Christianity and cultural diversity
For some time I have been interested in the fact that Christianity is more widespread throughout the world than any other faith or religion. We only have to think of religions such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism to realise that they tend to be located in particular parts of the world – although not exclusively – and it is not hard to name the countries where they are to be found. Christianity, though, is present in almost every part of the world. Indeed, there is a good case for arguing that it is the most culturally diverse of all. But why is that?
Tim Keller offers what I find a very plausible explanation. He argues that legalistic religions (those which place the emphasis on our performance) tend to flatten out culture. Why? Because in those religions it is all about what I do, and I have to get everything ‘just right’ – including what I eat and what I wear. In Christianity, however, we find our identity not in what we do but in the grace of God. Being a Christian is first and foremost about what and whom God makes us. This gives us immense freedom and diversity in things like the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the place we live. That is seen very clearly in the New Testament, where Paul is adamant that Gentiles do not have to become Jews in order to be God’s people. That is, in coming to Christ they are not required to change their human culture. As he had to remind even Peter, we are “not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:15, NIV).