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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: BRIDE (02/25/21)
It is not the intention of Bible Translators or missionaries to change cultures unnecessarily. However, God’s Word does change cultures—for the better!

Brian was a Bible translator in a primative culture. One day, as he was working, his native helper said, “Brian, in my culture the elders of the village have sex with the bride prior to the wedding day. Do they do that in your culture?”

Undoubtedly, the question interrupted Brian’s trend of thought. It was an important question, however, because his helper was planning to get married.

To those of us in modern civilizations this seems preposterous, but it wasn’t all that shocking to Brian. He said to his helper, “What the Bible teaches about that subject is more important than my culture. So you look it up and tell me what you think it says.”

Several days later the helper returned and said, “Mr. Brian, I think the Bible teaches that there is to be no sex outside of marriage. Is that correct?” *

“Yes. That is correct.”

This posed a huge problem for the helper. He really did not want to stand up to his elders. However, he desired to live by the teachings of the Bible, so he told his bride, “When the elders come to your hut, do not give in to their desires. If they insist, scream for me. I will be close and will come and rescue you.”

That is exactly what happened.

The bride and groom really liked this teaching of Jesus and decided to apply it to their relationship. Soon other brides and grooms were following the teachings of Jesus and the culture was changed.

The practical results that came from applying God’s Word to the culture included the health of the bride and groom, a sence of fidelity between the bride and groom, an appreciation of God’s gift to marriage, and much more.

This is only one example of how God’s Word has improved the culture. His teachings on hate, love, forgiveness and jealousy have had tremendous impacts around the world in many cultures.

People have said to me, “I think that we should let those of other cultures live their life as they desire.” Those remarks are made by people who have not thought through the implications of what they said.

All kinds of positive changes in lives and cultures have resulted from introducing people to Jesus. God gave us His Word to make our life better. When we apply it, we will be happier and more fulfilled.

Let’s keep teaching the truths of Jesus Christ and supporting our missionaries!

Non-Fiction
Exodus 20:15 NIV “You shall not commit adultery.”
I Corinthians 7
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This article has been read 343 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Virgil Youngblood 
03/04/21
I like what you have written. I think if the first paragraph was deleted, the next paragraph will capture reader interest. The story conveys everything eliminated in the first paragraph. Well done.
Ruthie Alekseeva
03/05/21
A very interesting read with a great message.
Gregory Kane
03/05/21
I think that sometimes missionaries do change culture owing to a lack of cross-cultural understanding. For example, westerners might impose European style clothing on the assumption that this is somehow more godly. If you read biographies of Hudson Taylor, it is fascinating how he adopted Chinese clothing (to the affront of his fellow missionaries) and in so doing won many souls for Christ.

Nevertheless there are very real issues here. When we worked in Africa, we were aware of customs similar to the Levirite marriage whereby if a man died of HIV, his brothers would take in the wife and attempt to 'purify' her through them all sleeping with her. Such practices only increased the infection rate. So well done for illustrating a very real issue.
Sue Botte 
03/07/21
Thank you for this informative article; being a rape and rape attempted survivor myself, my heart goes out to the women to whom this and similar untruth cultural practices has happened to. The Truth of Jesus's Love has set us free!