Freed by Christ, Bound by Culture?

When Tradition Competes with Truth
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5:1

As Christians, we celebrate the freedom we have found in Jesus. Through His death and resurrection, we have been set free from sin, shame, fear, and condemnation. Yet many believers still find themselves living under invisible chains, not necessarily the chains of sin, but the chains of culture, tradition, and expectation.

Culture is not a bad thing. It gives us identity, belonging, language, values, and heritage. It connects us to our stories and communities. God delights in diversity, and Revelation 7:9 paints a beautiful picture of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation worshipping before His throne. Culture is God’s gift, but it becomes dangerous when it begins to hold more authority in our lives than Christ.

A few months ago, I had the privilege of facilitating a leadership session with a group of young leaders in South Sudan. As we talked about discipleship, leadership, and mission, it became clear that many of the challenges they faced were not simply theological issues but cultural ones. There was a real tension between Kingdom culture and the values they had inherited through family, tribe, and society.

As we studied Scripture together, we explored how God views culture. We discovered that God does not ask us to abandon our culture, but He does call us to place it under His authority. Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Every culture contains beautiful elements that reflect God’s character, but every culture also contains practices and beliefs that need to be transformed by the Gospel.

Kingdom culture does not erase culture. It redeems it.

This lesson has become deeply personal for me while serving in Gabon. Over the years, I have observed how tradition can sometimes become a greater influence than God’s vision. In leadership circles, we often hear the phrase, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” I have seen how unhealthy traditions can also eat vision for breakfast.

When preserving customs becomes more important than pursuing Christ, transformation slows. The Gospel can become diluted when cultural expectations take centre stage. Instead of asking, “What is Jesus saying?” we begin asking, “What will people think?” Gradually, the focus shifts from Christ to conformity.

Jesus challenged this way of thinking. In Mark 7:8, He said, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” His concern was not tradition itself, but traditions that overshadow God’s truth.

If we want lasting transformation, we must be willing to ask honest questions: Does this tradition align with Scripture? Does it help people follow Jesus? Does it reflect God’s heart?

The Gospel was never meant to fit neatly inside our culture; it was meant to transform it.

We can celebrate our heritage, honour our communities, and embrace our cultures, but Christ must remain at the centre. Culture may shape us, but only Jesus can transform us. True freedom comes when every part of our lives, including our culture, is surrendered to Him.

Lucy Okenkali
Volunteer-Wasaidizi and Growth Teams
Gabon