Fellowship Of Christian Airline Personnel

The airline industry is a unique culture of its own. It is an international connection of people, a traveling workforce community that speaks a common language with terms and practices that are distinctively airline. Every culture has its own unique beliefs, ways it communicates, and traditions that are practiced on a regular basis. The word “culture” has its root meaning from the idea of cultivating; like a vegetable garden that takes time to cultivate and grow, so are the cultures in which we live and work. Each of our cultures have sown and cultivated customs, practices, and even beliefs, both good and bad, into their social structure. Each of us is a product of the culture in which we were raised. Within our culture we can build strong bonds and even defend it by giving our loyalty to it. Actually, it can become a big part of our identity.

Cultures are not bad or wrong, actually it was God who divided the human race into cultures. We read in the book of Genesis how humanity was attempting to unite people in order to show its power and unity in the world. God knew that a united humanity could also be used to strengthen and unify the evil imagination and intents of the human hearts, so He divided the human race (Genesis 11:1-9). The current movement to merge cultures into a global culture is not a good thing. Why? Because it will as well unite the evil intent of people’s hearts under the slogan of world peace. Humanity being divided into cultures was also designed by God to point us back to our one and only Creator, and our need to be united through Him (Acts 17:24-26). When we leave God out of our cultures, they create negative traits, like prejudice, superiority, special rights, and many other attributes that end up making strong divisions among people.

God has created a distinct family on earth, known as the people of God, who are given a citizenship not of this world. This people, called the family of God, encompass people from all cultures and nationalities, all of whom have entered into God’s family in the same way…through faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13-14, 19). As God’s people we now are called to go back into our own cultures with a new identity…as God’s ambassador, representing His interest and priorities (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). We are given a new reference in life, centered on God, His ways and His will. We now bring into our cultures a new set of values, beliefs and practices that can uniquely influence and shape them. However, please know that this will conflict with some of the beliefs and practices of our earthly cultures (1 Peter 2: 20; 3:14-18; 4:12-16).

Our unique airline culture needs Christians who understand that though they wear a particular uniform or ID, they ultimately represent someone much greater than their company management or leadership. As God’s ambassadors, they represent a different way of life at work, one that demonstrates the love and mercy of Christ to the people and circumstances of work. God has given you this company job in order to show Himself through you, in order to shape and influence the culture in which He has placed you. (PMC)