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What are some aspects of Christianity, as you practice it, that may be the result of your culture more than of the gospel? Have you seen churches of a culture other than your own expressing the gospel differently than you? In what ways?
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The way I practiced Christianity in the past was definitely cultural and not of the gospel. For instance; not eating meat on Friday, not being allowed to read the bible, calling a priest “Father”, the use of confessing to a priest who was supposedly the only one who could forgive sins and speak directly to God, Virgin Mother worship with the use a
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Here in the United States, we practice differently than in many areas around the world. We like to believe that we practice our faith in the true form, but that would be arrogant of us. In Africa the services are different, and have a lot of praise & worship. In Chile, the Catholic Church was tha same as here. When I left the Catholic Church, my family considered me apostate. Also, here in the US we have very different ways of worshipping in white churches vs black churches. Yet we practice the same faith.
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There are numerous different aspects of Christianity that do not reflect the way that I choose to practice my faith. These differences are typically tied to denominational beliefs. The church that I attend is Pentecostal (uses the gifts of the Holy Spirit freely) and is quite charismatic. Many other churches do not adhere to nor agree with those beliefs. The “church culture” and/or family that you grow up in often determines your dogma and corresponding worship style. I had the benefit of being raised as split between Southern Baptist (conservative and traditional) and a Full Gospel Church (charismatic and Pentecostal). I see it as having the best of both worlds – good scriptural foundation and a good grasp of the Gifts of the Spirit. I happen to live across the street from a Seventh Day Adventist Korean Church that meets on Saturday rather than Sunday. Many of their core beliefs differ somewhat from my own. Yet, at the core of both are beliefs is a knowledge of Christ and his sacrifice for mankind. Differences do not mean that one is right and the other one is wrong, it simply means we choose to interpret some details of the Bible differently. Thus leading to different practices between different faiths.
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When it comes down to some aspects of Christianity that are more of a result of culture than gospel from what I can ascertain, it derives from what is believed about the gospel within that particular culture and also how it is lived out/shown within that culture as well.