WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

92 WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES
One missionary who returned (probably still facing a degree of “culture
shock”) remarked, “I never got to the point where I could stand the people.” Another
missionary, who was working among a resistant people, suggested why this special
people group had never been reached. It was because Christians had shown a
prejudice towards them culturally and racially.
From our conversations, one can sense whether a person has identified
with the people. Someone who has identified himself with the new culture
will refer to the people as “we”. He will say “We are a happy people” and
“We do things this way”. When the people are regarded as “they”, then the
cross-cultural worker is still a foreigner outside the new culture.
One way to ascertain whether a potential candidate will do well in
another culture is to find out his attitudes to people of another race or ethnic
group in his own country or a neighbouring country. Christ’s heart of compassion
reached out to all types of people as He ministered at a level of their need. This
quality of compassion is especially essential in reaching poorer
communities. A friend who has worked among the poorest of Asian
communities could never speak of the people without tears. He continues to live
and work sacrificially among them as someone who really loves them.
b. Loving Believers and Co-workers
Loving people includes loving fellow-believers and coworkers.
Harmonious relationships, based on love and humility, are essential
on the field. Many workers have returned because they were unable to relate
to fellow workers or to their supervisors. Interpersonal relationship conflicts
are a major source of stress on the field. Although these conflicts occur, they
can be resolved. Even where there is disagreement on issues, there can be love
and forgiveness.
While in Vietnam, some co-workers were facing interpersonal
relationship conflicts among themselves. In a Bible Study, the Lord impressed
upon me Ephesians 4:2, “Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing
with one another in love.” An amplified translation defined love as “making
allowances”. I had the opportunity of sharing and “praying through” these
verses with my co-workers.
Jesus’ disciples were arguing among themselves as to who should be
the greatest. In John 13, Jesus taught them how to serve. He gave them a
new command to love one another. “By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another.”