Dear Elementary Families,

I had the opportunity to share in upper elementary chapel this week about culture.  Jesus thought independently, creatively and analytically (our current ESLR focus) about the culture he became a part of when he came down from Heaven.  The gospels are filled with rich examples of Jesus interacting with the culture around him, and these passages provide a path for us to follow in His footsteps as we interact with the culture around us.  Throughout his ministry, Jesus took all sorts of different approaches to the Jewish culture around him:  

Often he embraced the culture - consider the Passovers he participated in or all of the farming references he used in his teaching.  

Many times he provided correction where the culture had gone wrong - think of the flipping of the money changers tables or in Matthew 5 when he repeatedly says, ‘You have heard it said…but I say to you…’  

And still other times he redefined a cultural practice that was simply misunderstood -  the Passover and the Sabbath are good examples.  

But more important than all of these approaches was the way that he modeled heavenly culture for his followers.  By embracing the lowly, showing compassion to the lost and washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrated that it is possible to live as part of God’s heavenly culture even as we are surrounded by cultures built on other foundations.  

My challenge to the students was to begin thinking independently, creatively and analytically about the cultures they find themselves in; their ethnic culture(s), the popular culture, their family culture and even the ICS culture.  Our theme verse for this ESLR is Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  This verse provides a great lens through which to examine cultural beliefs and practices, and I encourage you to have conversations with your children about the cultures they are exposed to at home, when traveling or even online.