We’re #1!
One of the things I appreciate about Christianity (in addition to eternal life and a close
personal relationship with the creator of the universe) is the fact that it transcends culture.
Most of us tend to assume that our own culture is perfectly normal and admirable, while
other cultures are often strange and possibly inferior.
When cultures come into contact, they can also come into conflict–even if it is only
over minor details like what constitutes “polite behavior.”
But the disagreements can be much more serious, and destructive, than that.
I come from a country that proudly declares that it is the greatest nation in the world.
I spend most of my time in a country that considers itself to be the greatest nation ever.
The two countries base their declarations on very different rationale.
The United States boasts of freedom, liberty, democracy and a culture that has been
mimicked, embraced and admired around the planet.
China points to a rich history extending over thousands of years, a legacy of refinement and
wisdom; a culture that influenced and instructed many other nations near and far.
The U.S. is leader of the free world and sole remaining superpower.
China will soon become the planet’s economic powerhouse and has the largest population.
It’s the American Dream versus the Middle Kingdom.
Unless you’re French.
I imagine there are a few folks in Paris who might believe that their country is actually the best:
they can’t claim to possess the mightiest economy, but they have their reasons.
Indeed, I imagine a number of countries might claim to be the “best”, “greatest” or “#1”
There are no precise criteria for selecting the best country on earth.
But every so often studies are done about the “happiest” nations on Earth, and usually Denmark wins.
This is partly attributed to the Danes’ humility. They realize they aren’t very big or powerful,
their climate isn’t so hot and their culture isn’t emulated worldwide. But they’re okay with that,
and their acceptance of their situation leads to a high level of contentment.
China is not content these days.
America is anything but.
Still, each culture maintains its superiority.
Although China has been influenced greatly by America (so far selecting McDonalds and Apple over democracy)
their customs and traditional worldview are very different from the U.S. Americans celebrate individuality while
the Chinese respect harmony and consensus. We use forks; they use chopsticks. I could go on.
But when Christianity enters the picture, cultural peculiarities lose their importance.
The culture of love, forgiveness and humility transcends local tradition.
“My” way of doing things no longer seems important
in the light of a global gift offered to everyone for free.
“Here there is no Greek or Jew…barbarian, Scythian,
slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Colossians 2:23
Everyone can be part of this nation, which erases and overrides cultural differences.
I find that my Chinese colleagues still do things that don’t make sense to me,
and I have no doubt that my peculiar American habits confuse and amuse them.
But we’re not just staring at each other from the pedestal of cultural self-righteousness.
We can follow the advice to “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you
may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these
virtures put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Then it doesn’t matter which country is #1.
petermaize 