Faith in God is a living force that manifests itself in different ways in the lives of different people, but it points us all to the same Creator. When we look at the Body of Christ around the world, we see it as a living tapestry of many unique people from different cultures, all connected in God’s global family. Every culture brings new approaches to how we worship, pray, and trust God through different seasons of life. Whether we share a meal on Cinco de Mayo in the spring or light a candle at a holiday festival in the winter, these experiences are rare opportunities to step outside of our own bubbles and see how big God’s world really is. We can celebrate our common faith with friends and family from diverse backgrounds, confident that even though our faith traditions may differ, our Savior is the same.
1. Enjoy meals together. In almost every culture, the center of the home is the table where people eat together. Food is both love and fuel for our bodies. When celebrating a holiday like Cinco de Mayo, it’s easy to focus only on the delicious food. But for many, the holiday is also a celebration of ways to put faith into practice, such as trusting God to overcome difficulties and living free from oppression. As Christians, we can use these holiday experiences to practice the hospitality God requires of us. When we sit down to eat with friends and family from different cultures, God’s love flows between us and we experience God’s kindness. Psalm 34:8 exhorts, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are they that take refuge in Him.” Just as we enjoy the flavors and textures of a delicious meal, we can enjoy God’s blessings when we eat together. We can talk about faith while eating. For example, ask about the history of the traditional dishes being served, how those recipes demonstrate God’s work in the past, and pray together for blessings on the food. You could also discuss Bible stories about how God uses food to reveal love.
2. Share your story. One of the most powerful ways to celebrate faith across cultures is through storytelling. In many parts of the world, sharing stories is the main way faith is passed down from generation to generation. Adults and seniors tell young people how God has answered specific prayers to meet important needs and why they have chosen to trust God at different times in their lives. In the process, they build intergenerational relationships that strengthen their faith. When we gather for cultural holidays, we need to make time for storytelling rather than rushing through the festivities. Psalm 145:4 declares: “One generation will praise your works to another, and they will tell of your great deeds.” This applies not only to individual families, but also to believers around the world. So let’s learn how to tell stories and listen better. Imagine the strong connections that are formed when you sit down at a celebration and ask your friends and family how they came to know Jesus. Sharing our stories helps us overcome cultural barriers and begin to focus on the connections we share as brothers and sisters in Christ. Hearing how God has worked in different parts of the world or through the lens of different cultures expands our view of God’s power and builds our own faith. It also creates a powerful sense of unity, knowing that despite our different languages and backgrounds, we all trust in the same God.
3. Look for ways in which God’s grace manifests itself. Every culture has its own seasons. Many cultures set aside specific days to honor their ancestors or celebrate the end of difficult periods in history. As we celebrate the day with friends and family from other cultures, we can learn anew how God’s grace manifests and renew our own faith journeys. Although certain faith practices may be foreign to us, we can all relate to the central theme of trusting and worshiping God. The Bible points out in Romans 12:4-5: “Just as each of us has one body, having many members, not all of which have the same function, so in Christ we form at most one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Ourselves As we participate in cultural holidays, we can enjoy learning about how our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ are fulfilling their roles in complementary ways to ours, and how God’s grace is at work through it all. God’s grace ultimately unites us because within the worldwide family of believers we all share the same Savior. Titus 2:11 says: “For the grace of God has appeared, which gives salvation to all men.” We can celebrate God’s grace together by looking for ways in which cultural holidays demonstrate God’s grace and how God’s grace inspires us to be merciful to one another in our relationships.
4. Worship together in creative ways. God’s amazing creativity is on full display in the many ways people express their love for God through worship. In some cultures, worship practices are loud and joyful, while in others they are quiet and meditative. As Jesus says in John 4:24, celebrating our faith across cultures includes being willing to worship in spirit and truth. God has given us great freedom in how we worship. God wants us to worship with all our heart. He is not calling for a particular style of worship. When we worship with people from other cultures, we can try new ways of worshiping, including those that are outside of our comfort zone. During cultural holidays, you often find certain music, art, etc. that are meaningfully connected to both faith and culture. We can look at faith-related cultural practices as ways of worshiping God beyond the worship practices we are accustomed to in our own culture and church liturgical traditions. When we embrace different styles of worship, we are essentially practicing worshiping God in heaven with different groups of souls and angels. Revelation 7:9 describes what wordless worship will be like in heaven. “…before me stood before the throne and before the Lamb a great multitude, more than any man could number, from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were clothed with white robes, and held palm branches in their hands.” We can participate in this future reality now by appreciating the creative worship practices of our friends and family from different cultures. Maybe listen to worship music in another language or participate in a cultural dance that tells the story of your faith. Being open to worshiping together in creative ways shows that we value the expression of our friends and family’s faith and that we seek to see God through their perspective.
5. Let’s serve together in love. Finally, by working together to serve those in need, we can celebrate our faith in powerful ways across cultures. Many cultural holidays have an underlying theme of community support and helping those in distress. Galatians 5:13 reminds us: “You were called to be free, my brothers and sisters. But do not take advantage of your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another in love and humility.” Service breaks down barriers between people faster than any other service. It shows everyone involved that our faith is not just about what we believe, but how we love. To effectively serve across cultures, we must proactively identify what our communities’ actual needs are, rather than assuming we already know. To do this, you need to be willing to ask questions and do menial tasks such as cleaning up after a celebration or helping with childcare. When we continually show up and thank God, people begin to realize that Jesus is truly working in our lives. Serving with people from other cultures shows others that our faith is a way of life that transcends barriers and unites people in the name of Jesus. By working with people from diverse backgrounds, we can show the watching world that the gospel is powerful enough to unite everyone.
In conclusion, celebrating faith across cultures reminds us that God’s Kingdom is much bigger than our limited experience. God’s love is broad enough to cover all people of every culture on earth. By enjoying meals together, sharing stories, exploring how God’s grace manifests itself, worshiping in creative ways, and serving one another in love, we can build the unity that Jesus prayed for his followers to have. So as we navigate the different seasons of the year, from Cinco de Mayo to the holidays, let us be open to the beauty of diversity and remember that we are all part of God’s family together.
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Whitney Hopler helps people discover the wonders of God and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at major media organizations including Crosswalk.com, the national publication of the Salvation Army USA, and Dotdash.com (producing the popular Angels and Miracles channel). She currently leads communications efforts at George Mason University’s Center for Human Services Advancement. Connect with Whitney on her website www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.
