Written by Michelle J. Goff
Cross-cultural communication is fascinating. As a child, I was introduced to different cultures within our home, starting with my parents… Dad is a PhD Chemist who grew up in a small farming community on the Iowa/Missouri border. Mom is a special education elementary school teacher who grew up in the metropolitan city of Miami.
Dad always leaves doors unlocked. Mom locks all the doors immediately.
Dad prefers ordinal directions (north, south, east, west). Mom gives directions based on landmarks.
Dad makes the bed with the top sheet a certain side up. Mom makes the bed with the top sheet the opposite side up.
Some of these differences are not significant. Others have been a big deal… One of the first mornings as a married couple, it took them three hours to make the bed because of their different preferences on how to make a bed. When they have taught premarital counseling classes regarding “first year adjustments,” they ask the couple to make a bed together, then share their own story.
Within our own families, we create a culture and an expectation. “Normal” is all we have ever known, until we are introduced to someone else’s normal.
I remember Chinese students coming to our home for Sunday lunch and learning how to use a knife and fork to eat the traditional pot roast, potatoes, and carrots. There were no chop sticks, nor rice on our Southern American table. Yet, later, South Americans, like Venezuelans, reminded us that they were American too. Our Puerto Rican friends loved to eat and share the slightly burned rice on the bottom of the pot… a sign that you are family. Have you ever thought about some of those cultural differences?
We cannot recognize our own culture until we are given the opportunity to learn about another culture through our differences.
When we look at the concept of Culture Redefined, here are three questions we can ask ourselves:
1. What have I learned about my own culture in light of another’s culture?
2. What have I learned about someone else’s culture—what we have in common and areas in which we have unique perspectives?
3. What facet of the Christ-like, Kingdom culture should I most emulate in this context or relationship?
Since it is football season in the U.S., I will share that my football culture is one of an LSU Tiger. When I took a group of LSU students up to Ole Miss for a game, we marveled at the differences between tailgating in those two SEC towns. We shared a deep love of football, but probably a deeper love for our team than for the sport itself.
Our Christian culture was challenged when the rival fans began to taunt us, throw things at us, and mistreat us. We recognized that not all LSU fans are also Christians. We also know that not all Ole Miss fans are Christians either. If all Christian football fans are being honest, sometimes our football culture may overshadow our Christian culture.
Family culture, church culture, language culture, local culture, sports culture, school culture… Culture does an excellent job of providing connection and community. However, if our culture is to the exclusion of others, is it a culture that honors Christ?
When Jesus began His ministry, He welcomed individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds to be a part of His Kingdom: Samaritans, tax collectors, fishermen, those with disabilities, Zealots, women, Pharisees… and many more. Some accepted His invitation into a new culture and others did not.
We are each a unique combination of the various cultures we have embraced and emulated. When those cultures are in conflict, how do we choose?
How does God call us to navigate the redefining of culture?
1. We must seek first God’s definition of culture in Christ. It must take precedence over any other cultural markers (Matt. 6:33; 1 John 4:1-6).
2. Cultural redefinition is a process of transformation (Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 3:17-18).
3. Our new identity in Christ is the most important foundation of culture, further developed through the Spirit (Gal. 2:20; Acts 2:38; Gal. 5:16-25).
What are your thoughts about culture?
How has your culture been redefined through your coming to Christ?