In Praise of Southern Culture

As someone who grew up in the south, as in 700 miles south of the equator, I grew up removed from much of the southern culture in the U.S., though I have learned to treasure it immensely in my last twelve years in North Florida; or as we call it, Lower Alabama.

I often hear from friends in the North/Northwest part of the country who seem to view the south with a profound sense of incomprehensibility. “Why all the ‘yes, sirs’ and ‘no ma’ams'”? “What’s with all the smiling?” A friend even told me it feels like they are playing the deception game of niceness first, then knife in the back second.

At other times, similar friends inquire how can I as a liturgical minister function in a southern baptist culture that share little to no liturgical sympathies with us? Much of it requires an adjustment that can be quite difficult for those coming from other parts of the country. There is an answer to this, however, and it’s as simple as apple pie and grits. It’s actually in the concept of linguistic familiarity.

Linguistic familiarity implies, a) accepted expressions, and b) a priori commitment to ideals. The reason we, in the south, can function in such a harmonious level politically, religiously, and sociologically is because we agree with forms and styles of speech, but more than that we also share a commitment to certain moral ideals that are simply assumed down here. It may be lived imperfectly, but it is certainly assumed.

For instance, Southern Baptists may not think in liturgical categories, but we can all gather around a fire from completely different denomination histories and share a high sense of biblical authority, and a deep affection for the providence of God. Now, this may be demonstrated differently by some, but by and large, my affections for a southern baptist will always be greater than the local episcopal church whose origins climb up north in the country.

Another way this plays out is in the sense of familiarity we may have with complete strangers wherever we may be. We affirm similar rituals for daily life. Greeting others, holding doors, praying in restaurants, and a little “God bless” here and there provide a sense of comfort and home which incidentally is why no one who has lived here for some time will say, “Well, I am looking for the cultural warmth of California for a change.”

I remember a visit I did to Oregon many years ago. I sat down in a restaurant with my host. And then I made a grave mistake. When the waitress, whose attitude was more undeveloped than a three-year old child, asked if I wanted a refill, I promptly said, “Yes, ma’am.” Her panic at my reply led me immediately to think I had cussed at her in a foreign tongue, which in her estimation was exactly what I had done. I had insulted her age and made her feel like she was, you know, old…like in her 40’s. How dare I! My host quickly jumped in and told her that I was from the south. The waitress sounded relieved but also annoyed.

Of course, there are multitudes out there who cherish the inherent beauty of their land, but they may never understand the homogeneity of southern culture because they don’t have the fabric of a familiar speech or presupposed unity of ideals. For many, this unified view of life down here leads to charges of superficial Christianity and memes about guns and trucks. But you know, ya’ll, I like the familiarity of culture and language. It assumes we can all come together at the church’s potluck this Sunday.