Three Attitudes Three Roles HumilityShow up StudentCome as

Three Attitudes Three Roles • Humility—Show up • Student—Come as a late to a meeting learner • Affirmation—Refuse • Servant—Do whatever to be a critic • Vulnerability—Not afraid of weakness 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 hopes Similar fears Similar basic needs Bearing the Image of God Family Resemblance Family Reunion

Learning our 1 st culture On our mother’s knee Sayings, adages Mother 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 wrong True and false Possible and impossible Acceptable and unacceptable

Is there such a thing as the Biblical Culture (or worldview) —that is universally normative?

Doctrinal (Cultural) Differences in God’s Christian Family Views Of Scripture Lifestyle Standards Modes Of Baptism Worship Styles Eucharist Diversity Emphasis on Social Action Social Ethics Church Leadership Role of Spiritual Gifts Relation of Conversion to Salvation Importance of Evangelism

Universal or Contextual? Holy Kissing Baptism Head covering Foot washing Women teaching Braided 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

If I’m to delight in differences—there, It’s best to cultivate that capacity—here! Social Status Social Skills Social Interests The In-Group Denomination Doctrine Devotion “My kind of people” Race Class Ethnicity Language

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 YET The 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 We’re impoverished and we’re impoverishing the world by our homogeneity Short-Term Mission can contribute to the development of long-term multi-cultural competencies

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 a r e l To e c n To ler an ce

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

God’s Kingdom 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

KINGDOM CONNECTORS Authority of Scripture Christ’s uniqueness Jesus as Savior and Lord Life “in Christ” – Personal faith Love for neighbours – Social action Worship, Prayer & Sacraments Presence of God’s Spirit Power of good & evil Community & Belonging Witness & Mission Shared beliefs in God’s Christian family

rsh ip pt is m Salvat Sc Wo Ba rip tu re KINGDOM DIVERSITY e Lif ion Kingdom connectors hip Eucharist Leaders eli sm at ic Soc i Eth al ics ng m Fa - n o i t c A Ev a is ar Ch ith e l sty Appreciating the differences within God’s Christian family

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 -20 All authority in heaven & earth: political authority Make disciples of all nations: cultural authority Teach to observe all I’ve commanded: social & economic authority

In the Unavoidable World Jerusalem Judea In the Avoidable World Samaria The 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 ourselves Christ-centered ministry (Eph 2. 14 -15) in his flesh made one, one new humanity, one new Body Diversity-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?