Discuss Assignments from Last Meeting

• Try telling the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) in two minutes or less from memory to one of your teammates. Give each other constructive feedback.  

• Report on your attempt to have a gospel appointment with a lost friend or family member this week. Share lessons learned and things to consider for next time.  

Understanding Culture

Be a Cross-Cultural Learner

This summer you will need to be a sponge to everything you observe and hear. The more you learn about the local culture, language and behavioral norms, the better equipped you will be to handle the adjustment. Further, you will be able to avoid some common barriers when loving your people and communicating the gospel.  

This video provides a visual comparison of some of the cultural differences you may experience in a non-Western environment. Remember, these differences are not necessarily about right or wrong ways of doing things, but thinking and behavior patterns based on where you were raised and grew up.  

Watch this video:

East Meets West by Yang Liu

Most of you have grown up in a Western culture and it is all you know. The beauty of traveling cross-culturally is that you are exposed to other ways of living and thinking. However, you should expect that this experience will produce some “culture shock”. You can immediately feel disoriented and discouraged that you don’t understand the language nor how to function in this new environment. 

This can naturally result in negativity toward your host culture and a reciprocal fondness to your own. When stress and frustration set in, beware of ethnocentrism – a belief in the superiority of your own culture. It results from judging other cultures by your own cultural ideals and leads you to make generalizations about the customs and cultures of other people that are not true. For example, these people are noisy, rude, dirty, unorganized, ignorant, corrupt, etc.  

For Christians it is key that we recognize that Western culture is not equal to biblical culture. Though we could say there are biblical influences in Western culture, we also know that much of Western culture is not God’s design. Good virtues can be found in all cultures if we are willing to look. We must be quick to listen, quick to learn and slow to judge other cultures. On the other hand, there is often a fine line between appreciating your host culture and unknowingly affirming false worship and idolatry. You must learn to critically discern where to praise your host culture for its biblical virtue and where you must respectfully abstain from unbiblical and unhealthy cultural practices.  

Appreciating the differences of your host culture will also help you to understand how to “contextualize” the good news in appropriate ways so your people can understand and believe the gospel. Contextualization is the art of translating ideas into a particular situation, place or culture. A simple way to explain contextualization is that we want to strip away unnecessary Western “dress” and communicate the gospel in helpful local style and vocabulary without compromising the truth. 

The gospel is for all people and all cultures (Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 7:9), and so we must recognize that some Western views and practices can create barriers. We must be aware of language or behaviors that may hinder their understanding of the gospel or their receptivity to the gospel. Learning their perspectives and worldview make “contextualizing” the gospel easier. Your host will be an invaluable resource for you in this area. When you arrive, your host will give you orientation and helpful tips to understanding the local culture and contextualizing the gospel for local audiences.    

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

The Apostle Paul: 1 Corinthians 9:22

Honor-Shame

Most of you will be traveling to countries where honor and shame are driving influences. “About 90% of unreached people groups and 65% of the world’s population lives in honor-shame contexts.” 

Western civilization is largely founded on a guilt-innocence paradigm that focuses on obeying authoritative “rules” or laws. Obey the law and you are innocent, break the law and you are guilty. Most non-Western countries are largely founded on an honor / shame paradigm that focuses on respecting authoritative “relationships.” Personal actions result in either honor or shame to the individual, family and community. Bring honor to the family or community and you are praised; bring shame and you are scorned and outcast. 

The following section quotes from the website www.honorshame.com FAQ’s. 

Watch this video:

What is an Honor-Shame Culture?

“She’ll bring honor to us all!” – Mulan

Honor-shame cultures use the moral values of honor and shame to regulate behavior in the community. A primary response to sin is shame that sin was publicly “found out,” not guilt that one has sinned against a holy God and his righteous laws. The primary motivation in social situations is avoiding social embarrassment and maintaining harmonious relationships. Life is viewed through the prism of acquiring honor for the community. Honor-shame cultures value hospitality, family, community, generosity, loyalty, and patronage to the less fortunate.  

Synonyms of honor include: “saving face,” dignity, respect, reputation, status, authority, and prestige. People feel shame, “lose face,” when they violate community ideals and expectations, whereas personal guilt comes from transgressing laws and rules. In the West, guilt says, “I broke the law, and I should be punished.” But in non-West cultures shame says, “My wrong or weakness has been exposed, so I must cover and hide it to avoid dishonoring my family/community.” Honor and shame are present in all cultures, but especially those of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.” 

How does an Honor / Shame perspective impact evangelism?  

In honor-shame cultures people may not be seeking to soothe their troubled conscience, but restore their tarnished reputation. Their main existential problem is shame. One approach is to share how God restores people from shame to honor through Jesus Christ. Our sin brings shame before God that is far worse than “losing face” before people, and only God can restore us. Jesus took our shame on the cross and restores us to a an honored place in his family. Honor and shame can also affect the conversion process—people may fear publicly committing to Christ because of the fear it will bring shame to their family. Or they may show interest in Christ because they hope joining the Christian community will bring benefit to their family. Ask God to give you sensitivity and discernment to these cultural dynamics.

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Another related cultural difference you will notice is the collectivist mentality of other cultures. This chart compares the general differences between Western individualism and non-West collectivism.  

Some practical tips for students from Western guilt / innocence and individualist culture who want to minister effectively in a non-West honor / shame and collectivist culture.  

1) Honor Elders and Authority Figures (Give “Face”): The modern West does not prioritize honoring parents, elders, or ancestors as in Eastern philosophy (known as “filial piety”). For example, many foreign languages have an “honorific” form used when speaking to an older person or authority figure, but English doesn’t have this built into it. Standing up when an elder person enters the room, showing them honor with respectful greetings, and serving them first is an expected norm. Ask your host for guidelines.  

2) Honor with your Dress and Behavior: When in public, most foreign cultures dress more formal than in the West. The West prioritizes individualism in dressing “casual” and “comfortable,” but professionalism in public dress and behavior brings honor in other cultures. Be aware of the modesty standards of the culture, and dress appropriately to dispel the stereotype that the West is morally “loose.” In addition, observe how opposite genders typically interact in your host culture. Sometimes, even shaking hands with the opposite sex could be inappropriate. Again, ask your host for guidelines.  

3) Honor with your Language: English is an international language, but most host cultures take great pride in their mother tongue and will appreciate your efforts to learn and speak it. Your host may request you take language classes or you may just learn some common phrases for getting around and buying things. In either case, learning language is a great tool for opening doors to relationships and ministry. Not all members of your team will be equally skilled in learning language, do your best and help each other. Don’t overly criticize or shame teammates who are struggling with the language.   

On the other hand, you will likely be interacting with many people who are learning English. Communicating with those who are learning English as a second language requires patience and active listening. Speak as if to an elementary level English student and avoid Western idioms and slang. Encourage them in their English and respectfully give them helpful tips.  

When communicating to non-native English speakers:

• Speak slowly, maintain eye contact
• Use simple, accurate language
• Rephrase sentences where necessary
• Listen carefully and patiently
• Adapt your conversation style
• Don’t talk down to others or laugh at their mistakes
• When making plans be clear about expectations

Finally, some practical hints for building relationships in Honor Shame cultures from 5 Keys for Relationships in HonorShame Contexts.  

1. Give gifts to show value and honor.
2. Know your role and play it willingly and joyfully.  
3. Don’t do what might expose their shame or weakness.
4. Be clean and professional in personal dress and behavior.  
5. Be a grateful guest when receiving hospitality, and return the favor when possible.

There is nothing that can fully prepare you to handle all the cultural differences you will experience this summer. However, being observant, asking questions and having a learner’s mentality are helpful.  

For those traveling to Muslim contexts: Honor your Holy Book

Muslims believe that holy books such as the Quran and the Bible are worthy of great respect because they are the divine Words of God. How you treat your Bible in front of a Muslim demonstrates how you honor and respect your God and his Book. For example, many devout Muslims keep their Quran wrapped in an ornate blanket, on a stand, or high on the shelf as a sign of respect. Many believe they must ceremonially wash their hands and lips before reading and some kiss their Quran before and after reading.  Westerners on the other hand, regularly treat their Bible like an ordinary book. These actions can be shocking to a Muslim and would taint any testimony or witness you give to the value of God’s Word in your life. Though we may have a different understanding of the holiness of God’s word, if you want to read the Bible with Muslims you should consider some tips: 

• Treat the Bible with respect when you handle it in front of them, and use an unmarked “clean” version. Highlighting or writing in a Bible is frowned upon in Muslim cultures.  
• Keep your holy book off the floor and don’t treat it too casually. For example, don’t touch it with your feet (which are considered dirty).   
• When giving the Bible or New Testament as a gift to a Muslim, give a new version and give it personally and discreetly to avoid public shame for them. Communicate that the Bible is a great and valuable gift and reading it has transformed many people’s lives.  

OneLink Value:  Servant’s Heart

Verses for Memorization:

• Philippians 2:3-8
• Mark 10:45
• John 13:12-17
• 2 Corinthians 4:5

Humbly looking to meet the needs of others first, rather than one’s own needs.

Gratefulness for how Jesus has served us on the cross spurs a desire to work on His behalf. Because Jesus said to the father, “not my will but yours be done,” we are able to consider the needs of others above our own. We actively look for ways to serve our team, our host family, and the lost in need of the gospel. We worship in this way, letting our lives express our commitment to growing more like our servant leader Jesus.

Final Step