Lately I’ve been hearing the phrase, “We’re not multicultural, we’re Kingdom cultured.” It sounds bold and spiritual, and I get the heart behind it. We want our identity to be in Christ, not in our nationality, ethnicity, or politics. That’s a good impulse.
But here’s the rub: when churches in Canada or the U.S. say “we’re Kingdom cultured,” what it often looks like on the ground is Western culture with a “Kingdom” label. The music style, leadership structures, preaching length, dress code, communication style—all reflect one dominant culture. And that’s okay as far as it goes; there’s nothing wrong with a church doing things in a Western style if that’s where they are. But let’s at least be honest about it and not use “Kingdom” language to undermine multicultural Christianity.
Kingdom Culture in Scripture
In the Bible the Kingdom is God’s reign, not a human culture. Its values—love, humility, holiness, generosity, justice—transcend every tribe and nation. The picture in Revelation 7:9 is of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language worshipping the Lamb. The Kingdom is not colour-blind. It’s multi-ethnic and multi-lingual, a tapestry of cultures redeemed under Christ’s lordship.
So the biblical “Kingdom culture” isn’t a style of music, preaching, or dress. It’s a set of values that should show up in any culture: self-giving love, truth, holiness, forgiveness, generosity, and humility.
How It Plays Out in Real Life
Here’s where we need some honesty. When people say “we’re Kingdom cultured,” what they often mean is: “be like the dominant culture here, and we’ll call that Kingdom.”
- In North America, that usually means Western culture sets the tone.
- In other places, it might be African, Latin, or Asian culture.
- Wherever you are, the majority culture tends to feel “normal” and gets labeled as Kingdom.
This isn’t just a Western problem. It’s a human problem. We all assume our way is the default. Our churches are always a mix of Kingdom values and cultural baggage. And that’s alright—as long as we’re honest about it.
The Risk of Confusing Kingdom and Culture
When we blur the line, a few things happen:
- Minority voices feel pressure to conform to the majority style to belong.
- Cultural norms get baptized as if they’re biblical commands.
- Multicultural Christianity gets treated as a distraction instead of as a gift.
Doing church in a Western style (or any style) is not wrong. The problem is pretending that one culture equals the Kingdom and flattening the richness of the global body of Christ.
A Better Way
What if we kept the best of both visions?
- Hold tightly to Kingdom values. Love, justice, humility, holiness, generosity are non-negotiable.
- Be clear about cultural style. Say, “This is the way we do it here, but it’s not the only way.”
- Celebrate multicultural expression. Welcome songs, prayers, and practices from different cultures as part of the same Kingdom family.
- Stay humble. Remember that none of us perfectly embodies the Kingdom—we all need correction, and we all need each other.
This is closer to the Revelation 7 vision: one family, many cultures, one Lord.
My Heart in This
I’m not against doing church in a Western style. I’m grateful for much of what Western Christianity has given the world. My concern is that we not use “Kingdom culture” as a slogan to baptize our own preferences and erase the beautiful diversity of Christ’s body.
The Kingdom of God doesn’t erase culture; it redeems and transforms it. Multicultural Christianity isn’t a threat to “Kingdom culture.” It’s one of the clearest pictures of it.
Closing Thought
Let’s be Kingdom-minded enough to celebrate the cultures God has redeemed. Let’s preach Kingdom values and live Kingdom ethics, but let’s also leave room for Kingdom expression that looks African, Asian, Latin American, Indigenous, and yes—Western too. That’s not compromise. That’s honesty. And that’s Revelation 7:9 coming to life.
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