WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

LEARNING ABOUT CULTURE
• Thirdly, cross-cultural messengers can ask their respondents to meet them
half-way to exchange views so as to establish common ground.This
approach is risky as it will distort the message. Any religion needs to be
viewed as a whole.
Hesselgrave suggests that the second approach is in keeping with the
missionary calling and the realities of culture.
CONTEXTUALISATION AND
CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
The Gospel is universal, unchanging and for all cultures. But the cultural
contexts in which the cross-cultural messenger delivers it are different from
the culture in which God had revealed His message. During the communication
process, it is important for the messenger to discern the local “worldview” and
to distinguish it from other worldviews, so that the message can be delivered
in a relevant way to the local context. This is the task of contextualisation faced
by the cross-cultural messenger.
Contextualisation is necessary so that the Gospel message is clearly
understood by the recipients without any cultural distortions. The cross-cultural
messenger must accurately perceive the recipients’ worldview and subsequently
define, adapt and apply the Gospel message to their local context.
Bringing the Gospel to another culture is more than a matter of preaching
a message. For change to take place, Paul recognised that mere words will not
be enough. To the Thessalonians, he wrote “Our gospel came to you not simply
with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction”
(1 Thessalonians 1:5). Paul then described how he lived among them and how
he worked in their midst. They saw his life. The life and lifestyle of the messenger
is extremely important especially when that messenger first seeks to identify
with a people and its culture.
Contextualisation affects three major areas for the messenger: his lifestyle,
his message and his way of doing the ministry. His life and lifestyle will either
develop rapport with the people or cause them to keep their distance.
When Paul went to Thessalonica, his life attracted the people. He could
testify “ You know how we lived among you ... You became imitators of us and
of the LORD” (1 Thessalonians 1:5, 6). Paul did not want to burden the people
financially. This was his deep conviction. He worked night and day supporting
himself. He preached the Gospel. He was a tentmaker. 7 The Thessalonians were
willing to hear his message. They understood his message and it meant to
them what it had meant to Paul.
7 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 9:6-15; Acts 18:3
7