Eight facets of culture were set out by Paul the apostle. "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 3:8). By repeating the word "whatever" Paul suggests that Christians can cherish their own culture and the culture of others in a wide variety of languages and civilizations. God does not take pleasure in monotonous uniformity. It is true that some sects have condemned what is pleasing, commendable, or excellent. But at their best churches have enriched the cities they live in by the creative lives of individuals with a huge variety of spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-7).
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