Multiculturalism?

Australia strongly embodies multiculturalism.
Basically in Australia we’re all migrants. Mostly just in the last 200 years. Of course our “native” population migrated here a long time before the rest of us, but even they are migrants really.
And of course every migrant group has its own home culture - the culture from their own country.
So in Australia we encourage each group to retain its home culture when they migrate. And to keep living it out here.
So we have groups of Nepalese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Ukrainians, Yugoslavians, Jews, Indonesians, Turks, Islanders… so many.
And they tend to live in those groups within suburbs of each city and rejoice and live their “home” culture here.

On the plus side we all get to see and experience that culture, (and the food!), without having to travel overseas. It really highlights our diversity, and teaches us to appreciate each others’ differences.
On the negative side, we’re not really a united nation. It does tend to divide us, and particularly some group’s home countries aren’t really friendly with each other, and that comes with them here and their cultural groups here live that out here too. ☹️

This is kind of how Christianity used to work too right?
We would go out into the world, and live in our groups, and live out our culture in front of them so they could see it and be attracted to it all. They would see that our families were great role models. Our kids were raised with different values to theirs. And they wanted to hang out with us because our lives had things about them that they wanted in theirs but didn’t have.

What has happened!!
Now I see so many Christians living like they’re worldly. Living out the world’s culture instead of ours.
It’s increasingly difficult to tell the difference between Christian families and non.

We watch ridiculous and often immoral TV shows like they do, we get addicted to computer games like they do, we even do drugs like they do! We watch pornography like they do. We have sex outside of marriage like they do. We dress immodestly like they do. We obsess with image and fashion like they do. We love money like they do. We have insane mortgages to buy ridiculously expensive houses like they do.

And just like them, we no longer give any of our money to God. Let alone the 10% which was always considered the minimum normal amount to give. (You know it’s his money right, even then you’re actually keeping 90%).

If this is you. You need to stop. You need to confess. You need to change. Today.
Just ask him to help you become a Christian who lives out the life he meant for you. He will.

If this is someone you know. Pray for them. Every day.
And live out your life the way you should in front of them. Not in judgement, but as an example. So they can see that it can be done. So they can see how much better it is that what they’re living out.
And when they ask you to help them change to be more like you, be there for them.

I don’t usually do this, but these are the specific verses from the Readings. Just so you can see how strong this is in the Bible.

Matthew 5:14
You’re the light of the world. A town which lies on a mountain isn’t able to be hidden.

John 15:18
If the world hates you, you perceive that it hated me before it hated you.

Romans 12:2
And don’t be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you discern what the will of God is — good and pleasing and perfect.

Philippians 2:15
so that you may become blameless and pure children of God. Blameless in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation — in which you shine like lights in the world,

James 4:4
Adulterers and adulteresses. Don’t you know that fondness of the world is enmity with God? So whoever intends to be a friend of the world is appointed as an enemy of God.

1 Peter 2:9
But you’re a selected family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a procured people, (who should recount the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light),

1 John 2:15
Don’t love the world, nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the father isn’t in them.


	Multiculturalism?
READING Romans 12 1 Peter 2 John 15 Philippians 2 1 John 2 James 4 Matthew 5 Don’t be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you discern what the will of God is — good and pleasing and perfect.	Australia strongly embodies multiculturalism. Basically in Australia we’re all migrants. Mostly just in the last 200 years. Of course our “native” population migrated here a long time before the rest of us, but even they are migrants really. And of course every migrant group has its own home culture - the culture from their own country. So in Australia we encourage each group to retain its home culture when they migrate. And to keep living it out here. So we have groups of Nepalese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Ukrainians, Yugoslavians, Jews, Indonesians, Turks, Islanders… so many. And they tend to live in those groups within suburbs of each city and rejoice and live their “home” culture here. On the plus side we all get to see and experience that culture, (and the food!), without having to travel overseas. It really highlights our diversity, and teaches us to appreciate each others’ differences. On the negative side, we’re not really a united nation. It does tend to divide us, and particularly some group’s home countries aren’t really friendly with each other, and that comes with them here and their cultural groups here live that out here too. ☹️ This is kind of how Christianity used to work too right? We would go out into the world, and live in our groups, and live out our culture in front of them so they could see it and be attracted to it all. They would see that our families were great role models. Our kids were raised with different values to theirs. And they wanted to hang out with us because our lives had things about them that they wanted in theirs but didn’t have. What has happened!! Now I see so many Christians living like they’re worldly. Living out the world’s culture instead of ours. It’s increasingly difficult to tell the difference between Christian families and non. We watch ridiculous and often immoral TV shows like they do, we get addicted to computer games like they do, we even do drugs like they do! We watch pornography like they do. We have sex outside of marriage like they do. We dress immodestly like they do. We obsess with image and fashion like they do. We love money like they do. We have insane mortgages to buy ridiculously expensive houses like they do. And just like them, we no longer give any of our money to God. Let alone the 10% which was always considered the minimum normal amount to give. (You know it’s his money right, even then you’re actually keeping 90%). If this is you. You need to stop. You need to confess. You need to change. Today. Just ask him to help you become a Christian who lives out the life he meant for you. He will. If this is someone you know. Pray for them. Every day. And live out your life the way you should in front of them. Not in judgement, but as an example. So they can see that it can be done. So they can see how much better it is that what they’re living out. And when they ask you to help them change to be more like you, be there for them. I don’t usually do this, but these are the specific verses from the Readings. Just so you can see how strong this is in the Bible. Matthew 5:14 You’re the light of the world. A town which lies on a mountain isn’t able to be hidden. John 15:18 If the world hates you, you perceive that it hated me before it hated you. Romans 12:2 And don’t be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you discern what the will of God is — good and pleasing and perfect. Philippians 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure children of God. Blameless in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation — in which you shine like lights in the world, James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses. Don’t you know that fondness of the world is enmity with God? So whoever intends to be a friend of the world is appointed as an enemy of God. 1 Peter 2:9 But you’re a selected family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a procured people, (who should recount the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light), 1 John 2:15 Don’t love the world, nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the father isn’t in them.