Culture

Christianity has deeply shaped Italian culture and society, leaving a significant imprint on art, architecture, traditions, and daily life. Most Italians, even those who may not actively participate in religious services, adhere to Christian traditions and customs, such as observing religious holidays, attending religious events, and following traditional practices.

Modern evangelicals, rightly, focus on having a strong relationship with Christ and the importantance of making a concious choice to follow Jesus. Most Italians, on the other hand, seem to be Christian in a "that's who our people are" sense.

My first night in Italy after purchasing Casa Isabella, the chef asked to join me for a nightcap as the restaurant was closing for the evening. An hour or two into our nightcap(s) he asked me about religion in America, and specifically why it looks to be so devisive, and what do I believe personally. I told him I am a Christian, that I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead, and that he is Lord of my life. The chef responded- I think there are some young people in the cities who want to follow other ideas, but everyone I know believes as you say. If Jesus is not Lord, what will we do?"

While we may need to press in deeper with my chef friend, there is at the same time something deeply satisfying in his anwswer. it doesn't take much time in Italy to see that Italians have devoloped a more thoughtful, beautiful, and Christ-saturated culture than most of us know. There is a slow, sacred, heavy beauty in many moments of culture in Italy. Prazo della domenica, apperitivo, the passagiata after meals with family and friedns. I've read about these these in the accounts of Calvin's Geneva and Luthers table talks, but to slow down and live these moments, or pauses, with the people who know them, for Jill and I these things have brought depth and enjoyment to the daily walk of our own marriage.

Whether the blessing of culture, of discipline, of experience, or of relationship-- no blessing is something to be proud of, but only to acknowledge and be grateful for. The people of our local church and our wider community have been missionaries to us, bringing us along on a new and rich journey of experiencing our Father's wonderful character.

Too many big words and complicated sentences, perhaps. If it sounds like something you need though, reach and let's explore if this kind of experience might be a good fit for all parties.