We live in a world rich with diversity and marked by deeply rooted traditions. Culture often defines how people see themselves, how they live, and how they relate with others. It shapes language, customs, values, and even how individuals process right and wrong. But for the born-again believer, a new way of life begins—a divine culture, not shaped by geography or ethnicity, but by the unchanging Word of God.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome makes a compelling case for Christians to abandon the limitations of earthly cultures and fully embrace their true identity in Christ. “When you become a Christian, you cease to be Ghanaian, Nigerian, Chinese, or American,” Pastor Chris boldly teaches. “There’s no such thing as an American Christian or a European Christian. You are a new creation.”
This is not a denial of one’s ethnic heritage or a dismissal of one’s roots, but rather a divine elevation. It is the understanding that your true citizenship is of heaven (Philippians 3:20), and as such, your lifestyle, worldview, and values must be governed by the Kingdom to which you now belong.
Pastor Chris Teachings: A New Creation with a New Culture
The Bible declares in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This scripture makes it clear that when you’re born again, you don’t just receive a religious label—you receive a new nature, one that’s completely aligned with the life and character of God.
Pastor Chris emphasizes that many of the traditions and customs people hold dear may, in fact, be spiritual strongholds, mindsets and behavioral patterns that conflict with the Word of God. He likens them to veils that prevent Christians from serving God wholeheartedly. Such cultural strongholds can quietly influence how people think, worship, and even how they interpret scripture. But as Pastor Chris teaches, God’s Word has the power to dismantle those strongholds and build in you a new way of life.
“No Accent in the Spirit”, Pastor Chris Proves
In a beautiful illustration, Pastor Chris recounts playing an audio clip of believers from different nations speaking in tongues. “You couldn’t tell who was who,” he says. “They all had the Spirit’s accent.” Tongues—the heavenly language given by the Holy Spirit—has no ethnic undertone. It’s the universal language of the Spirit, further proof that our identity in Christ transcends all natural distinctions. In the Spirit, there is no Jew nor Gentile, no black or white, male or female (Galatians 3:28)—only those who are in Christ Jesus.
This spiritual unity is what defines the true Christian culture. It is built on love, righteousness, faith, peace, joy, and the principles of God’s Word. These are the “Christ-values” that form the fabric of the Kingdom.
Christ Is Our Life
Colossians 3:4 says, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” This means our very existence—our goals, behaviors, habits, and relationships—must mirror Christ. We are no longer subject to the culture of our countries or communities, especially when those values conflict with scripture.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating your nation’s heritage, but Pastor Chris cautions that any cultural practice that opposes the principles of the Bible must be discarded. Why? Because the born-again life is one of total surrender to God’s Word. It is the Word that now defines what’s right or wrong, good or bad, not ancestral beliefs or societal norms.
Pastor Chris: Cultured by the Word
To be “cultured by the Word” means to allow the scriptures to train your thinking, reform your values, and condition your lifestyle. Romans 12:2 urges us not to conform to the world’s system but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That transformation happens through consistent study and application of God’s Word.
When you think, speak, and act from the standpoint of the Word, you begin to reflect the nature of God. You begin to live as a true citizen of heaven on earth. Your joy, peace, and success no longer depend on worldly systems but flow from your understanding of who you are in Christ.
The Call to a Higher Identity
The message is clear: Christianity is not a cultural blend—it is a higher calling. You are not a Christian version of your ethnicity; you are a completely new being fashioned after Christ. And that comes with a new culture, the culture of the Spirit—defined by love, purity, purpose, and power.
In a generation where identity crises abound and cultural clashes are frequent, Pastor Chris calls on believers to stand tall in their heavenly identity. Set your affection on things above (Colossians 3:2), and let your lifestyle proclaim the culture of Christ.
So wherever you are in the world, remember: Your primary culture is in Christ. Let the Word define you, let the Spirit lead you, and let your life radiate the glorious culture of God’s Kingdom.