Christianity is for ALL nations, Mt. 28:18-20.

But what must I do if some part of my culture conflicts with the laws of Christ? 

Culture is based on the tradition of our fathers; and since neither we nor our fathers were perfect, our culture won't be perfect either! However, some, even many, of our customs may happen to be in accordance with Christianity. If I think of African culture, I am reminded of customs such as respect for elders (1 Pet.5:5), taking care of older family members (1 Tim. 5:5,16), and hospitality to strangers, Heb.13:1-2. These are good customs because GOD says they are good customs, and if I am a Christian, I will follow those customs -- NOT because they are my culture's customs, but because I want to live for God, and He is the One who wants us to live in this way.

Unfortunately, some of our customs may go against Christianity. Ancestor worship, and all the other customs that go with it, goes against Mt.4:10 where we are told to worship God ONLY. Practices associated with witchcraft are an abomination to God, Dt. 18:9-14. The custom of having sexual relations with a girlfriend before marriage is against 1 Cor.6:12, 7:2. Polygamy is against 1 Cor.7:2. Etc. These customs are WRONG and the Christian will no longer do them. Remember that Christians ALWAYS in ALL ages and in ALL countries and in ALL cultures had to stop doing some of the things that were in their culture, 1 Peter 4:3-4.

Some customs are neutral – circumcision for non-religious reasons, manners such as bending down when speaking to elders, wearing a head covering when married, etc. Jesus’s disciples were criticized for not following the neutral custom of washing hands before eating. Jesus said that his disciples would not be judged for doing or not doing such customs, Mt.15:20. However, if our custom causes us to transgress the command of God, then we will be judged, Mt.15:3.

NO ONE will be saved simply by keeping their traditional customs because God says they are “aimless” and “ignorance.” Jesus gave His blood to redeem us from these aimless customs and to save us from following our own desires that we followed in ignorance. If we go back to them, or try to mix them with Jesus’ law, then we reject Christ’s sacrifice and there is no hope for us, 1 Pet. 1:13-19. Back in Deut.18:9-14 where witchcraft is condemned, God says in the next verse that they must listen to the Prophet like Moses that He will raise up. See Dt.18:15-19. That prophet is Jesus Christ, Acts 3:22-23. We must choose who we will listen to: parents/ancestors/witchdoctors OR Jesus Christ.

Those in the church of Christ have always stood for the truth, no matter what the customs of the day. However, denominations often seek to attract people by making Christianity more “suitable” to the local culture. The holidays of Christmas and Easter were adopted by the Catholic Church to attract people who celebrated idolatrous feasts on those days. And now many denominations are mixing African culture and Christianity to attract people. It is the TRUTH that will set us free – not our culture, John 8:82. The truth comes by abiding in Jesus Word (John 8:31) – NOT from abiding in our traditions.

Stephen was stoned because he taught that Christ's Law was to replace the Law of Moses, the basis of Jewish culture, Acts 6:14. Paul had to leave Ephesus because he taught the Ephesians that they should no longer follow their customary worship of idols, Acts 19:26-28. I know many Christians today who are suffering persecution from their families because they refuse to participate in ancestor worship or idolatry. Many young Christians suffer peer pressure because they do not participate in worldly activities that are acceptable in our culture but are not acceptable to Christ. Are you willing to suffer in order to put Christ above your culture?