Three Attitudes• Humility—Show up

late to a meeting• Affirmation—

Refuse to be a critic• Vulnerability—Not

afraid of weakness

Three Roles• Student—Come as a

learner• Servant—Do

whatever needs to be done

• Storyteller—Witness to the hope that we’ve received

5 ways to prepare and enhance my life as a guest in another culture

Before I arrive:1. Understand some of the history, geography,

religious life, and view of America of where I’m going

2. Know some of the local customs, especially in regard to the behavior of—and towards—guests

3. Know a few key phrases in the local language

4. Know in advance some things I’d like to learn

5. Already know how to delight in cultural differences

The Power of Culture

Learning to Delight in Differences

People are more alike than their cultures

Similar hopesSimilar fearsSimilar basic needs

Bearing the Image of GodFamily ResemblanceFamily Reunion

Learning our 1st cultureOn our mother’s kneeSayings, adagesMother tongue

To be human is to be part of a culture

There is no such thing as a “simple” or “primitive” culture

All cultures are highly complex systems for ordering social life and clarifying what is

Right and wrongTrue and falsePossible and impossibleAcceptable and unacceptable

Is there such a thing as the Biblical Culture (or

worldview)—that is universally

normative?

Worship Styles

Lifestyle Standards

Views Of Scripture

Eucharist Diversity

Importance of Evangelism

Role of Spiritual Gifts

Emphasis on Social Action

Modes Of Baptism

Relation of Conversion to Salvation

Social Ethics

Doctrinal (Cultural) Differences in God’s Christian Family

Church Leadershi

p

Universal or Contextual?Holy Kissing Baptism Head

coveringFoot washing Women

teachingBraided hair, gold rings

Long-haired men

Circumcision Raised hands in prayer

Give to beggars

No debts Favoritism toward rich

Most cultures reinforce their authority by asserting that Our Values = God’s Values

Our People = Real People

Enculturation

The In-Group“My kind of

people”

DenominationDoctrineDevotion

RaceClass

EthnicityLanguage

Social StatusSocial Skills

Social Interests

If I’m to delight in differences—there,

It’s best to cultivate that capacity—here!

We know what’s at stake

1. Conflict over race, ethnicity, culture and class fractures every society

2. The Church in America is as (if not more) fractured by racialism as our society

YETThe world will believe in Christ

by our love for one another John 13.35

Cultural Differences Feed Our Deepest Conflicts

We know the Scriptures“If anyone is in Christ there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” 2 Cor 5.17

“He is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one” Eph 2.14

“For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” Gal 3.28

We are ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the

Gospel of Reconciliation

Short-Term Mission can Short-Term Mission can contribute to the contribute to the

development development of long-term multi-cultural of long-term multi-cultural

competenciescompetencies

We’re impoverished and we’re impoverishing the world by our

homogeneity

A biblical mandate!a strategic opportunity:

our capacity to maintain unity and be enriched by diversity is one of the most compelling proofs of the Gospel

an organizational necessity: any institution that doesn’t embrace ethnic and cultural diversity will increasingly be irrelevant in the world of the future

                             

INDIA: One Nation, 700 nations

How Can We Co-Exist?

Strategy 1: Tolerance

Tolerance

Tolerance

Strategies 2 & 3: Avoidance, War

Culture Wars

Ghettos, segregation--

avoidance

Strategy 4: Eliminate Diversity through Oppression

Totalitarian Oppression of Others

Strategy 5: Eliminate Diversity through Cleansing

Internal WAR—Ethnic Cleansing

Strategy 6: Minimize Diversity through Assimilation

Unity through Domination: Melting Pot, Cultural Hegemony

Strategy 7: Focus Diversity through War

External WAR—Common Foe

Unity that includes and is enriched by Diversity

 God’s Kingdom Call

There is one body and one Spirit,just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one

Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is

above all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4

 Life in the Unity of the Spirit

 Therefore, I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility

and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain

the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4

 

God’s Kingdom Life

Authority of ScriptureChrist’s uniqueness

Jesus as Savior and LordLife “in Christ” – Personal faith

Love for neighbours – Social action

Worship, Prayer & SacramentsPresence of God’s Spirit

Power of good & evilCommunity & Belonging

Witness & Mission

KINGDOM CONNECTORS

Shared beliefs in God’s Christian family

BaptismSalvation

Leadership

Faith

-

Action

Soci

al

Ethi

csCharismati

c

Evangelism

Eucharist

Lifestyl

e

Scrip

tur

eW

orshi

p

KINGDOM DIVERSITY

Appreciating the differences within God’s Christian family

Kingdom connector

s

 

Enriched by our Differences

Strengthened by our Dissimilarity

United by Faith“So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with

the saints and members of the household of God…with Jesus Christ

as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows as a holy temple in the

Lord” Eph. 2. 19-21

Biblical Mandate: Make Disciples of all nations “ta ethne” Matt 28.18-20All authority in heaven & earth:

political authorityMake disciples of all nations:

cultural authorityTeach to observe all I’ve commanded:

social & economic authority

In the Unavoidable WorldJerusalemJudea

In the Avoidable WorldSamariaThe rest of the world

Biblical Mandate: “As the Father has sent me, so send I you” (Jn 20.21)Incarnational ministry (Phil 2)

kenosis—emptying ourselvesChrist-centered ministry (Eph 2.14-15) in his flesh made one, one new humanity, one new BodyDiversity-embracing ministry (Gal 3.28, Col. 3.11) clothed with a new self, in the image of God

“Let your attitude be that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing.”

“…taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death---

“even death on a cross.”

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,”

“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is God, to the glory of God the Father.”

“Therefore, continue to

work out your salvation with

fear and trembling, for it

is God who works in you, making you

willing and able to fulfill God’s

good purpose.” Phil 2. 5-15

By the power of the Spirit we participate in Christ’s entrance into people’s lives rather than wait for them to enter into ours’

Humiliation only bears the fruit of humility through reliance on the Spirit of Christ

How would you like others to pray for you?