World-Wide Christians

World-Wide Christians

I. We need an updated sociology:• Seamless Missions - We are the missioners…&

the mission field– 12% of USA are foreign born– Pennsylvania (2010)

• 5.8% of Florida’s population• Top countries of origin, India, Mexico, China

– 1/3 of America is unchurched• Highest among politically liberal and single

– Black/White divide in USA (12% African American)

Foreign-born in Pennsylvania

World-Wide ChristiansII. We need a Biblical theology

– Generic US Protestantism isn’t strong enough to ignite a missionary effort.• Gospel reduced to a “ticket to heaven” by a 1-time

sinner’s prayer. • It is not a robust understanding of salvation

(holiness).• It is anti-foreigners/sojourners

World-Wide Christians = Bi-Cultural Christians

IV. We need Bi-Cultural Christians• Not only caring about those who are different but

understanding (and liking!) them.• Not only caring about those overseas but those

around the corner. Is Mt 28:19-20 a missionary verse…or a church verse?

• Not only “inviting” but “going?” • What if every believer had a missionary intensity -

willing to sacrifice career, housing, schooling, nationalism to “go & make disciples ‘panta ta ethne’”?”

World-Wide Christians are Bi-Cultural

There reallyis a difference

Becoming Bi-Cultural:Understanding Cultural

Differences

2. Guilt, Shame, or Fear Based

1. Linear-active, Multi-active, or Re-active

?

??

? ?

??

Linear Active Cultures

Germans, English, Americans

Task-oriented, highly-organized planners

TransactionalData oriented cultures

Believe in Sequence

Multi-Active Cultures

Mediterraneans, Latinos, middle-easterners

People-oriented, communicative inter-relators

RelationalOpportunity better than appointments

Believe in Spontaneity

Reactive Cultures

Finns Japanese

Introverted, respect-oriented listeners

Listening cultures

Guilt Based Cultures

Begins withInnocence The problem

presents as Guiltover infractions

The Solution isforgiveness

Holiness = freedomfrom grip of sin

Individual

It all orbits around

Goal is Well-being

Shame Based Cultures

Begins with Respect

The problem presents as Shame (before others)

The Solution isHonor restored

Holiness = healthycommunity

Community

It all orbits around

Goal isWell Being

Fear Based Cultures

Begins with Safety Problem

presents as Fear

The Solution isPower

Holiness = freedomfrom impotencein face of threats

External Beings

It all orbits around

Goal is Well Being

A Guess on USA Majority Culture

Begins With My Dreams/Hopes

Problem Presents asHopelessness(UnrealizableHopes)

The Solution is replace “me”with “Other” (God)Holiness =

Acting in Hope

Me

It all orbits around

Goal is Well-Being

Why culture matters to youA Latino/Anglo case study-How to avoid

the bi-cultural train wreck• Worship • Time• Planning and Committees

Worship• Praise

– Music• Clapping on 1&3 in Latino cultures, 2&4 in Anglo

– Silence or sound• Anglo model: The quiet whisper (individual) • Latino model: Acts 2 (group)

– Body movement • Worship emphases

– Anglo, on transformation– Latin, on power (feet of clay)

• Length of service

Time

Anglos…• time is mechanical (clock and calendar). It is an

objective reality. • are time-dominated and monochronic

(conceptualize sequence)

Time

Latinos…polychronic•“Time is event or personality related, a subjective commodity which can be manipulated, molded, stretched or dispensed with…” •Time is relationship, invest it on people•Saving time isn’t as important as experiencing the moment – sacrifice the future for the present.

Planning & Committees

• Planning– Anglo-imagines future and then works back to present– Latino-responsive, flexible, and improvisational but

future is unknowable

• Committees– Anglo: Check off agenda boxes and go home– Latino: Be together, build the team, react to what

comes up

Our Church’s Cultural Task: Becoming

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

I Corinthians 9:19-22

Our process for Becoming

Bi-Cultural:

Global Outreach Seminar

www.themissionsociety.org

Global Outreach Process for the Local Church

LOCALCHURCH

Global OutreachWeekend

Mentoring

ModifiedMentoring

Self-Directed w/

Training

Self Directed

GlobalOutreach

Plan

AnnualGlobal Impact Celebration

CatalyticEvent

Options for Next Step

IntermediateGoals

StrategicOutreach

Jerusalem

Judea

Sameria

Ends of the Earth

Long-TermGoals

Acts 1:8 Strategy

Kingdom Partnerships

Short-Term Missions

Globally Focused Giving

Praying for Global Outreach Mission Policy/Procedures

Go & Become! • Who should not sign-up?

– Your church has multiple ethnic groups/languages… AND

– Your church has global and local fruitfulness

Everyone else…form a line, no pushing, please.