We are in the same boat as Peter. We live in a culture that has certain values and habits, and some of them are good and right, and others aren't. So, what we need to do is evaluate them so that we can fit into the new culture that Jesus has established. And that is actually quite difficult. Think about some of the cultural habits that you follow. Some of them have been with you for longer than you can remember. You have grown up with them. They feel so normal. In fact, you probably don't even see many of them. But you have to evaluate them. Refusing to have Jesus wash his feet felt so right to Peter. But it was wrong. He needed some help evaluating this attitude of his culture.
So, how does one go about evaluating his culture? If you're going to do that you'll need something to compare those habits and values to - a standard. That's the Bible. It describes the habits and values that Jesus approves - and doesn't. Jesus critiqued the culture of His day, approving some things and rejecting others. We need to do the same with the culture of our day. But understand what will result from that evaluation. There will be conflict, a conflict between cultures. There will be the culture that is being developed within the Church and the culture of the surrounding world. And these will strongly disagree at some very important points. Again, think Jesus and the Pharisees. It's the Church against the world.
from Culture