Culture Clash

Romans 14:1-4:

 1Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours. 2Some think it is all right to eat anything, while those whose faith is weak will eat only vegetables. 3But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone. 4What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right. CEV

Each culture has its own taboos. Kenneth Matthews writes of a missionary couple from the United States, who grew up in the “Bible Belt.” There, alcohol and cigarette smoking were banished for members of their church.

This couple decided to move to Germany to do missionary work. After they relocated, they decided to visit the home of a German couple, who were Christians.

The missionaries arrived at the house of their hosts and knocked on the door. The German hostess opened the door, and proceeded to drop her wine glass.

The fact the she was drinking wine shocked the missionary couple. Later, they were even more surprised to learn the reason the German hostess had dropped her wine glass— she was shocked to see the missionary's wife with makeup on her face–a no–no in German Christian culture.