CREATING A KINGDOM CULTURE

Proverbs chapter 8







Today we are walking in: Creating A Kingdom Culture







Numbers 24:7




He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 24:7 את CEPHER













KINGDOM







Today we look to the word-KINGDOM- H4467 mamlâkâh, (mam-law-kaw') -dominion, (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm):—kingdom, king's, reign, royal







The Torah testifies...............




Exodus 19:6




And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Yashar'el. SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 19:6 את CEPHER




Numbers 32:33




And Mosheh gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Re'uven, and unto half the tribe of Menashsheh the son of Yoceph, the kingdom of Ciychon king of the Emoriym, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about. BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 32:33 את CEPHER




Deuteronomy 17:18




And it shall be, when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this Torah in a cepher out of that which is before the priests the Leviyiym: DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 17:18 את CEPHER










The prophets proclaim..................




1 Samuel 10:18




And said unto the children of Yashar'el, Thus says Yahuah Elohai of Yashar'el, I brought up Yashar'el out of Mitsrayim, and delivered you out of the hand of the Mitsriym, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: SHEMU'EL RI'SHON (1 SAMUEL) 10:18 את CEPHER







Isaiah 9:7




Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of Yahuah Tseva'oth will perform this. YESHA'YAHU (ISAIAH) 9:7 את CEPHER










Jeremiah 18:9




And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; YIRMEYAHU (JEREMIAH) 18:9 את CEPHER



















The writings bear witness...........................







1 Kings 9:5




Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom upon Yashar'el forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man upon the throne of Yashar'el. MELEKIYM RI'SHON (1 KINGS) 9:5 את CEPHER







1 Chronicles 17:11




And it shall come to pass, when your days be expired that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will raise up your seed after you, which shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. DIVREI HAYAMIYM RI'SHON (1 CHRONICLES) 17:11 את CEPHER




Psalm 145:13




Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahuah is true in his word, and holy in all his works. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 145:13 את CEPHER



Chapter Seven




CREATING A KINGDOM CULTURE




Yah’S big idea has three simple goals: to reclaim the Earth for the Kingdom of Heaven, create a Kingdom culture on the Earth, and, as a result, produce a Kingdom community throughout the Earth. As I said in teaching One, all kingdoms seek to expand, usually through either outright conquest or colonization. In the beginning, Yah established a colony of Heaven on the Earth and placed the first two humans, Adam and Eve, in charge of it. His intent was that they and their descendants would rule the Earth according to His standards and principles and be fruitful and multiply until the entire planet was filled with His people manifesting His glory.




Unfortunately, Adam and Eve proved unwilling to live under Yah’s supreme rule and declared their independence by doing the one thing He told them not to: They ate of the fruit from the tree in the center of the Garden. In other words, Adam and Eve rebelled against their King. However, their experiment in independence and self-rule was a disastrous and utter failure. Human history has demonstrated time and time again that as a race we are manifestly incapable of governing ourselves effectively apart from the Spirit and principles of Yah. Yah, of course, knew this from the start, which is why, in the wake of man’s rebellion, He set into motion His plan to reclaim, or recolonize, the planet, a plan He established even before the foundations of the Earth were laid. (See Proverbs 8:22-31; Revelation 13:8.)




Recolonization is an unfamiliar concept because it is extremely rare for a colony, once it has declared its independence from a kingdom, to later change its mind and desire to return to colonial status. Yah, however, initiated the recolonization of Earth for two reasons: because His sovereign will and intent will never be thwarted, and because our survival as a race depends on it.




You will recall that a kingdom is the governing authority of a king over his territory—he impacts it with his will, purpose, and intent, producing a citizenry who reflect the king’s morals, values, and lifestyle. In this respect, a kingdom is completely opposite of a republic. In a republic, no one is required to act or think exactly like the president or to take on the president’s nature or values. Citizens of a true kingdom, however, are required to take on the king’s personal values, morals, and nature. Kingdom citizens are expected to exhibit the lifestyle and culture of the king.




This is why living in a kingdom is much more challenging than living in a democracy. In a democracy your individuality is protected. You can safeguard it. You can be yourself and make it a point of pride. In a kingdom, there is only one “self” to be, and that is the king. Anyone who does not take on the king’s nature, his moral standards, or his personal values is regarded as a rebel. Remember that in a kingdom the king’s word and will are law, and anyone who challenges that authority is guilty of rebellion against the government.




REVERSING ADAM’S FAILURE




In the Bible, rebellion against Yah is called sin. This is exactly what Adam and Eve were guilty of in the Garden of Eden. Their deliberate defiance of Yah’s prohibition against eating the fruit of the tree in the center of the Garden was an act of open rebellion. In so doing they were exercising their free will, the freedom to choose that Yah had given them. Before free will can truly exist, there must also be a component of choice, because free will is only possible where there is an alternative. So the tree in the center of the Garden, and Yah’s prohibition against eating its fruit, provided Adam and Eve with the capacity to use a gift that Yah had given them. Unfortunately, they used it in the wrong way; they could freely have chosen to obey Yah rather than disobey.




Adam and Eve declared rebellion against the government of Heaven, and the Bible calls it sin. In fact, the Bible speaks in some instances of sin, singular, and in others, of sins, plural, and there is a difference. Sin is the singular act of rebellion, while sins are the manifestations of that one act. Rebelling against the Kingdom is sin; sins are the day-to-day actions that constitute rebel-like behavior. The declaration of independence of the Adamic race from the Kingdom of Yah was an act of rebellion that has caused all of us, like Adam, to go our own way.




This personal independence is the number one tenet of capitalism and democratic republics. The thing Yah hates is the very thing we magnify. The thing that Yah says is our condemnation is the very thing we regard as our highest achievement. As independent individuals we can do whatever we like and pursue our own happiness and joy at our own expense. We take great pride in “doing our own thing”; whereas Yah says, “That’s the very problem with the world.” It’s a paradox. This is why it is very difficult to live in the Kingdom of Yah and live at the same time in a democracy under a capitalistic system. It is hard to strike a balance between the two, because the principles by which they operate are diametrically opposed to each other. It is for this reason that many believers do not manifest Kingdom culture and values in their lives the way they should. In their struggle between the Kingdom and the world, the world usually wins.




Yahusha Hamachiach came to Earth to put an end to our sin of rebellion, and, through His blood, to cleanse us of our sins, the rebellious behavior that was the inevitable consequence of our sin. Hamachiach came as a “second Adam” to reverse the consequences of the first Adam’s failure. The apostle Paul explained it this way:




Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 5:12 את CEPHER. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 5:18-19 את CEPHER

For as in A'dam all die, even so in Mashiach shall all be made alive. QORINTIYM RI'SHON (1 CORINTHIANS) 15:22 את CEPHER.




And so it is written, The first man A'dam was made a living soul; the last A'dam was made a quickening ruach. QORINTIYM RI'SHON (1 CORINTHIANS) 15:45 את CEPHER.




Hamachiach came to announce the return of the Kingdom of Heaven and to give us access through the sin-cleansing power of His blood. But He also, through His Spirit, placed in us the capacity to manifest Kingdom culture and values in our everyday life so that, as we go about our daily affairs, we can transform our little corner of the world into a thriving garden of His Kingdom.




KNOWN BY OUR CULTURE




Isaiah 45:18 says that Yah formed the Earth to be inhabited. He planted citizens of His heavenly country here as immigrants on Earth, so they could turn it into a conclave of Heaven. We are the immigrants. We live on the Earth but are not from the Earth. You and I were sent here by our Father out of His own womb. He made us as spiritual beings like Himself, then clothed us in an “earth suit” made from the dust of the ground, to fit us for inhabiting this physical world. We live here but we are not from here. Our homeland is Heaven, and as immigrants, our lives here, both individually and collectively, should reflect unmistakably the culture of our homeland.




Our culture as Kingdom citizens should be just as distinct and obvious as that of San Francisco’s Chinatown. The inhabitants of Chinatown live in the United States, and may even be American citizens, but everything about them—their language, their dress, their food, their customs—shows that their origin is from another place. Walk into Chinatown, and suddenly you can’t find a hot dog anywhere. Nobody is speaking English. These things are foreign to their culture. Chinatown is not an official “town,” but a community created by a group of people who share a common and distinct culture. It is not necessary to travel halfway around the world to learn what life is like in China. All you have to do is visit Chinatown, and you will “see” China, because it is a “garden” of the Chinese homeland that has bloomed in the West.




In the same way, people should be able to walk into our presence or our homes or our churches and feel like they have walked into another country. They should be able to tell immediately by our language, dress, manners, attitude, and behavior that we are not of this world. Our culture should stand out so clearly that no one can mistake it.




Life with Yahusha was always this way, which is why He attracted so much attention. People either loved Him or hated Him, accepted Him or rejected Him, but no one ignored Him. Everywhere He went He brought Kingdom culture. Throngs of people surrounded Him because He showed them the power, quality, nature, and irresistible appeal of a culture that could make them victors in life rather than victims—and then He told them how to get it.




One of the biggest struggles Yahusha’ disciples faced was learning how to shift their thinking and their behavior from the worldly culture of their birth to the Kingdom culture they had entered when they answered Yahusha’ call to follow Him. Every day He challenged their behavior, beliefs, values, thoughts, perceptions, assumptions, and expectations. They had to learn, for example, that what the world calls a “miracle” is everyday activity in the Kingdom of Heaven.




When Yahusha heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Yahusha went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his Talmidiym came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food. But Yahusha said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fish. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his Talmidiym, and the Talmidiym to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 14:13-21 את CEPHER.




Culture reflects government. In the world’s culture, some people go hungry. Some people are poor or sick or lacking some of the basic necessities for a high quality of life. Inequities abound, and injustice is rampant. Not in Kingdom culture. Wherever Yahusha went, sick people were made well— because there is no sickness in the Kingdom. Hungry people were fed and satisfied—because there is no hunger or lack of any kind in the Kingdom.




When 5,000 people in a remote place needed to be fed, Yahusha did the natural thing (from the Kingdom perspective)— He fed them. His disciples wanted to send the people away to buy food because they were approaching the situation from a point of view of lack. Yahusha, however, knew there was no lack because He had unlimited access to the unlimited resources of His Father’s Kingdom.




When Yahusha took those five loaves and two fish from His disciples, He took them out of an agrarian and fishing economy subsumed under Rome—and into Kingdom-ism. Once inside that new economy, the very atoms in that fish and bread began to behave differently. They began to split and reproduce. Nuclear scientists know that once you split one atom, every other atom can split itself. It is called multiplication. Yahusha performed the first atomic act with bread and fish, because in the Kingdom you can actually hand out atoms. What we call a miracle was simply normal activity in the Kingdom. And it should be normal activity for all who manifest Kingdom culture.




As Kingdom citizens, we should be known by our culture, and that culture should change the lives of everyone around us. Sickness, poverty, lack, hunger, fear, discouragement, defeat, curses, greed, lust, envy, jealousy, hatred, violence— none of these exist where Kingdom living prevails. The reason is simple: Kingdom culture reflects the life and environment of Heaven. None of those things are found in Heaven, so they should not be found in Heaven’s culture on Earth. Is it any wonder, then, why people in the world would be irresistibly attracted to a community that manifests such a culture?




MANIFESTATIONS OF CULTURE




The ultimate goal of Yah’s Garden Expansion Program is to reproduce on Earth the culture of His heavenly Kingdom—its fundamental principles as well as its language, lifestyle, values, and morals—with the end result of producing an earthly community that looks and acts like Heaven. Culture is the way of life that a people grow into. It is also defined as the conditions under which or within which living things grow. Culture is the inherent lifestyle manifested in the behavior of a distinct people. Again, Chinatown is a prime example. It may exist physically in America, but its culture is distinctly Chinese. The culture of Chinatown is a manifestation of the original homeland of the people who live and work there.




In addition, culture is the total life of a people passed on to their descendants. Culture is an extremely powerful thing. Its roots grow deep, and its influence reaches far. This is why a group of people bound together by culture can live for generations in a country not their own and still maintain their distinct identity. Culture encompasses the totality of life: dress, food, drink, customs, manners, etiquette, protocol, attitudes toward children and the elderly, religious beliefs, ethical and moral values, social norms, and both public and private behavior.




If we are manifesting Kingdom culture in our lives, people who meet us should be able to say, “I think I just entered Heaven. You don’t lie, you don’t cheat, you don’t steal, you don’t sleep around, you’ve been married to the same person for 30 years; what’s up with you? Where are you from? Why are you so different?” When people outside the Kingdom look at Kingdom citizens or a Kingdom community, they should see a culture distinctly different—and much more attractive—than their own.

But exactly how does culture manifest? Culture reveals itself in at least 16 specific ways. Let’s take a look.




1. VALUES




Every culture manifests itself in values. Values can be defined simply as those things that a society regards as valuable and worth protecting, preserving, and passing on. For example, if a society values divorce, there will be many divorces. In the Kingdom of Heaven, however, divorce is not a value, so it is not supposed to occur. In much of Western society, gay rights and same-sex marriage are fast approaching the status of values and may, before long, enjoy the full protection of the law. These things carry no value in the Kingdom of Heaven, however, because they go against our King’s standards.




Some churches and denominational groups have started lowering their standard of values in order to attract more people. Surrendering to political correctness and social pressures, they are adjusting their theology and their doctrine to accommodate personal perversion and give it dignity. The Bible says that those who do such things have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Yah. In contrast, the Kingdom of Yah never lowers its standards of value to accommodate anyone’s personal preferences. Instead, it challenges people to adjust their preferences to come into alignment with the Kingdom’s standards. In effect, the King has said, “Here are the standards for life in My Kingdom. Compliance is mandatory; otherwise, you don’t come in.”




The Kingdom of Heaven is not some fly-by-night religion. It is a serious government with serious power. The King will not put up with those who claim to live in His Kingdom yet refuse to obey His laws. He will not tolerate rebellion in the ranks. In ancient Israel, the sin of one person was enough to bring Yah’s judgment upon the entire community, and the entire community had to come together as one to remove the offender from their society. When a man named Achan took some of the spoils from the destruction of Jericho for himself in violation of Yah’s command, Yah withdrew His protection, and the Israelites were defeated in their next battle. It was only after Achan was exposed and confessed his sin, and after the community stoned him to death along with his family, that Yah’s preserving presence and power returned to Israel. (See Joshua 7.)




When the church in Corinth tolerated sexual immorality within its ranks, the apostle Paul minced no words:




IT is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the other nations, that one should have his father's woman. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that has done this deed might be taken away from among you. QORINTIYM RI'SHON (1 CORINTHIANS) 5:1-2 את CEPHER .I wrote unto you in a cepher not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such one do not eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them את that are within? But them that are without Elohiym judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. QORINTIYM RI'SHON (1 CORINTHIANS) 5:9-13 את CEPHER




Kingdom culture manifests in Yahly values that are never surrendered, compromised, or watered down at any time for any reason under any circumstances.




2. PRIORITIES




Culture reveals itself also in the life priorities of those who live in the culture. In Western society, for example, priority is given to making money and acquiring wealth and possessions. Capitalism and consumerism are the Yahs of greed, as many people consume their lives pursuing the almighty dollar (or pound or franc or peso). Yet Yahusha said:




No man can serve two above all: for either he will hate the one, and את love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve Elohiym and mammon. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 6:24 את CEPHER.




He then went on to describe the priorities of His Kingdom and its culture:




Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the other nations seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of Elohiym, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 6:31-34 את CEPHER.




In Kingdom culture, the King’s priorities are the citizen’s priorities. Like Yahusha, who said, “I do only what I see My Father doing,” Kingdom citizens have no priorities of their own, but only those given to them by the King. He has promised that if we give priority to His Kingdom and His righteousness, He will give priority to our needs.




3. BEHAVIORS




All of us reveal our culture by our behavior. The respect (or lack of respect) that we show toward parents, teachers, law enforcement, and other authority figures speaks volumes about our culture. So do the degree and tolerance level given to such behaviors as public drunkenness, gambling, carousing, lewdness, and the like. Outward behavior gives expression to the content of the heart. Unhealthy behavior is always a sign of an unhealthy culture.




Kingdom behavior is defined by commands such as:

Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which Yahuah Elohayka gives you. SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 20:12 את CEPHER.

CHILDREN, obey your parents in Yahuah: for this is right. EPH'SIYM (EPHESIANS) 6:1 את CEPHER.




Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Ruach Ha'Qodesh of Elohiym, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as Elohiym for Mashiach's sake has forgiven you. EPH'SIYM (EPHESIANS) 4:29-32 את CEPHER.




Sober, wholesome, upright, disciplined, and responsible behavior seems to be a vanishing commodity in our increasingly “anything goes” society, but such behavior is the expected norm in the culture of the Kingdom.




4. STANDARDS




Every culture has standards of conduct that determine how people treat one another. Worldly culture as a whole operates by a standard that is essentially selfish, putting one’s own welfare ahead of all others. Many people concentrate on grabbing for their own piece of the pie, using and discarding other people in their scramble for the top. It’s dog-eat-dog and every man for himself.




Not in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom operates by a completely different, even opposite standard, which Yahusha demonstrated in both word and example. The night before He was crucified, Yahusha shared a final Passover meal with His disciples. Before the meal, He took off His outer clothing, wrapped a towel around His waist like a servant, and proceeded to wash the dirty, smelly feet of His disciples. This was a task normally relegated to the lowest of slaves. Afterward, He explained what He had done:




So after he had washed את their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Rabbi and Yahuah: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Yahuah and Rabbi, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Amein, Amein, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his adoniy; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. YOCHANON (JOHN) 13:12-17 את CEPHER.




On another occasion, when the disciples were arguing

about which of them was the greatest, Yahusha set them straight:




And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. MARQUS (MARK) 9:35 את CEPHER.




The standard of conduct for greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is not self-promotion but servanthood.




5. CELEBRATIONS




Another distinguishing feature of a culture is found in the celebrations it observes. Whatever we celebrate, we elevate. In other words, we show what is most important to us by the things we give special attention to. I repeat: Whatever we celebrate, we elevate. Whatever we elevate, we worship. Whatever we ignore, we destroy. If your nation, state, or community celebrates “Gay Pride Day” every year with a parade, it says a lot about your culture. If you celebrate annually the anniversary of the legalization of abortion, it says a lot about your culture.




Yah gave the ancient Israelites seven festivals to celebrate throughout the year in commemoration of events such as His deliverance of them from slavery in Egypt (Passover), and His care, preservation, and provision for them in the wilderness (Feast of Tabernacles). Kingdom culture celebrates significant events in the life of Yah’s people.




6. MORALITY




One of the clearest indicators of the nature and health of a culture is the moral climate it encourages. For example, a society that winks at or ignores prostitution, adultery, pornography, homosexual behavior, cohabitation, out-of- wedlock pregnancies, and abortion is a society on the road to destruction.




All of these things are diametrically opposed to the moral standards of the Kingdom of Heaven. Kingdom culture says:




You shall not kill. You shall not break wedlock. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not lust after your neighbor's house, you shall not lust after your neighbor's woman, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbor's. SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 20:13-17 את CEPHER.

Kingdom culture also says:




But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes the qodeshiym; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Mashiach and of Elohiym. EPH'SIYM (EPHESIANS) 5:3-5 את CEPHER.




When Kingdom citizens live according to these moral standards, they will stand out to such a degree that the world cannot help but take notice.




7. RELATIONSHIPS




People reveal their culture by their relationships: who and what they relate to as a nation, as well as the nature and character of their personal and interpersonal relationships. In the arena of international politics, for example, a nation reveals its culture by who it makes alliances with and why. A country that aligns itself with a terrorist state or repressive regime reveals that it has a culture sympathetic to terrorism, or at least a culture that places trade agreements and economic benefits above human rights, dignity, and worth.




Interpersonal relationships in a worldly culture often are characterized by superficiality and self-centeredness, with people looking out for their personal interests first and valuing other people only as commodities for filling emotional, sexual, or professional needs.

Kingdom culture always puts others ahead of self and puts love over all. When asked to identify the greatest commandment of all, Yahusha said:




“Yahusha said unto him, You shall love את Yahuah Elohayka with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Torah and the prophets. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 22:37-40 את CEPHER.

Unconditional, unselfish love is the single greatest distinguishing factor of Kingdom culture. As Yahusha instructed His disciples:




A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my Talmidiym, if ye have love one to another. YOCHANON (JOHN) 13:34-35 את CEPHER.




And the apostle Paul adds this counsel:




Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. PHILIPPIYM (PHILIPPIANS) 2:3-4 את CEPHER.

These Kingdom principles of love, humility, and selfless regard for others apply to every human relationship without exception or limitation.




8. ETHICS




The character of a nation’s culture also is revealed in the ethical standards it practices. These may be quite different from the “official” standards established by law for ethical behavior. Many corrupt and unethical governments have given lip service to the highest ethical standards, even as their leaders victimized the people and plundered the treasury for their own enrichment. Corruption as the moral fabric of a culture guarantees the poverty of a nation, not only economically, but morally and spiritually as well.




On a more personal level, actions such as padding the books, failure to deliver what was promised, and taking advantage of people’s ignorance or inexperience by charging them more for goods or services because you know they will never know the difference—all of these are unethical practices symptomatic of worldly culture; they have no place in the life or behavior of a Kingdom citizen.

Kingdom culture means treating everyone with fairness, equality, dignity, and worth. It means doing an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. It means not taking unfair advantage of someone even when the opportunity arises. It means being honest in all of one’s dealings and being true to one’s word, even to personal detriment.




9. SOCIAL NORMS




Social norms are behaviors that a society accepts as normal; and they are reliable revealers of culture. In the Bahamas, for example, many people accept the practice of “sweethearting” as a normal activity. “Sweethearting” means that a husband or wife has another lover, or “sweetheart,” on the side. Americans call it “having an affair,” but whatever terminology is used, we are still talking about infidelity— adultery. Calling it an “affair” or “sweethearting” dresses it up and makes the whole thing sound more like a great romantic adventure than the terrible affront and sin that it is, both to Yah and to one’s spouse. Any society that accepts unholy behavior as social norms will be an unholy society and will manifest an unholy culture.




What are the social norms for the Kingdom of Heaven? For one thing, Kingdom culture says, “Be faithful to your spouse.” The apostle Paul provides a good list of others:

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of Elohiym in Mashiach Yahusha concerning you. Quench not the Ruach. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. TASLONIQIYM RI'SHON (1 THESSALONIANS) 5:15-22 א CEPHER.




10. ATTITUDES




Culture reveals itself also in the attitude of the people. There are certain countries you can visit where the people are very warm and friendly, are appreciative of visitors, and go out of their way to make them feel welcome. I love visiting places like that. At the other end of the spectrum are those countries where the people in general are rude, arrogant, or superior in their demeanor, where even people in the “service” industries, such as hotels and restaurants, act as though they are insulted by your presence and they are doing you a favor by serving you.




No one should ever feel unwelcome when they enter a place where Kingdom culture is present. On the contrary, they should feel as though they have entered Heaven itself. This is why the Bible says, “Let love prevail among you.” That is the culture of Heaven. “Let forgiveness prevail among you.” That is the culture of Heaven. “Let joy unspeakable prevail among you.” That is the culture of Heaven. “Let the peace that passes understanding prevail among you.” That is the culture of Heaven.




11. DRESS




Another distinctive feature of cultural identity is dress or style of dress. Many people reveal their culture by the kind or cut of clothing they wear. In contemporary Western society it has become commonplace for people, especially young women, to dress in a sexually provocative manner, parading around in public wearing clothes that emphasize—and often barely cover —their breasts and genitalia. This is regarded as acceptable by an increasing number of people in society, including growing numbers of believers who claim to be living as Kingdom citizens. “Everybody does it,” they say, or, “That’s just the way it is.”




To those folks I say, “Well, you’re not ‘everybody.’ They are from another culture; you are from the Kingdom of Heaven, and Kingdom culture says, ‘Dress modestly. Dress according to the way you want to be addressed; the way you want to be treated. If you want to be respected, dress respectfully. If you want to be taken seriously, dress accordingly.’” This applies to men as much as to women. If you want to advance in your career or profession, dress for the job you want, not the job you have.




An old proverb says, “Clothes make the man (or woman).” As Kingdom citizens and royal children, we represent our heavenly Father, the King. We should always dress in a manner that honors Him and accurately reflects our status as members of the royal family.




12. FOOD




Distinctive cultures have distinctive foods. In the Bahamas we have peas and rice and conch salad. America has hot dogs and barbecue. What food distinguishes Kingdom culture? The “food” of the will and Word of Yah.“Yahusha said unto them, My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. YOCHANON (JOHN) 4:34 את CEPHER. He also said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 5:6 את CEPHER. The psalmist says But his delight is in the Torah of Yahuah; and in his Torah he meditates day and night. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 1:2 את CEPHER. Like a healthy, fruitful tree, such a person will prosper in everything he does. Kingdom culture is characterized by a love and a hunger for the Word of Yah, and Kingdom citizens feast on its riches.




13. RESPONSE




Culture is revealed in the way people respond to each other, particularly to provocation or mistreatment. The world says, “You hit me; I’ll hit you back. Slap me, and I’ll slug you. Wound me, and I’ll kill you. Betray me, and I will get my revenge.”




Kingdom culture is completely different. We do not have to respond in kind to provocation or mistreatment, because our King Himself defends His people. As Paul reminds us:




Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Yahuah. Therefore, if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 12:19-21 את CEPHER.




Yahusha made it very clear that responding in love no matter how we are treated marks us as citizens of the Kingdom:




Ye have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the judgment, and take away your coat, let him have your cloke also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks of you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away. Ye have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 5:38-45 את CEPHER.




Response is a choice, even when responding to provocation or mistreatment, and Kingdom culture always chooses to respond in love.




14. DRINK




As with food, culture reveals itself by what people drink. For example, beer drinking is part of German culture, just as it is in Ireland. In the Bahamas we drink tea every day, a holdover from our British colonial days. Kingdom culture thrives on drinking the “living water” of Hamachiach, as He spoke of one day to a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well outside the village of Sychar:




“Yahusha answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of Elohiym, and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water. The woman said unto him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then have you that living water? Are you greater than our father Ya`aqov, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Yahusha answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. YOCHANON (JOHN) 4:10-14 את CEPHER.




15. WHATEVER IS PERMITTED




Culture manifests in what the people permit. We reveal much about ourselves by what we are willing to tolerate. Years ago I visited Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and the host pastor deliberately drove me through the city’s “red-light district” so I could see firsthand some of the challenges that he and other Kingdom leaders in that country faced. As soon as we hit the area, I immediately sensed demonic powers in the air. We passed blocks and blocks of storefronts with completely naked women advertising their “wares.” People can walk along and “shop” for the one they want, and it is all entirely legal. No wonder that country is a cesspool of immorality.




What we permit reveals our culture. As Kingdom citizens we are not on this Earth to permit immorality, depravity, and corruption. We are here to plant a new culture, the King’s culture, a culture of holiness, righteousness, and justice. We are here to reproduce “gardens” of the Kingdom of Heaven wherever we are and to fill the Earth with the fragrance of His presence and glory. We are here to transform the culture of the world by bringing the values, morals, and standards of Yah’s Kingdom and culture to bear in our neighborhoods, communities, and nations.




16. WHATEVER IS ACCEPTED




Finally, culture is revealed by what the people are willing to accept. Permitting something is one thing, but accepting it is another. Acceptance develops from permission. Once something has been permitted long enough, it becomes familiar enough that people no longer question it or resist it. It has become accepted. This is why Kingdom citizens must be always alert and absolutely uncompromising when it comes to Kingdom culture and standards. All it takes is one small concession, one tiny step of compromise, to begin sliding down the slippery slope to immorality, corruption, and destruction. For this reason, we must be careful and faithful to heed the Bible’s counsel to stand firm.




FROM CULTURE TO COMMUNITY




The ultimate goal of creating Kingdom culture is to produce a Kingdom community—a community of citizens who look and act just like they do in the home country. When the Bahamas was still under British colonial rule, we were called the Royal Community. Everything we did had to be just like the queen or the king. Even our land was called Royal Crown Land. Everything was royal. The whole community belonged to the kingdom.




Community means essentially that individuality is gone and everybody lives and works for the good of everybody else. Western society, with its emphasis on independence and individualism, has largely lost touch with the concept of community, and this has affected many churches and believers. The time has come for Kingdom citizens to rediscover and reclaim community as an essential part of Kingdom life. This is critical to the successful reproduction of Kingdom gardens throughout the Earth. After all, a Kingdom community is a Kingdom garden.