Not only where the kings and leaders affected, but whole families were involved, "The children gather the wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven" {Jer. 7:18} What god are we directing our families toward? If not a physical idol of clay or stone, may if be the god of comfort, pleasure, vacation, money? What determines how we spend our time - culture or Christ? What determines how we worship - culture or Christ?
To include myself, American culture says that my college years are for having fun, sowing a few or many wild oats, my body is for advertisement, to do what feels good and follow my heart. In the south, it could be said that I should be 'sweet as honey' to get what I want; I call it Southern-girl manipulation. Yet what does Christ say about our youth? That we are to be an example {1 Tim 4:12}, that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit {1 Cor 6:19-20}, that my heart is deceitful {Jer. 17:9}, and all thoughts and actions are to be yielded to Christ {Col 3:23}. Much more could be said about any of these topics or any other stage of life.
But I often walk away from another country with mixed feelings, as I also come home with mixed feelings. While I firmly believe we should be informed of the world we live in and current events, simply because something is a part of anyone's culture does not make it good.
Ultimately, traveling must not become a time where we leave behind discretion and Godly wisdom, or when we let emotions lead the way, when the heart is its own guide, and we live for the next photo op or high. It should instead be a time to get outside of our comfort zone with humility, a reality check, to see beyond my needs to the needs of others, to learn of other's joys and suffering.
As Christians do we not also struggle and lose focus of following Christ in a desire to be accepted and validated by our culture? Christ' words were counter-culture even in His time: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In our human perspective, this does not make sense: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." {Rom 12:14} The God of the Universe washing the disciples' feet, or the King of kings being born in the presence of animals, or His example of "servant leadership" does not make earthly sense. The American Dream of self-sufficiency and independence can lead us to believe we are what we make ourselves to be, that we can set our own rules, live by our heart's dream - but this also must be brought into submission to God's Word and yielded to Christ as much as any other culture.
Culture changes; yet we must not accept societal norms
before asking God for Truth and the courage to live it out.
"Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offering to {idols}, and go on after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say 'We are delivered!' - only to go on doing all these abominations?" {Jer. 7:9-10}
We are many peoples, many countries, many cultures, yet all in desperate need of One Savior.