1. Culture & Church Planting
Understanding Cultures

2. Culture & Church Planting
Definition of Culture
Culture is the integrated system of learned patterns of ideas, values, behavior, and products characteristic of a society.
Culture influences our perception of reality
Men holding hands
Cause of disease
Acceptable food

3. Culture & Church Planting
Elements of Culture
Integrated - all the components that make up culture function as an interrelated unit
Learned - culture is learned and passed on from generation to generation
Ideas - language and mental images use to describe reality
Values - the worth and importance of ideas and ethical standards
Behavior - the observable actions of members of the culture
Products - visible items utilized in the culture
Society - organized interaction of all elements to accomplish its goals

4. Culture & Church Planting
Areas of Cultural Diversity
Gestures
Language
Personal space
Physical items
Life style
Nucular- independent
Patrilocal
Extended
Music

5. Culture & Church Planting
Cultural Perspectives
Ethnocentric - tend to see our culture as best
View other cultures from our home culture perspective
Every culture has it good and evil aspects

6. Culture & Church Planting
Evangelism & Cultural Distance
E-0 is Christians teaching nominal Christians of the same culture who attend their churches but have not made Christ their Lord.
E-1 is where evangelism occurs among people of highly similar cultures in the same language.
E-2 is evangelism among people in similar cultures but with differing languages.
E-3 is evangelism among distinctively different cultures and different languages.

7. Culture & Church Planting
Bridging - being able to bridge cultural barriers to effectively communicate the gospel.
Problems with using nationals to avoid bridging.
Support often goes only to supporting local preacher and not church planting
How money is used is not known
Gives people excuse not to go
Tribalism, ethnic fighting, & clan animosity
Nationals face obstacles

8. Culture & Church Planting
How To Work Within A Culture
Extractionism vs. Identificationalism
Extractionism - is pulling people out of their cultural environment and into the missionary’s cultural norm.
Identificationalism - is an empathy between communicants involving a compassionate, interpersonal, reciprocal sharing of feelings and concepts.

9. Culture & Church Growth
How To Work Within A Culture
Perspectives of Extractionism
Learning
Missionary has all the answers
Really does not know the answers
Expect to teach without learning to relate to the culture
Relating to people
People brought to their comfort zone
Isolate themselves (won’t eat or sleep among)
Don’t see local problems

10. Culture & Church Planting
How To Work Within A Culture
Perspectives of Extractionism
Language
Try communication without learning language
Depend on translator
Indigenous thought forms
Keep western thought forms
Will not see cultural dilemmas
Ministry
High use of institutions
Superimpose their own cultural perspectives of think & organization of local people

11. Culture & Church Planting
How To Work Within A Culture
Basic invalid assumption of extractionism
Assumes all people are the same
Seldom focuses on a specific audience
Outside support is generally approved
Problems with extractionism
Tend to westernize cultures
High degree of dependence on the missionary
Highly indoctrinated

12. Culture & Church Planting
Perspectives on identificationalism
Learning
Learner first
Teach with cultural perspective
Relating to people
Regard people as equals
Participate in local customs (food, sleep, celebrate)
Wisdom & education not the same

13. Culture & Church Planting
Perspectives on identificationalism
Indigenous thought forms
Teach in a culturally understandable form
Use illustrations in their cultural context
Ministry
Personalize ministry to the people
Does not superimpose our own cultural thought forms or organizational ideas (e.g. decision making)

14. Culture & Church Planting
Qualities of identificational thinking
Compassion
Enter into the suffering of other people
Understand people’s life situation (Mt. 9:36)
Interpersonal report
Personal training
Open home - friendship
Being a part of the community
Reciprocity - One another scriptures
Transparency
Sharing
Empathy

15. Culture & Church Planting
Inner & Outer Identification
Physical conformity does not necessarily prove identification
Things vs. People
Heart felt empathy bring more than physical conformity

16. Culture & Church Planting
Contextualization -- communicating the gospel in a new context in a way that is understandable to the recipients in order for them to do theology, develop church life, be involved in ministry that is biblically based and culturally appropriate.
Identifying with the people helps you to contextualize the message better.
Extractionism hinders one’s ability to effectively contextualize the gospel

17. Culture & Church Planting
Cultural Adaptation
Enculturation - the process by which a child learns to be a functioning member of its home culture.
Acculturation - the process by which an adult acquires the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, & behaviors to function within a new culture.
Culture Jolts - experiencing cultural differences which one adapts to after an initial experience of newness and uncomfortableness.
Culture Shock - experiencing cultural differences but not being able to adapt and live in harmony with the differences.