“I know God has made everything beautiful for its time. God has also placed in our minds a sense of eternity...” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 VOICE)
The word ‘nature’ conjures up images of the outdoors--plants, animals, insects, rocks, mountains, rivers, rain, wind, etc. We think of nature as the way things are--not artificial or shaped by humans. Yet, nature can also describe a person’s inherent characteristics; for example, we may say someone is sweet-natured, abrasive, timid, or bold. Communing with nature can thus be an external or internal endeavor. God has placed in our minds a sense of eternity.
Culture is learned behavior, shaped by those around us. Our concepts about tradition, morality, language, religion, duty, humor, modesty, fashion, community, food, relationships, politics, work, play, etc., are all influenced by our environment. Like a bacterial culture grown in a petri dish, proliferation is dependent on the medium. Take for instance Christian culture. Denominational and geographical differences lead to a wide variety of beliefs, practices, and traditions within one religion.
Both nature and culture influence who we are, but it is helpful to delineate the two concepts. Once we recognize that culture is man-made, we are less inclined to insist that there is only one right way. Much of the world’s polarization, divisiveness, hatred, and violence are a result of cultural differences. At the same time, we can accept and honor nature as is. We do not have to manipulate and change nature to fit our agenda. God made everything beautiful for its time.
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