outside influence and allowed it to alter our thinking. Instead of doing it the way of the Creator, God, we figured we had the power to do whatever we wanted without consequences, even though we were told what would happen if we disobeyed and broke the one rule, don't touch the tree. The consequences were separation from the Creator and death. The outside influence then became the authority over this world instead of the created being "Man." So ever since, societies and cultures have been changing and not really for the better. The more we accept as normal into our culture the farther away we get from the original culture. It is not normal for an outside influence to affect the Kingdom culture but since man was given authority over this world God must allow us to accept anything we desire into it. The problem is we listen to the outside influence instead of the Creator of this world. What a mess we have made of it all.
So, what do we do? Every year we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, God's only Son who was sent to this world to redeem it from its lostness. Every year we recognize there is a God, but we do not return to the Kingdom culture that was meant for us because we fail to follow His instructions for returning. It's very simple, accept Christ as the only begotten Son of God, let Him be the Lord of your life and listen to His instructions. If you believe this and believe that He came to this earth, gave His life for you and me, and was resurrected on the third day you can reenter the Kingdom culture. Look at John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Now that is not so hard is it? Why not let the influence of the one who created us in the beginning bring about the change in our culture by changing what the outside influence has destroyed? Life change takes time, culture change takes time, but when in the Kingdom culture we have the source of power to bring about the change we desire. Look at it this way, by living in God's Kingdom, all we need to do is follow His constitution, HIs Word, written down for us through the centuries. We can find it most anywhere, in a library, in a book store, on your shelf, under your bed or even on your nightstand. It is called the Bible, or God's Holy Word.
I know we could sit down and discuss cultural change for a long time and never really agree on every topic that brings about change in culture, but one thing for sure, God laid out His plan and we need to follow it or we will continue to suffer the consequences of breaking the one rule, don't touch the tree. Touch rebellion and the consequences are the same as with Adam and Eve, separation and death. If you want to change the culture of this world, then start with you, let God change you and His influence will permeant out from your heart and into the world around you.
May God truly bless you today and keep you under His wings of protection and influence.
