Cultural Christianity

Colossians 2:20-23 -- "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations - 'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch' (referring to things that all perish as they are used) - according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

Beliefs & values should be lined up w/ Scripture -- even "Christian" practices & opinions that may seem righteous. Perhaps things that seem 'normal' in religious settings can actually simply be cultural norms in a country or widely practiced among groups of Christians and should not be regarded as more/less holy.

Views regarding --- Dressing up vs. not. Standing up. Sunday morning greeting exchange. Songs that have repetitious choruses with few words vs. Hymns, or, a mix. Raising hands vs. not. Music. Giving. Church membership. Choir up in front. Cookies in the foyer. Benediction. Prayers. Baptism. Drinking vs. not. Cultural compromises.

It seems as though culture played a part in Christianity in Bible times. E.g. -- 1 Cor. 11:4-5: "Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is the same as if her head were shaven."

Hmmmm ~~ so, should we follow certain cultural aspects of Christianity? Of course, Scripture should be the measuring stick. And when it's not clear ~~? I guess we should just do what we think would be the loving or right thing to do, according to Scripture, as best we can tell.