Belinda Perez McDanel

Culture influences our Christianity in ways we can’t even fathom.

Certainty is part of the American culture. They love confident people, go-getters, and independent leaders.

Contrast this to Latino culture that values relationships and keeping the peace. In an English American Christian church, I’ve heard a person described as godly because they are such a go-getter and they are doing great things for God. (This would be a Choleric or on Myers Briggs ESTJ) In a Spanish American church, I’ve heard a person described as godly because they keep the peace and get along with everyone. (This would be a Phlegmatic or on Myers Briggs INFP) These personalities are opposite, ESTJ and INFP. Interesting huh?

This causes me to question my Christian experience. How much is influenced by culture or language? How much is influenced by Jesus Christ and his teachings?

When we don’t let people within Christianity critique Christianity or talk about the stuff within it that baffles or hurts them, they will just walk away.

Jacqueline Bussie in Outlaw Christian

In fact, one might argue that you learn more by exploring questions than by collecting pat answers. Questions are necessary. Creating a learning environment where questions are welcomed is important.

The opposite of a learning environment is one designed for the transfer of information, from the expert to the others. The expert could be a teacher, a leader or a preacher. The one who talks is the one who has all the information. The goal is for the students to retain and repeat the correct information. It’s a test environment. If you contribute to the discussion, you better have the correct answer. If not, you are chastised in front of the whole group.

Think about another use of questions, not as a test but as exploration. Relationship is not like the typical school environment where the teacher is searching for a specific right answer. In a relationship, there are several directions that one can take. The key is to stay connected.

So, go ahead and ask the hard questions. I don’t promise easy answers. But ask Jesus. Feel free to ask him and have it out with him, if you need to. Just stay connected to him in the process.

As long as we are talking to God, even if we are arguing, complaining, lamenting, and questioning, then we are still in relationship. Any kind of communication is still relating, and is not the same as shutting out or shutting down.

Jacqueline Bussie in Outlaw Christian

You don’t have to have it all together. Just walk with God.

Honestly.

Every day.

Bring him your questions and wrestling.

©2017 Belinda Perez McDanel