Richard Hollerman

I realize that there is somewhat of a debate going on in society whether our behavior and attitudes are formed more from nature or more from nurture. By this I mean whether our “behavior” and “attitudes” are formed from some natural characteristic that adheres to us or whether we have these formed from our instruction, background, and habit patterns we have been taught. Which is it? Or is it a combination?

For example, some might say that Jewish people are more precise and deliberate and even more greedy and avaricious. But this may be overstating the case, right? And people from Africa (blacks) are lazy and indolent while sometimes they are very bright and energetic. Irish may be earnest but also musical, Germans may be more diligent and precise, yet also more submissive and obedient. Chinese and Japanese and other far Easterners may be more loyal and aware of honor, but also more submissive and obedient, regardless of the outcome. But are these “stereotypes” really correct and accurate? Or do they blur the truth and express common views rather than the truth?

Take my background, for instance. I thought (before my brother showed me a genetic workup) that I had some Scottish background and German too. But really (if this is true), does this materially affect our own personalities? Does it really affect the way we live, the way we think, the way we behave, and the way we view things? Or does this reveal a bias that depends on the way society views things?

We know that Calvinists came from Scotland and scientists came from Germany, but there was also must evil associated with these cultures. While Scotland was associated with great activity we also know that it was related to great unbelief. And although Germany may be associated with precision and great innovation, we also know that there was much wickedness and unbelief emanating from this country.

I have friends from the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, but they surely aren’t all the same. They have different emphases, different views, different religions, different ideas, and different lifestyles.

So we must say that whether we are speaking of South Americans, Africans, Australians, Asians, or Europeans, we are held accountable before God as individuals. He sees each of us alone, without our identification with a certain culture, or climate, or ethnic background. This is good to know. God looks on me (and all people) according to our relationship to Him and His salvation and not according to what our parentage or genetic background.

Yes, we may have “inherited” certain characteristics according to our background, but still God sees us as lone individuals. And we will be “judged” according to God as lone people. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10; cf. Romans 14:10, 12).

I am glad for the parentage that I have had (although both of my parents are now long-gone), for I learned much from them. The neatness that mother and dad instilled in me, the carefulness with which they did things, the diligence that they taught me, and so much more were qualities that they have earnestly implanted in me, and they were responsible for the talents and abilities that they taught me. This is good and I am thankful for this.

However, we know that there were also negatives, something that other cultures and people from other backgrounds may not have. Yes, they were “religious” but, by God’s grace, He brought me out of this “religious” spirit into the glorious gospel of Christ. They were the ones who taught me an ecclesiastic background but, by God’s power and grace, God brought me to Himself through Christ. They taught me a reliance on liturgy and churchianity and hard work but also God taught me to depend on Him at all times. So, as you can see, there were negatives and positives in my background. And perhaps I can see that there are negatives and positives in my past up to this time.

I have not arrived and neither have you. I continue to learn and He takes me by the hand to deliver me from the past failures and faults and lead me into greener pastures of His grace and power. May this same transformation be yours. Regardless of your parentage, your ethnic background, your nationality, your color, your childhood, your training, you (and I) can overcome and find the victory in Christ!