1. When Culture Intersect- Sharing the Gospel Gunya Na Thalang

2. A new, multi-ethnic United States

3. A new, multi-ethnic Church Southern Baptist Church statistics

4. The Problem: Have we learned to co-exist with people of differing Cultural Values? How can we improve our ability to relate to people of other cultures so as to help them see the love of God in Christ Jesus? Are the tensions that divide us insurmountable?

5. What is Culture? “Culture is the sum total of a people’s system of beliefs and patterns of behavior which are learned in society.” –Eugene Nida

6. Approaches to Culture? “Cultural Relativity” That culture should be judged based on its own terms. It is judged on its own definitions of good/bad, right/wrong. “Cultural Validity” That all cultures are basically equal in the sense that they have both good and bad elements, but ultimately they will be judged by God.

7. Biblical understanding of diverse culture 8 So the L ORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the L ORD confused [a] the language of all the earth. And from there the L ORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.a Genesis 11:8-9 God’s Plan for Diversity? God’s Message of Grace is for all Cultures Diversity of Creation Man created in God’s image, each to be valued God’s love for all nations, tribes, east to west. For God so loved the world At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit instilled the Word “in his own language.”

8. Much of Culture is like Food

9. Please Understand Me

10. Culture is kind of like...

11. Our Greatest Challenge? “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” - Ephesians 6:12

12. VALUES: A Key to Understanding Tensions about Time Tensions about Judgment Tensions in Handling Crises Tensions over Goals Tensions about Self-Worth Tensions Regarding Vulnerability

13. Tensions over Time Time OrientationEvent Orientation Concern for punctuality and amount of time expended Concern for the event, regardless of time required Careful allocation of time to achieve the maximum within set limits Exhaustive consideration of a problem until resolved Tightly scheduled, goal-directed activities A “let come what may” outlook not tied to any precise schedule Rewards offered as incentives for efficient use of time Stress on completing the even as a reward in itself

14. 1 Minute in International Time

15. Tensions over Judgment Dichotomistic ThinkingHolistic Thinking Judgments are black/white, right/wrong—specific criteria are uniformly applied in evaluation of others Judgments are open-ended, the whole person and all circumstances are taken into consideration Security comes from the feeling that one is right and fits into a particular role or category in society Security comes from multiple interactions within the whole of society—one is insecure if confined to particular roles or categories Information and experiences are systematically organized; details are sorted and ordered to form a clear pattern Information and experiences are seemingly disorganized; details (narratives, events, portraits) stand as independent points complete in themselves.

16. Tensions over Crises Crisis OrientationNoncrisis Orientation Anticipates crisisDownplays possibility of crisis Emphasizes planningFocuses on actual experience Seeks quick resolution to avoid ambiguity Avoids taking action; delays decisions Repeatedly follows a single authoritative, preplanned procedure Seeks ad hoc solutions from multiple available options Seeks expert adviceDistrusts expert advice

17. Tensions over Goals Task OrientationPerson Orientation Focuses on tasks and principles Focuses on persons and relationships Finds satisfaction in the achievement of goals Finds satisfaction in interaction Seeks friends with similar goals Seeks friends who are group-oriented Accepts loneliness and social deprivation for the sake of personal achievements Deplores loneliness; sacrifices personal achievements for group interaction

18. Tensions about Self-Worth Status Focus (prestige is ascribed) Achievement Focus (prestige is attained) Personal identity is determined by formal credentials of birth and rank Personal identity is determined by one’s achievements The amount of respect one receives is permanently fixed; attention focuses on those with high social status in spite of any personal failings they have The amount of respect one receives varies with one’s accomplishments and failures; attention focuses on personal performance The individual is expected to play his or her role and to sacrifice to attain higher rank The individual is extremely self- critical and makes sacrifices in order to accomplish ever greater deeds People associate only with their social equals People associate with those of equal accomplishments regardless of background

19. Tensions regarding Vulnerability Concealment of VulnerabilityWillingness to Expose Vulnerability Protection of self-image at all cost; avoidance of error and failure Relative unconcern about error and failure Emphasis on the quality of performance Emphasis on completion of event Reluctance to go beyond one’s recognized limits or to enter the unknown Willingness to push beyond one’s own limits and enter the unknown Denial of culpability; withdrawal from activities in order to hide weakness and shortcomings Ready admission of culpability, weakness and shortcomings Refusal to entertain alternative views or accept criticism Openness to alternative views and criticism Vagueness regarding personal lifeWillingness to talk freely about personal life

20. God’s ultimate plan for culture Revelation 7: 9-10 (ESV) After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

21. Recommended Reading