Three Attitudes Humility Show up late to a meeting Affirmation Refuse to be a critic Vulnerability ...
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Transcript of Three Attitudes Humility Show up late to a meeting Affirmation Refuse to be a critic Vulnerability ...
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?