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When Culture Intersect-
Sharing the Gospel
Gunya Na Thalang
A new, multi-ethnic United States
A new, multi-ethnic Church
Southern Baptist Church statistics
The Problem:
• Have we learned to co-exist with people of differing Cultural Values?
• How can we improve our ability to relate to people of other cultures so as to help them see the love of God in Christ Jesus?
• Are the tensions that divide us insurmountable?
What is Culture?• “Culture is the sum total of a
people’s system of beliefs and patterns of behavior which are learned in society.” –Eugene Nida
Approaches to Culture?
• “Cultural Relativity” That culture should be judged based on its own terms. It is judged on its own definitions of good/bad, right/wrong.
• “Cultural Validity” That all cultures are basically equal in the sense that they have both good and bad elements, but ultimately they will be judged by God.
Biblical understanding of diverse culture
8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused[a] the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:8-9
God’s Plan for Diversity?
God’s Message of Grace is for all CulturesDiversity of Creation Man created in God’s image, each to be valuedGod’s love for all nations, tribes, east to west. For God so loved the worldAt Pentecost, the Holy Spirit instilled the Word “in his own language.”
Much of Culture is like Food
How smelly is the durian - Shortcut.lnk
Culture is kind of like . . .
Our Greatest Challenge?
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” - Ephesians 6:12
VALUES: A Key to Understanding
• Tensions about Time• Tensions about Judgment• Tensions in Handling Crises• Tensions over Goals• Tensions about Self-Worth• Tensions Regarding Vulnerability
Tensions over Time
Time Orientation Event OrientationConcern for punctuality and amount of time expended
Concern for the event, regardless of time required
Careful allocation of time to achieve the maximum within set limits
Exhaustive consideration of a problem until resolved
Tightly scheduled, goal-directed activities
A “let come what may” outlook not tied to any precise schedule
Rewards offered as incentives for efficient use of time
Stress on completing the even as a reward in itself
1 Minute in International Time
1 minute
less than 15 seconds
Africa<---------------------No Known Integer-------------------->
United States
England
Brazil--------------------> 12 minutes
Tensions over Judgment
Dichotomistic Thinking Holistic ThinkingJudgments are black/white, right/wrong—specific criteria are uniformly applied in evaluation of others
Judgments are open-ended, the whole person and all circumstances are taken into consideration
Security comes from the feeling that one is right and fits into a particular role or category in society
Security comes from multiple interactions within the whole of society—one is insecure if confined to particular roles or categories
Information and experiences are systematically organized; details are sorted and ordered to form a clear pattern
Information and experiences are seemingly disorganized; details (narratives, events, portraits) stand as independent points complete in themselves.
Tensions over Crises
Crisis Orientation Noncrisis OrientationAnticipates crisis Downplays possibility of
crisisEmphasizes planning Focuses on actual
experienceSeeks quick resolution to avoid ambiguity
Avoids taking action; delays decisions
Repeatedly follows a single authoritative, preplanned procedure
Seeks ad hoc solutions from multiple available options
Seeks expert advice Distrusts expert advice
Tensions over Goals
Task Orientation Person OrientationFocuses on tasks and principles
Focuses on persons and relationships
Finds satisfaction in the achievement of goals
Finds satisfaction in interaction
Seeks friends with similar goals
Seeks friends who are group-oriented
Accepts loneliness and social deprivation for the sake of personal achievements
Deplores loneliness; sacrifices personal achievements for group interaction
Tensions about Self-Worth
Status Focus(prestige is ascribed)
Achievement Focus(prestige is attained)
Personal identity is determined by formal credentials of birth and rank
Personal identity is determined by one’s achievements
The amount of respect one receives is permanently fixed; attention focuses on those with high social status in spite of any personal failings they have
The amount of respect one receives varies with one’s accomplishments and failures; attention focuses on personal performance
The individual is expected to play his or her role and to sacrifice to attain higher rank
The individual is extremely self-critical and makes sacrifices in order to accomplish ever greater deeds
People associate only with their social equals
People associate with those of equal accomplishments regardless of background
Tensions regarding Vulnerability
Concealment of Vulnerability Willingness to Expose VulnerabilityProtection of self-image at all cost; avoidance of error and failure
Relative unconcern about error and failure
Emphasis on the quality of performance
Emphasis on completion of event
Reluctance to go beyond one’s recognized limits or to enter the unknown
Willingness to push beyond one’s own limits and enter the unknown
Denial of culpability; withdrawal from activities in order to hide weakness and shortcomings
Ready admission of culpability, weakness and shortcomings
Refusal to entertain alternative views or accept criticism
Openness to alternative views and criticism
Vagueness regarding personal life Willingness to talk freely about personal life
God’s ultimate plan for culture
Revelation 7: 9-10 (ESV) After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
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