WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

32 WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES
win their fellow-gypsies to Christ. Meanwhile, Aunty continues her work of
translating the Old Testament.
Today, there are still numerous peoples without a translation of the Bible
or portions of it in their own language. Bible translation agencies, especially
Wycliffe Bible Translators and United Bible Societies, are doing a magnificent
work in Bible translation. They need our support and prayers. Other groups are
working on Bible stories which can be communicated audio-visually through
multi-media such as films and DVDs.
CONSIDERATIONS IN COMMUNICATING
CROSS-CULTURALLY
When delivering the message in a new culture, the cross-cultural
messenger must ensure meaningful communication of Christ and the Gospel.
Communicating the Gospel in another culture involves a process which includes
four elements: Definition, Selection, Adaptation and Application. 12
DEFINITION: The cross-cultural messenger must define his terms. This
process requires hard work because the worldview of the host culture may
attach different meanings to concepts of God, sin and salvation. The messenger
has to work through the process by comparisons, contrasts, and stories to clarify
divine truth and free it from cultural misconceptions, either from his own or
the hearer’s culture.
SELECTION: The whole truth cannot be communicated instantly. The
process involves selecting what components of the message should be dealt
with first. To Nicodemus, Jesus talked about the new birth. To the Athenians,
Paul began by declaring that the “unknown God” has revealed Himself.
ADAPTATION: The cross-cultural messenger needs to perceive the
special areas of concern of his hearers and make adjustments and adapt his
message to these concerns. For example, in dealing with the fact of sin, he
needs to focus on what is perceived as sinful in the worldview and beliefs of
the host culture.
The messenger should be alert also to anything in the culture that would
speak to universal truths, as Paul was when he quoted some of the poets
respected by the Athenians.
APPLICATION: Ultimately, the message must be personalised. The Holy
Spirit brings conviction when the Word of God is personally applied.
12 This process is developed by David Hesselgrave. See his book David Hesselgrave (1991 Second Edition), “Communicating Christ
Cross-Culturally: An Introduction to Missionary Communication”, Grand Rapids. MI: Zondervan.