I know a lot of people who have a hard time understanding the God of the Old Testament. They read stories in Numbers and Joshua of people suffering various degrees of punishments, from pestilence to war to social ostracization, and worry that God is too wrathful and harsh.
But not me. The God who enforces law, acts as judge, and metes out consequences for sin makes complete sense. When I read stories in the Bible, in which divine justice reigns down on friend and foe alike, I am neither confused nor upset because the concepts of honor and shame, respect for authority, and strict moral codes are deeply ingrained within my own Indian culture.
However, it wasn’t until I participated in a Bible study of Genesis with a diverse group of women that I realized not everyone thought the way I did. In one of our very first sessions, we read the story of Genesis 3 together where Cain not only offers the wrong sacrifice to God but then subsequently kills his brother, Abel, in a fit of rage and jealousy. For his crime, Cain is cast out from his home and forced to wander in a foreign land called Nod. As the story was read aloud, I remember thinking to myself, “Why didn’t Cain just follow the rules and offer God the right sacrifice in the first place? His pain could have been avoided if he had just obeyed!” The other women in the group, however, responded to the story quite differently. Many felt that God was being unfair by rejecting Cain’s sacrifice, that God had been too harsh on Cain, and that it was His harshness that caused Cain to spiral into a murderous tirade.
It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
Each of us were interpreting Genesis 3 through the lens of our different cultural backgrounds. I was focusing on the God who judges, not the God of grace because, quite frankly, grace is not a valued characteristic of Eastern cultures. Grace for me, as a bicultural, Indian-American woman, is hard to understand, let alone practice. This characteristic is not modeled. It’s not even encouraged, really. The things that do matter are respect, obedience, and honor, and that’s what I saw lacking in Cain. Naturally, I had no problem with God punishing him for his disobedience. My white sisters, on the other hand, saw the God of grace.
Interestingly, God is not either/or. He is both. He is both the God who judges and the God who extends mercy.
But I am often cynical of grace. I sometimes feel that the West assumes God’s grace more than they appreciate it, that they automatically accept that God is going to forgive them, thereby undervaluing His justice and even stripping away the weight of their own sin. But when my white sisters speak of the God of grace, I also want to be someone with ears to hear. We have much to learn from each other about who God is.
The truth of the matter is that we need each other to see the whole image of God.
It’s only when we come together that we can see a beautiful, divine mosaic of God in all His colors, complexity, and glory. We need people of other ethnicities, cultures, and languages to help us better appreciate, value, and understand each and every one of His attributes in full.
This lesson has become an integral part of my theological journey. I have had to come to terms with the fact that my own culture has blind spots. I don’t know it all, even though I often think I do. I don’t have God completely figured out. It is only when I apply cultural humility to myself that I can begin to do the hard work of being a student of other cultures, learning the new and sometimes uncomfortable ways that others can point to Christ beyond my own feeble and limited imagination.
I have friends here in Austin, TX, who immigrated to this country from places like Guatemala and Cambodia and all under the direst of circumstances. Their stories would make you weep. But it is through them that I have grown in my understanding of God’s love for the immigrant.
My husband and I are friends with pastors around the world – from Colombia to Uganda – and they have taught us so much about God as provider. Most of these men and women are native to the country they serve. They are not American missionaries, and they don’t hold to American values of wealth and numbers. They are content with little, and for the needs they do have, they trust that God will give as He deems necessary.
My Latino husband is far more charismatic than I am, and he has expanded so much of my understanding of the Holy Spirit. He believes in His power, that He is alive and moving in the world. And through my husband, I have exponentially grown in my love for and sensitivity to the workings of the Holy Spirit.
This is why we need each other.
No one culture has the entire revelation of God in them. No one culture has the sole correct view of God either.
Each culture is like one piece of the puzzle. It’s only when we are united that we can begin to behold the entire picture of God together.
So, sisters, let us fight to value each other’s voice and view. Let us see women of other cultures for what they truly are, a reflection of the Imago Dei, and may that truth compel us to greater learning and greater love.
No one culture has the entire revelation of God in them. No one culture has the sole correct view of God either. It’s only when we are united that we can begin to behold the entire picture of God together. -@dr_reyes2: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Beautiful. Our separateness United is His magnificent tapestry. Thank you for speaking truth.
I love this! Such great post and so relevant and gives one some much needed perspectives. THANK YOU for sharing today!
Amen, Terrie! God placed these words on my heart in the midst of so much pain and confusion happening right now in this country. We need to see people as part of the Imago Dei first and foremost, and to see that we are linked to them as part of a divine mosaic.
Thank you, Pamela! Grateful that these words were of encouragement to you today!
Michelle,
I couldn’t agree more – we all come to know God (the God who judges and the God who lavishes us with grace) through different cultural lenses. As I have worked with Christians in Pakistan (which is perhaps one of the worst countries for persecuting Christians) to start a school for orphans and destitute children in order to give them the love of Jesus and the hope of an education, I realize just how different our cultures are. It amazes me that people who have so little, and who could literally die for their faith, have a deeper and stronger faith than I do. They know how to utterly and truly depend and rely upon God. They take the bad with the good much more so than Christians in first world countries. We too often believe in a Gospel of prosperity. Even as I’ve studied the Old Testament, what really strikes me is that no matter how many times God’s people and Kings break their covenant with God, when they humble themselves and repent, He restores blessing upon blessing to them. He is a good God. He desires relationship with us. He is love and He cannot deny himself. Great eye opening post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, I LOVE that you are working with kids in Pakistan! That is awesome! Praise God for the way he is using you to serve and how He is opening your eyes to more of him!
I absolutely love everything about this! How refreshing and encouraging, and an excellent reminder that we need each other. Together we are better.
We were each made in the image of God and as we were also each made unique I often thing of a prism or a diamond – many angles, views or perspectives if you will, sparkling in the presence of the ‘son’! Thank you sister for sharing!
Thank you, Heather! I love the idea of a prism or diamond. There is beauty in complexity. We need to always remember this no matter what difficulties our country faces.
Beautiful. Our prayer group values the Biblical concept of community. Each of us, regardless of race, are a part of the greater whole. As we share who we are in Christ through our love in action toward one another, we become stronger and can better represent the Kingdom of God.
Jesus said that our love for one another will distinguish us as His followers. That love encompasses grace, accountability, discipline, and the fruit of the Spirit. All of this and more, works together to further our charge of making disciples of all the nations.
That is beautiful, Patty! Thanks for sharing this.
I love today’s reading alot. Thank you for it. It reminds me of the kids Sunday School Song I learnt when at Sunday School years ago that is years ago now 48 years. Jesus loves all the Children red and yellow black and white. We are to do the same. What a lovely song it is we can learn so much from it. That we as Christian are to love all Gods people. Even if not saved. As sometime we find we need that person saved or not saved. They could be the one that helps us say we have white skin they have brown. They could be the one that just say can I give you a hug you look sad and that hug could be all you need too cheer you up. You could say to yourself I didn’t know that person even though they had different color of skin. They were kind enough to see I was a bit down and give me the hug I just needed. You know what stop and think about maybe Jesus sent them that day across your path to give you that hug. I seen it on tv in a programme you might not get where you live as I come from Northern Ireland. It is called Songs of Praise. They showed Christian doing different things. They had one time on the show. Showing Christian in a certain town going round asking people would you like a hug today. Some people asked why are you giving free hugs. They said to show you Jesus love you. If you don’t want one that is ok they said. Some people where so glad to get them. It made them feel that someone cares about them that they are not a nobody. That they matter enough to have a hug given to them. Just like Jesus love us all Red and Yellow Black and White. We are The Divine Mosaic of God. We all need either Christian or non Christian. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little
Thank you, Dawn, for sharing a piece of your heart. I love how you highlight skin color. My family is multiracial and we all have a wide range of skin colors. We prioritize talking about the beauty of each skin color and how God has made each one of us beautiful and unique. This is an important conversation to have, especially with our kids.
Michelle,
Everyone has their opinions about God. Some see a rigid ritualistic leader, others a judge or loving father. They are all correct. He is all those things. God designed us to be in community with each other. He wants us to share our thoughts & ideas. It is then that we can get a complete picture & put the puzzle pieces together. As you said “no one culture has the entire revelation of God-no one religion or denomination has it either. We all interpret the Gospel differently. We view God differently. It is when all ideas are shared, listened to & valued that we get the complete picture & the puzzle is complete.
Blessings 🙂
Thank you, Beth! I like your image of a puzzle too – another image that reinforces the idea that we need each other to be whole and to see God in full!
This was beautiful and powerful. Thank you.
Thank you, Lillian!
What a beautiful post! I so enjoyed reading it and taking your message to heart. Thank you!
Thank you, Marybeth! I’m grateful that these words were of encouragement to you!
I loved this. You had me at the title! I’m one of those white ladies who has struggled mightily with God’s judgment in the OT. Your perspective is really revelatory to me – you are so right – we need each other!
Praise God! We need each other for so many reasons, but especially to open each other’s eyes more to the full revelation of God. In fact, the more I interact with others in Scripture, the more I learn about my own preconceptions too. I am grateful for what my fellow sisters in Christ from around the world have taught me too.
Insightful and honest. Thank you for this article.
Thank you, Deanna!
This is beautiful, thank you ❤️
Such an encouraging reminder that we need each other in order to better understand the whole image of God, as well as expand our learning about and love for one another. I love the visual of a beautiful, divine mosaic of God in all His colors, complexity, and glory–created when we all come together, ready to listen, seeking to know. Thank you, Michelle!
Praise God! Thank you, Nancy.
I’m so glad to call you my sister, and I love what you shared here. Also, this. Yes and amen: “We have much to learn from each other about who God is. The truth of the matter is that we need each other to see the whole image of God.”
Thank you, friend! I’ve learned so much from you as well!
A great post thank you for sharing. I have to keep telling myself my view is not the correct one yet it seems so. It’s our upbringing and different cultures that are in grained in us. How wonderful God has taught us to be a community to love and to serve, we learn so much and to be tolerant of each other. To be humble like our Lord.
Hi Crystal! I hear you. This exercise requires a great deal of cultural humility – a lesson I am continually learning. May we all intentionally seek to be better listeners and better learners as we pursue God in community.
Beautifully expressed, my friend. I appreciate you letting us in on your learning and inviting us to join you in it. We need each other to see the fullness of God. Yes. Every day. Amen.
beautiful write up. I was once told while in bible college that our own personal view of God comes from ourselves. so a merciful God ? a wrath God ? a protective God ? often who we are we think our father is and see it thru those lens.
I appreciate the write up about culture. I struggle with different views on Jesus too , alot has been added in this faith that wasn’t what he put there. old testament too.
well written
What strong and beautiful insight, dear Michelle. Thank you for calling us to do the hard work, by faith, of seeing, hearing, learning about, and loving each other. Such a timely challenge. Deepest thanks! Love, Patricia
As I read this well written article, I considered that even church cultures have blind spots and often demonstrate one quality, aspect of attribute of God. Ex Pentecostal vs Catholic. Beautiful in their own way, vastly different. Thank you for your words