This document outlines concepts related to culture from a training seminar. It defines culture and discusses its key characteristics, including that culture is learned, in part unconscious, and a way of life. The relationship between culture and scripture is explored, noting that God's kingdom culture is documented in the Holy Scriptures. Culture and its components are examined in depth.

1. CONCEPT OF THE KINGDOM
SOLOMON APPIAH
WEEK 2
APRIL 12, 2016

2. PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:
https://lrfcca.wordpress.com/
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3. BASIC CONCEPT OF THE KINGDOM (MATT
6:33) – OUTLINED BY PROPHET BAKO
i. THE KING
ii. TERRITORY
iii. LORDSHIP
iv. CULTURE
v. CONSTITUTION
vi. KEYS
vii. CITIZENSHIP
viii.LAW
ix. GIVING LUKE
6:38
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4. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• DEFINITION
• TYPES OF CULTURE
• COMPONENTS OF CULTURE
• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE & SCRIPTURE
• CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
i. Culture Is Learned
ii. Culture Is In Part Unconscious
iii. Culture Is Cultivated
iv. Culture Is A Way Of Life
v. Culture Is Relative
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5. DEFINING CULTURE?
MULTIPLE DEFINITIONS – SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES

6. WHAT IS CULTURE
• The customs, traditions, beliefs and values that a
group of people share.
• It includes language, what they do, eat, make,
believe and how they dress.
• Groups that share these traits are called a cultural
group.
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7. Edward Burnett Tylor
1832-1917
Culture or civilization, taken in
its wide ethnographic sense, is
that complex whole which
includes knowledge, belief,
art, morals, law, custom, and
any other capabilities and
habits acquired my man as a
member of society. E. B.
Tylor 1871
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8. CULTURE…
• refers to the beliefs, values, behavior and
material objects that, together, form a
people's way of life.
• determines how we view the world around
us
• includes the traditions we inherit and pass
on to the next generation
• is the totality of our shared language,
knowledge, material objects, and behavior
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9. CULTURE DEFINITION
“the collective programming of the
mind which distinguishes the
members of one human group
over another…
Culture, in this sense, includes
systems of values; and values are
among the building blocks of
culture”
Geert Hofstede
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10. WEBSTER’S 1828 DEFINITION
CULTURE, n. [L. See Cultivate.]
1. The act of tilling and preparing the earth for
crops; cultivation; the application of labor or
other means of improvement.
We ought to blame the culture, not the soil.
2. The application of labor or other means to
improve good qualities in, or growth; as the
culture of the mind; the culture of virtue.
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11. WEBSTER’S 1828 DEFINITION
3. The application of labor or other means in
producing; as the culture of corn, or grass.
4. Any labor or means employed for
improvement, correction or growth.
CULTURE, v.t. To cultivate.
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12. TYPES OF CULTURE
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13. THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
1. Material culture – is tangible – it has a
physical reality.
2. Non-material culture – are things that
don’t have a physical reality, such as
values, beliefs and religion.
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14. 14
MATERIAL CULTURE
• The things that a culture has
made.
• They have physical reality –
you can touch them.
• What culture is this identified
with?
• What does it tell you about
the culture
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15. COMPONENTS OF CULTURE

16. 1) Values: abstract ideas about the good, the
right, the desirable e.g. core value integrity
2) Norms: social rules and guidelines; guide
appropriate behavior for specific situations
a) Folkways: norms of little moral significance
• dress code; table manners; timeliness
b) Mores: norms central to functioning of social life
• bring serious retribution: thievery, adultery, alcohol
3) Customs are norms and expectations about the
way people do things in a specific country
4) Traditions: e.g. Naming's, Weddings, History best
man etc.
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17. 4) Symbols: anything that carries particular
meaning recognized by people who share
culture
―e.g. totems, Adinkra, obelisks, tribal marks & their
significance
5) Ideas/Beliefs/Attitudes/Worldviews
6) Roles
7) Artifacts
8) Language
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18. Custom is one component of Culture
A custom of frequenting a place of worship
• Luk 4:16 KJV …as his custom was, he went into the
synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to
read.
Feasts are & have customs e.g. Passover or Odwira
• Luk 2:42 KJV And when he was twelve years old, they
went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
Circumcision a custom and symbol
• Act 15:1 AMP …Unless you are circumcised in
accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be
saved. [Gen. 17:9-14.]
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19. Teaching was His custom
• Mar 10:1 AMP …and crowds [constantly]
gathered around Him again, and as was His
custom, He began to teach them again.
Our Traditions vs. GOD’s Commandments
• Mar 7:9 KJV And he said unto them, Full well
ye reject the commandment of God, that ye
may keep your own tradition.
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20. Traditions received from Apostles
• 2Th 3:6 KJV Now we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from
every brother that walketh disorderly, and
not after the tradition which he received of
us.
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21. ASSIGNMENT
• Examine your personal and tribal culture and
identify deviations from GOD’s culture as
found in His commandments
• In other words, examine your values, norms,
customs, traditions, symbols, roles, artifacts,
Ideas/Beliefs/Attitudes/Worldviews and then
see if there are any deviations from the
Kingdom culture?
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22. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE
AND SCRIPTURE

23. • QUESTION: God’s Kingdom culture! Where is it
documented?
• ANSWER: In the Holy Scriptures!
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24. 2Ti 3:16-17 AMP
(16) Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His
inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof
and conviction of sin, for correction of error and
discipline in obedience, [and] for training in
righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's
will in thought, purpose, and action),
(17) So that the man of God may be complete and
proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for
every good work
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25. Scripture is GOD – breathed unlike constitution of
world and nations
God’s scriptures gives us the ability/power to
profit (profit-able) by making us :
1. complete
2. proficient
3. well fitted
4. thoroughly equipped for EVERY good work.
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26. CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

27. 1. Culture is Learned
a) Pro 22:6 AMP Train up a child in the way he should go [and in
keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he
will not depart from it.
2. Culture is in part Unconscious
3. Culture is Cultivated
4. Culture is Symbolic
5. Culture is a way of life
6. Culture is Dynamic?
7. Culture is Relative?
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28. CULTURE IS LEARNED
• Rather than inherited biologically
• Enculturation: The transmission of culture from
one generation to the next
• Gen 18:19 KJV For I know him, that he will
command his children and his household after
him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to
do justice and judgment; that the LORD may
bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken
of him.
• Justice & Judgment=Foundations Psalm 97:2
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29. CULTURE IS IN PART UNCONSCIOUS
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30. CULTURE IS IN PART UNCONSCIOUS
Your values,
norms, beliefs
received mostly
assimilated
unconsciously like
a baby
Your language,
institutions,
explicit
behavior
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31. This is why when you get born again [when given
the ability to see the Kingdom], you must re-train, re-
program, renew the roots, the bottom of iceberg i.e.
your mind
We change ourselves by changing the way we
think
• Pro 23:7 KJV For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he
• Rom 12:2 KJV And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God
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32. CULTURE DEFINITION REVISTED
CULTURE, n. [L. See Cultivate.]
1. The act of tilling and preparing the earth for
crops; cultivation; the application of labor or other
means of improvement.
We ought to blame the culture, not the soil.
2. The application of labor or other means to
improve good qualities in, or growth; as the culture
of the mind; the culture of virtue
- Webster’s 1828 Definition
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33. Gen 9:20 And Noah began to cultivate the
ground, and he planted a vineyard.
Psa 104:14 He causes vegetation to grow for the
cattle, and all that the earth produces for man to
cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the
earth
Pro 3:29 Do not contrive or dig up or cultivate evil
against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly and
confidently beside you.
When you think on harming someone, you are
cultivating evil; practicing witchcraft
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34. 1Co 12:31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best
gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show
you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of
them all--love].
1Co 14:1 EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim,
your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual
endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will
and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).
Php 2:12 AMP…work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete)
your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with
serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation,
timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of
Christ).
1Ti 4:15 Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw
yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be
evident to everybody.
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35. THINGS WE CULTURE / CULTIVATE
We can cultivate:
i. cultivate the ground – Gen 9:20; Ps 104:14
ii. cultivate evil or good i.e. morality – Pr 3:9
iii. cultivate our salvation – Php 2:12
iv. cultivate the physical and spiritual gifts & graces
v. cultivate gifts bestowed upon us via prophecy.
The prophet cannot do that for you. They can
impart but you must nurture. So it is in every
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36. 1Ti 4:14-16 AMP
(14) Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special
inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you
[by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders
laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].
(15) Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these
duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so
that your progress may be evident to everybody.
(16) Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to
[your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them],
for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who
hear you.
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37. CULTURE AS A WAY OF LIFE
• 1Co 4:17 AMP For this very cause I sent to you
Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child
in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my
methods of proceeding and course of conduct
and way of life in Christ, such as I teach
everywhere in each of the churches.
• There is a peculiar WAY OF LIFE in God’s Kingdom
different from that of the world
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38. • Gen 18:19 KJV For I know him, that he will
command his children and his household
after him, and they shall keep the WAY of
the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that
the LORD may bring upon Abraham that
which he hath spoken of him.
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39. DEDUCTIONS
• The way of the LORD is His Way of Life
• This way of the LORD is God’s Culture
• His culture should be our culture if we are His
children
• His culture is summarized as justice and judgment
• Any deviation from His culture is disastrous
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40. Pro 10:17 AMP He who heeds instruction and
correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but
also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects
or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but
also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for
others.
Way = Path
When we live according to GOD’s way of life, we
become a way, path, gate to life to our unbelieving
neighbor, boss, spouse etc.
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41. 1Pe 3:1-2 AMP
(1) IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your
own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary
to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to
them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God],
they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly]
lives of their wives
The believing wife’s way of life i.e. kingdom
conduct can become a way of life for her husband
to find the path to receiving Jesus as his Lord and
savior.
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42. CULTURE IS RELATIVE?
Culture changes over time influenced by economic
advancement, technological change, globalization??
• Heb 13:8 KJV Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever.
• Mal 3:6 KJV For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye
sons of Jacob are not consumed.
• Joh 10:35 KJV …the scripture cannot be broken
It may be so in this world BUT God’s word is the
unchanging Constant. His values, customs, beliefs etc.
don’t change
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43. Many modern societies are multicultural—their
people follow various ways of life that blend and
sometimes clash.
• The culture of the Kingdom is NOT multi-cultural
but uni-cultural or King-cultural.
• We must ALL conform to the KING’s way of life in
His Kingdom
• Races appeared because of disobedience at
babel
• The antithesis is the day of Pentecost when we all
returned to one language—the language of the
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45. • NEXT WEEK, WE’LL LOOK AT OTHER
COMPONENTS OF CULTURE
• WE’LL ALSO LOOK AT HEALTH IN GOD’S
KINGDOM
• THE FF IS A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO NEXT WEEK’S
LECTURE
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46. DIVINE HEALTH VERSUS WSTERN
MEDICAL TRADITION
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47. • In 2016 HEALING is regarded unconsciously in the
domain of doctors and medicine/drugs
• But for those in the Kingdom, your health must
primarily be derived from part-taking in the Bread
of life
• Use hospitals if need be BUT do not be absolutely
dependent of Western Medication for your whole
life
• Healing is the children’s bread in the Kingdom
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48. THE SYMBOLS AFFILIATED WITH MEDICAL
SCIENCES
• Remember CULTURE includes symbols
• The culture of the western medical sciences is in need
of redemption
• The symbol of the medical profession includes the
scepter of Greek spirits or gods and serpents symbolic
of the dragon
• The symbol of the medical profession are all draconian
rooted in Greek gods and mythology i.e. evil spirits
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49. CADUCEUS
• … with its two snakes
and wings, used as
a symbol of medicine
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50. ROD OF ASCLEPIUS
• is a serpent-entwined rod
wielded by the Greek
god Asclepius, a deity
associated with healing
and medicine.
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51. • We’ll discuss these symbols next week
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52. • Modern medical profession needs redemption
• Use medicine and doctors if need be. It is GOD
who gave the wisdom but place your trust in
GOD and not men or a profession
MORE NEXT WEEK
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