The Beauty of Culture

"Everything concerning a nation (an ethnic cultural group) has to do with salvation. It is the job of the people of that nation, it is their affair to respond to salvation. If we would be consistent, I think we would see that the field of culture is theirs. Ours is the gospel.

An evangelist, a missionary must respect the culture of a people, not destroy it. The incarnation of the gospel, the flesh and blood which must grow on the gospel is up to the people of a culture (24)."

"St. Paul and St. Peter said as much: 'The loving kindness of God has appeared to all men... God let's each nation (each tribe, each culture) go its own way... He is evident to them in the happiness he gives them.'

....St. Paul says this happiness is a sign of God among them. He was there before we ever got there. It is simply up to us to bring him out so they recognize him (44-45)"

Excerpts from: Christianity Rediscovered by Vincent J. Donovan