The American Perspective

When Americans go overseas they face a host of cultural challenges.  Although there are other countries (mostly European) that have a similar culture, the majority of the world lives, acts, and communicates differently from the United States. 

In his book, “Ministering Cross-Culturally”, David Lingenfelter describes a method for measuring an individual’s cultural values.  Through a series of questions, a person is able to learn their personal tendencies within their culture.  As a whole, people from western civilizations tend to be more time than event oriented, more dichotomistic (black and white) thinkers than holistic thinkers, more task than relational oriented, more individualistic than group oriented, and more achievement than ascribed status focused.

Each of these categories can be serious sources of stress and miscommunication if not properly addressed before interacting with other cultures.  As western Christians, we are prone to interpret the Bible through our own cultural lens.  In addition, western missionaries have been known to teach the Bible solely from their own cultural perspective and even at times insist that everyone view Scripture through western eyes. 

However shocking it may be, western society is not a reflection of the cultural values and perspective we see in the Bible.  Too often, western Christians view other cultures as being inferior.  Whenever we start to experience these feelings, we must immediately turn and look to Jesus as our example. 

Jesus provides the perfect example of contextualization of the gospel.  Jesus purposely came to earth and was born into a lowly family.  As he grew, he adopted the language and culture of the people he was born.  From scripture, we see Jesus following the customs and traditions of his people, and respecting the earthly authorities.  Jesus clearly fought against sin, but not against the culture itself.  We must remember that Jesus lived in an event, group, and relational oriented society that often valued status over achievement.  This leaves very few similarities with our own culture today.  The way Jesus interacted with people through his teachings and travels demonstrate that he held the same basic cultural values as the culture in which he lived. 

As Disciples of Christ, we are commanded to go to the nations and preach the good news of the gospel!  We must remember that God is able to work in all cultures, and that the gospel is not limited by worldly cultural norms.  No culture is perfect, but the beauty of the gospel is that if changes in a culture are needed, the truth of the gospel with the work of the Holy Spirit will cause conviction and change to be made.  Through Jesus, the gospel has been brought to the world for all people and we must never be a hindrance to people experiencing the gospel by insisting their perspective on time, relationships, and status match our own!