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Incarnational MissionaryIncarnational Missionary

After surviving culture shock, learned After surviving culture shock, learned the language and made friends the the language and made friends the

worst is behind. Major adjustments are worst is behind. Major adjustments are primarily at the beginning, now we must primarily at the beginning, now we must

learn the culture and identify with itlearn the culture and identify with it

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Identifying with a new cultureIdentifying with a new cultureIdentifying with a new cultureIdentifying with a new culture

Three dimensions: knowledge, Three dimensions: knowledge, feelings and valuesfeelings and values

Stumbling blocks in each area must Stumbling blocks in each area must be overcomebe overcome

Three Major Stumbling blocks are:Three Major Stumbling blocks are:1.1. Cross cultural misunderstandingsCross cultural misunderstandings

2.2. EthnicentrismEthnicentrism

3.3. Premature judgmentsPremature judgments

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1. Cross Cultural Misunderstandings: 1. Cross Cultural Misunderstandings: Cognitive BlocksCognitive Blocks

Lack of knowledge and understanding that leads to Lack of knowledge and understanding that leads to confusionconfusion

Humorous incidents: Left hand in India, shaking Humorous incidents: Left hand in India, shaking hands in Japan instead of bowing, kissing in hands in Japan instead of bowing, kissing in ArgentinaArgentina

Serious offenses: give a gift with left-hand in India, Serious offenses: give a gift with left-hand in India, wedding feast spoiled for Brahmin priest because wedding feast spoiled for Brahmin priest because American entered the kitchen to give thanks.American entered the kitchen to give thanks.

• Confusion in Africa about eating food in cans with picture Confusion in Africa about eating food in cans with picture of the food, then seeing baby food with pictures of babies!of the food, then seeing baby food with pictures of babies!

• Missionaries brought cat as pet to tribe where only the Missionaries brought cat as pet to tribe where only the witchdoctors had catswitchdoctors had cats

• Missionaries prayed into boxes resulting in food and stuff Missionaries prayed into boxes resulting in food and stuff coming the next day. Tribesmen tried it but nothing coming the next day. Tribesmen tried it but nothing happened.happened.

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Overcoming Misunderstandings: Overcoming Misunderstandings: Two TypesTwo Types

1.1.Our misunderstandings of the people and their Our misunderstandings of the people and their culture: BE A LEARNERculture: BE A LEARNER•Must enter into the new culture as LEARNERS through we Must enter into the new culture as LEARNERS through we

come as TEACHERS!come as TEACHERS!1.1. Any attitude of superiority blinds us to see their culture and Any attitude of superiority blinds us to see their culture and

makes it impossible to accept us.makes it impossible to accept us.2.2. People always will help a learner. Trust is built and equal People always will help a learner. Trust is built and equal

interest in us begins.interest in us begins.3.3. Temptation is to think we understand the culture when we Temptation is to think we understand the culture when we

only see the shell!only see the shell!

2.2.Their misunderstanding of us: BE OPEN AND Their misunderstanding of us: BE OPEN AND CLEAR in explanationsCLEAR in explanations•With trust, more questions will come. Why sleep on beds? With trust, more questions will come. Why sleep on beds?

Do you really eat meat?Do you really eat meat?•Why do you not marry your daughters at six?Why do you not marry your daughters at six?•They want to try our machines. They want to try our machines. •We loose most privacy and personal questions should be We loose most privacy and personal questions should be

expected.expected.

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Inside Outside Viewpoints – Many Inside Outside Viewpoints – Many ways to look at a cultureways to look at a culture

1.1. We learn to see our culture from the insideWe learn to see our culture from the inside• We assume it is the only and right way to liveWe assume it is the only and right way to live• Anthropologists call this view “Anthropologists call this view “EMICEMIC””• We look at other cultures through the grid of our culture and We look at other cultures through the grid of our culture and

foreigners do the sameforeigners do the same• Cross-cultural transition is possible BUT NEVER COMPLETELYCross-cultural transition is possible BUT NEVER COMPLETELY

Some argue that one must reject their own culture and convert Some argue that one must reject their own culture and convert to another cultureto another culture

Virtually impossible because of indelible imprint of our original Virtually impossible because of indelible imprint of our original cultureculture

Often our value to the people we serve is our knowledge of the Often our value to the people we serve is our knowledge of the outside world. We become “culture brokers” so being slightly outside world. We become “culture brokers” so being slightly foreign is okay.foreign is okay.

• ““Migrant” missions are unique, they become citizens and Migrant” missions are unique, they become citizens and never leave. It still take several of their family generations to never leave. It still take several of their family generations to make the cross cultural transition.make the cross cultural transition.

• Missionaries may identify with the culture, but the Gospel is Missionaries may identify with the culture, but the Gospel is always foreignalways foreign

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More Ways to Look at a CultureMore Ways to Look at a Culture

2.2. How is Cross Cultural Communication possible with How is Cross Cultural Communication possible with different views of reality?different views of reality?

Must learn gradually to see the world through the Must learn gradually to see the world through the eyes of our host nationeyes of our host nation

• Develop higher levels o analysis: META-CULTURAL Develop higher levels o analysis: META-CULTURAL CONCEPT frameworks—to stand above both ours and host CONCEPT frameworks—to stand above both ours and host culture to be able to compare and translate.culture to be able to compare and translate.

• Become aware of our CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS, Become aware of our CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS, commonly taken for granted. commonly taken for granted.

Time: ever flowing, moving in one direction or an ever-Time: ever flowing, moving in one direction or an ever-circling cycle that goes nowherecircling cycle that goes nowhere

We look for comparisons, contrasts and implicationsWe look for comparisons, contrasts and implications Developing this Meta-cultural framework results in “BI-Developing this Meta-cultural framework results in “BI-

CULTURAL PEOPLE” who are able to be detached somewhat CULTURAL PEOPLE” who are able to be detached somewhat from the first culture and explain beliefs and habits from one from the first culture and explain beliefs and habits from one culture to anotherculture to another

o An outsider’s perspective, not tied to any culture is An outsider’s perspective, not tied to any culture is an “an “ETICETIC” view of culture” view of culture

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EMIC and ETIC understandings EMIC and ETIC understandings compliment each other:compliment each other:

EMIC view to understand the people and EMIC view to understand the people and their thinking to translate the gospel into their thinking to translate the gospel into their thought patternstheir thought patterns

ETIC view to compare one culture with ETIC view to compare one culture with other cultures to come to a proper view of other cultures to come to a proper view of realityreality

Once the META CULTURAL view is seen Once the META CULTURAL view is seen then the Bible can be translated directly then the Bible can be translated directly from the Biblical cultural setting into the from the Biblical cultural setting into the target culture without injecting the cultural target culture without injecting the cultural “baggage” of the translator.“baggage” of the translator.

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EthnocentricismEthnocentricism Affective level of cross cultural Affective level of cross cultural

misunderstandingmisunderstanding Feeling your culture is superior and others Feeling your culture is superior and others

are primitive: deals with attitude, not are primitive: deals with attitude, not understandingunderstanding

Tendency to respond to strange cultural Tendency to respond to strange cultural habits by using our own affective habits by using our own affective assumptions (how we feel) and to reinforce assumptions (how we feel) and to reinforce these feelings with strong approval or these feelings with strong approval or disapprovaldisapproval

Confronting different cultures feels like our Confronting different cultures feels like our own culture is being judged—the easy own culture is being judged—the easy response is to avoid the issue by assuming response is to avoid the issue by assuming ours is better and they are uncivilized. ours is better and they are uncivilized. Remember, this is a two-way street!Remember, this is a two-way street!

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More More EthnocentricismEthnocentricism Occurs whenever cultural differences are found.Occurs whenever cultural differences are found.

• We are shocked to see the poor living in the streets, they are We are shocked to see the poor living in the streets, they are shocked to see our sick and aged given over to strangers for careshocked to see our sick and aged given over to strangers for care

Different cultures see each other as superior to the other, Different cultures see each other as superior to the other, urbans look down on rural, upper class are critical of urbans look down on rural, upper class are critical of lower.lower.

Solution to ethnocentricism is EMPATHY – appreciate their Solution to ethnocentricism is EMPATHY – appreciate their culture and habitsculture and habits

Not easily rooted out due to pride and self image and self-Not easily rooted out due to pride and self image and self-centeredness and ignorance of otherscenteredness and ignorance of others

Another solution is Cultural Pluralism—unless examined Another solution is Cultural Pluralism—unless examined we will be threatened because it questions our belief that we will be threatened because it questions our belief that our culture is best.our culture is best.

Avoid stereotyping people in another culture—see them Avoid stereotyping people in another culture—see them as humans with different habitsas humans with different habits

People love their own culture—if we wish to convince People love their own culture—if we wish to convince them of anything, it must be done in their culture, not them of anything, it must be done in their culture, not oursours

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3. Premature Judgment3. Premature Judgment——Evaluative LevelEvaluative Level

Tend to judge before we understand Tend to judge before we understand and appreciate the cultureand appreciate the culture

We use our own cultural values, not We use our own cultural values, not that of a meta-cultural conceptthat of a meta-cultural concept

Result is wrong views and close the Result is wrong views and close the door to more understanding and door to more understanding and communicationcommunication

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1. Cultural Relativism1. Cultural Relativism

See other cultures as viable ways of organizing See other cultures as viable ways of organizing human lifehuman life

Some are strong in technology, others in family ties, Some are strong in technology, others in family ties, others in non-technical agriculturesothers in non-technical agricultures

All “do the job”—make life more or less meaningfulAll “do the job”—make life more or less meaningful Results in concept, “All cultures are equally Results in concept, “All cultures are equally

good”—“No culture should judge another”—View has good”—“No culture should judge another”—View has some featuressome features

• Has high respect for othersHas high respect for others• Avoids errors of ethnocentrisms and premature judgmentsAvoids errors of ethnocentrisms and premature judgments• Doesnot deal with questions of truth and morality by Doesnot deal with questions of truth and morality by

withholding judgment letting each culture reach its own withholding judgment letting each culture reach its own answersanswers

Results in no absolutes, no error, any behavior is Results in no absolutes, no error, any behavior is justified in its culture and sin is irrelevant then no justified in its culture and sin is irrelevant then no need for gospel nor missionaries need for gospel nor missionaries

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2. Beyond Relativism2. Beyond Relativism No human thought is free of value judgments—No human thought is free of value judgments—

society cannot exist without themsociety cannot exist without them Judgments should be well informed after Judgments should be well informed after

understanding and appreciating a different understanding and appreciating a different culture—most judgments are made on ignorance culture—most judgments are made on ignorance and ethnocentrisms.and ethnocentrisms.

Christians claim Biblical Norms as a Meta-CultureChristians claim Biblical Norms as a Meta-Culture—affirming the good and condemning the evil—affirming the good and condemning the evil

Truth does not depend on what we think, but on Truth does not depend on what we think, but on reality itselfreality itself

Bearing witness to the Truth, does not pretend Bearing witness to the Truth, does not pretend superiority, but join-cultural deficiencies to the superiority, but join-cultural deficiencies to the Truth of the GospelTruth of the Gospel

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How to keep from interpreting Scriptures How to keep from interpreting Scriptures from our own cultural view point:from our own cultural view point:

1.1. Recognize we have biases when we interpret the Recognize we have biases when we interpret the Bible and are open to correction—we cannot trust Bible and are open to correction—we cannot trust the spirit to apply it to their lives and culturethe spirit to apply it to their lives and culture

2.2. Define the cultures of our own and where we Define the cultures of our own and where we minister to develop a Meta Culture Framework—minister to develop a Meta Culture Framework—Where we can compare and evaluate , etc. both.Where we can compare and evaluate , etc. both.

3.3. Development of Meta Cultural system of values Development of Meta Cultural system of values allows us to compare and evaluate the two, helps allows us to compare and evaluate the two, helps us avoid legalism of imposing foreign norms and us avoid legalism of imposing foreign norms and situational ethics, totally relativistic.situational ethics, totally relativistic.

4.4. Rejecting our culture reduces our effectiveness to Rejecting our culture reduces our effectiveness to the church as an outside contact—we become a the church as an outside contact—we become a valuable resource and positions of leadershipvaluable resource and positions of leadership

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3. Compartmentalization:3. Compartmentalization: In Africa think African; in US, think In Africa think African; in US, think

AmericanAmerican If carried too far can have negative If carried too far can have negative

consequencesconsequences May be accused of hypocrisy and May be accused of hypocrisy and

duplicity, especially if seen by the duplicity, especially if seen by the host culturehost culture

Does not deal with inner tensions Does not deal with inner tensions when switching worlds, example: when switching worlds, example: private ownership verses shared private ownership verses shared ownershipownership

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4. Integration4. Integration

Need well-developed Meta Culture Need well-developed Meta Culture Framework to enable accepting what Framework to enable accepting what is good and critique what is false and is good and critique what is false and evil in both culturesevil in both cultures

Provides a clear understanding of Provides a clear understanding of who we are as Bi-Cultural peoplewho we are as Bi-Cultural people

As Christians this Meta Culture must As Christians this Meta Culture must be rooted in Scriptural beliefs, be rooted in Scriptural beliefs, affections and norms.affections and norms.

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LEVELS OF IDENTIFICATIONLEVELS OF IDENTIFICATION Christ’s model for ministry: fully God yet fully man (Phil 2:5-8) Christ’s model for ministry: fully God yet fully man (Phil 2:5-8)

without compromising either.without compromising either.1.1. Lifestyle—language, dress, food, courtesy, live according to Lifestyle—language, dress, food, courtesy, live according to

their timetheir time• Difficult to adjust to their mode of transportation and Difficult to adjust to their mode of transportation and

housinghousing• Cars can identify you with government, rich or “foreigners”Cars can identify you with government, rich or “foreigners”• Don’t measure success by number of messages preached Don’t measure success by number of messages preached

or meetings attendedor meetings attended• Housing is a problem—every norm is different, loss of Housing is a problem—every norm is different, loss of

privacy is common, homes are open to friends and privacy is common, homes are open to friends and relatives who drop by unannounced and servants all the relatives who drop by unannounced and servants all the time.time.

• Dealing with children—play with neighbors? Go to schools? Dealing with children—play with neighbors? Go to schools? Date? Marry? Note: our children will never be fully a part of Date? Marry? Note: our children will never be fully a part of our original cultureour original culture

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2. Arrive at a Meta Cultural 2. Arrive at a Meta Cultural FrameworkFramework

Our cultural values are not absoluteOur cultural values are not absolute We avoid premature judgments and We avoid premature judgments and

seek to understand and appreciate seek to understand and appreciate their culture, thus minimizing in their culture, thus minimizing in controlling itcontrolling it

When we become Bi-Cultural, we When we become Bi-Cultural, we more appreciate other cultures and more appreciate other cultures and more critical of our own.more critical of our own.

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3. Evaluate in the 3-Dimensions3. Evaluate in the 3-Dimensions Cognitive level—Different perceptions of Cognitive level—Different perceptions of

reality including diverse ideas on hunting, reality including diverse ideas on hunting, farming, food preparation, house building, farming, food preparation, house building, procreation, and diseaseprocreation, and disease

• Must understand beliefs to understand behaviorMust understand beliefs to understand behavior Affective Level—Much is a matter of “taste”Affective Level—Much is a matter of “taste”

• Cultures that prefer peace and compassion may Cultures that prefer peace and compassion may be more open than those based on hatred and be more open than those based on hatred and revengerevenge

Evaluative Level—many norms are “good”Evaluative Level—many norms are “good”• Loving children, caring for elderly, family Loving children, caring for elderly, family

relations, etc.relations, etc.• Some norms are in conflict with BibleSome norms are in conflict with Bible

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LIVING IN TWO WORLDSLIVING IN TWO WORLDS How do Bi-cultural people reconcile both How do Bi-cultural people reconcile both

ways of thinking?ways of thinking?1.1. Rejection of Host CultureRejection of Host Culture

• Host rejection Host rejection Brand it as “primitive”—they feel rejected, not to be Brand it as “primitive”—they feel rejected, not to be

taken seriouslytaken seriously Create an island of secure “home” culture in a Create an island of secure “home” culture in a

compound –they see us as foreignerscompound –they see us as foreigners Both isolate us from the cultureBoth isolate us from the culture

• Rejection of Personal Culture and “go native”?Rejection of Personal Culture and “go native”? Motives for rejecting our culture may be wrong and Motives for rejecting our culture may be wrong and

communicate wrong values in nationals, become communicate wrong values in nationals, become cultural misfits.cultural misfits.

No matter how hard we try we cannot fully “go No matter how hard we try we cannot fully “go native”—we have cultural baggage with us always—native”—we have cultural baggage with us always—suppression will lead to illness, anger, hatred and suppression will lead to illness, anger, hatred and mental explosionsmental explosions

Accept that we will always be foreignersAccept that we will always be foreigners

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2. Roles2. Roles

Need to work with or under national Need to work with or under national leadersleaders

They will place us above them creating They will place us above them creating divisions that dividedivisions that divide

Where church exists missionaries should Where church exists missionaries should assume a submissive coaching roleassume a submissive coaching role

Problems: nationals may see no need for Problems: nationals may see no need for evangelism or church plantingevangelism or church planting

Best to work within existing structure to Best to work within existing structure to bring about changebring about change

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3. Attitudes3. Attitudes Identification does not occur Identification does not occur

because we live like host peoplebecause we live like host people If we maintain a sense of If we maintain a sense of

distance and superiority they will distance and superiority they will sense it.sense it.

Should treat them with dignity Should treat them with dignity and respectand respect

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3. Attitudes Conti.-3. Attitudes Conti.-

If we live in foreign house, eat If we live in foreign house, eat foreign food, but really love them, foreign food, but really love them, they will know the sinceritythey will know the sincerity• Love does not condescendLove does not condescend• Love does not “distain” as inferior or Love does not “distain” as inferior or

uncivilizeduncivilized• Love sees everyone as people with Love sees everyone as people with

whom to bond 1 Cor 13:3whom to bond 1 Cor 13:3