In reflecting on my experience in rural Africa, I have been impacted by how similar many of the rural cultures I have experienced are. The villages look similar – from the roads and the houses to the farmland and the structure of homes. The people have similar priorities and lifestyles, as well. They are very family and community oriented, much more so than in urban cities. When you meet young people in rural areas, though they may seek further education and development, family and community seem to be a priority. In urban cities, however, it seems much more likely to compromise community for progress. Those with rural backgrounds value customs and family traditions highly. Change, including forward progress, is often resisted, particularly by older generations. It may be a stretch, but I think some rural cultures in different countries have more in common than a rural and an urban culture in the same country.
In thinking about the commonalities among rural cultures, God reminded me that these physical and relational similarities of people from different countries are a reminder of the overarching spiritual need of everyone on this planet, regardless of their country or culture – to know Christ.
It’s easy to compare my life to the life of a twenty-something in rural Africa or Asia and see differences. Because of the obvious differences in culture, we see less and less commonality among our lives. Our day-to-day lives and needs may be different depending on our country and culture, but our one core need is the same as every other human. We are broken, sinful individuals. Our relationship with God is broken and our only hope, the only restoration comes in salvation through Christ’s blood on the cross.
“The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith.” – Romans 3.22-25
