Examples of Cultural Influences Contrary to Biblical Teachings
Cultural influences can lead individuals and communities away from biblical teachings, often by promoting practices or beliefs contrary to God's revealed will. The Bible itself frequently addresses the tension between divine commands and prevailing cultural norms.
One significant area of conflict is the adoption of idolatry and pagan practices. The Old Testament repeatedly condemns Israel's tendency to worship foreign deities, which is often depicted as spiritual adultery, a breach of their covenant with God [4, 5]. For instance, Jeremiah 5:7-8 lists the people's rejection of the Lord and submission to pagan gods as evidence of their sin [4]. This idolatry was closely linked to sexual misconduct in Israel, as both represented a violation of an exclusive covenant [4]. Ezekiel 5:7 highlights how the Israelites' "extravagant rage for idols" surpassed even the tenacity of other nations for their false gods [8]. Revelation 17:2 uses the imagery of "adultery" with a harlot to symbolize serving other gods, connecting it to the wanton and immoral behavior often associated with nations indulging in sin [5].
Another form of cultural influence contrary to biblical teaching involves human traditions that undermine divine commands. Jesus himself critiqued the Pharisees for nullifying the word of God through their traditions, citing it as an example of a broader problem [1]. This suggests that human-made rules, even those intended to promote piety, can become obstacles to true obedience if they contradict God's explicit instructions [1].
The New Testament also warns against being swayed by "divers and strange doctrines" [7]. The author of Hebrews cautions believers not to be "carried aside" by such teachings, which differ from the singular faith in Jesus Christ taught by their leaders [2]. These "strange doctrines" are described as foreign to the truth and often involve ascetic practices, such as distinctions between clean and unclean meats, which were promoted by Judaizers in Christian times [2]. The apostle Paul similarly addressed issues related to food in 1 Corinthians 8:8, 13 and Romans 14:17, indicating that such cultural or traditional dietary rules could distract from the core of the gospel [2]. John Gill, in his commentary on Hebrews 13:9, notes that "divers" doctrines can refer to the variety of legal rites, traditions of elders, or other human teachings, contrasting them with the uniform doctrine of Scripture [7].
Peer pressure and cultural domination can also tempt the godly to deviate from biblical principles [3]. The early Christian communities, like the Thessalonians, faced persecution from Jews in their cities, similar to the persecution experienced by churches in Judea [6]. Despite these pressures, they were called to be "imitators" of the churches in Judea, which were established on the scene of Christ's ministry [6]. This highlights the importance of adhering to foundational biblical teachings even when facing opposition from the surrounding culture.
Sources
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 7:13: 7:13 The result of such traditions was to cancel the word of God. • only one example among many others: It was not an isolated instance; see, e.g., Isa 1:10-20; 58:1-14.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:9: about--rather, as oldest manuscripts read, "carried aside"; namely, compare Eph 4:14. divers--differing from the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ, as taught by them who had the rule over you (Heb 13:7). strange--foreign to the truth. doctrines--"teachings." established with grace; not with meats--not with observances of Jewish distinctions between clean and unclean meats, to which ascetic Judaizers added in Christian times the rejection of some meats, and the use of others: noticed also by Paul in Co1 8:8, Co1 8:13; Co1 6:13; Rom”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 125:3: 125:3 The godly might be tempted through peer pressure and cultural domination.”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 5:7: 5:7-8 These verses list the evidence of sins the people had committed, including rejection of the Lord, submission to pagan deities, and sexual misconduct (7:9; 12:16; Num 25:1-3; Deut 32:21; Josh 23:7; Zeph 1:5; Gal 4:8). Idolatry and adultery were closely connected in Israel because both represented the breach of an exclusive covenant.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 17:2: 17:2 Adultery with her is a biblical image for serving other gods (see, e.g., Exod 34:12-16; Judg 2:17; Hos 2). • drunk by . . . her immorality: Drunkenness in Scripture often depicts nations that indulge in wanton and immoral behavior (see Rev 18:3, 9; Jer 25:27; 51:7; Lam 4:21; Ezek 23:33).”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 2:14: followers--Greek, "imitators." Divine working is most of all seen and felt in affliction. in Judea--The churches of Judea were naturally the patterns to other churches, as having been the first founded, and that on the very scene of Christ's own ministry. Reference to them is specially appropriate here, as the Thessalonians, with Paul and Silas, had experienced from Jews in their city persecutions (Act 17:5-9) similar to those which "the churches in Judea" experienced from Jews in that country. in Christ Jesus--not merely "in God"; for the”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 5:7: multiplied--rather, "have been more abundantly outrageous"; literally, "to tumultuate"; to have an extravagant rage for idols. neither have done according to the judgments of the nations--have not been as tenacious of the true religion as the nations have been of the false. The heathen "changed" not their gods, but the Jews changed Jehovah for idols (see Eze 5:6, "changed My judgments into wickedness," that is, idolatry, Jer 2:11). The Chaldean version and the Masora support the negative. Others omit it (as it is omitted in Eze 11:12), and translate,”