Kingdom
Response: Cultural Diversity
Philippians
2:4-11
This
message is first in a series on how to respond well (Response – ability) to situations around you as a believer. Every
person has to deal with other people, cultures, resources, needs, obstacles,
and authority structures. The series
begins by drawing lessons from the example of Christ on the appropriate kingdom of God
The
gospel of our Lord Jesus is for all cultures (Revelation 7:9; Mathew 28:19).
God came down to reign in the hearts of his people. His kingdom accommodates
more than just one culture. For God loved all people so much that he gave his
only son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting
life (John 3:16). His kingdom is the realm where his will prevails. His kingdom
is within reach and obedience to his word is experiencing his kingdom. His
kingdom will not pass away and is not just words but power.
Creation
clearly reflects a God of diversity and variety. Creativity is purposeful
variation. Can you imagine what a world it would be with one species, one
mineral or one color? I imagine that a
world with just grey color for example would be miserable. You can talk of
favorite colors because many colors to choose from exist. Beauty is only
possible in a context with variety. The world is richer and holds unlimited
potential because earth has many different colors, materials, animals and
cultures.
Globalization
through advanced transport, communication, and international trade and
migration systems has increased global awareness and brought cultures close to
each other but has not always taught how they can relate positively. As a
result, in some cases the proximity of cultures has produced intensified
hostilities and violence. Acquiring cross-cultural competence is no longer a
nuisance or luxury. You do not need cross cultural skills when planning to
travel around the world because wherever you are the world has travelled to
your neighborhood, market place and school.
The
degree of cultural difference faced in relationships varies. It begins with
difference in personalities that two people have and spans to affect
relationships between distant ethnical cultures. The moment a person relates with another,
they have to cross a cultural line. It could be of a gender, personality, age,
urban-rural, religion, family, profession or some other culture. Relational skills reach their best when
effectively applied across the most difficult cultural barriers. Difficult
barriers only amplify what is already required in any kind of relationships.
It
is interesting that long before globalization and the increased multicultural
society of our day the Bible was already presenting a culturally inclusive
community. Christ came to bring cultures
together. He came to break down cultural barriers. His mission was to reconcile
all peoples to God and to one another.
Jesus demonstrated what it takes to be able to reach out to another
culture. He gives the example, wisdom
and ability to relate to any culture.
Paul exhorted the Philippians church to have the mind of Christ
(Philippians 2:5) and learn to relate well with people in their different
roles, responsibilities, and identities.
Lessons from
Philippians 2:4-11
No
one can cross a cultural gulf bigger than that Jesus crossed from heaven to
earth in order to establish a relationship with humanity. How did he manage to
do it?
- He was selfless – He
did not look only on his own things, but also on the things of others (verse
4). Relating across cultures requires
ability to appreciate things of others.
- He knew who he was. He
was God (verse 6). If you do not know
who you are, you will struggle to relate with others and they will not know how
to relate to you. Being selfless does
not mean having no self worth and identity but means not being preoccupied with
your identity to the detriment of your relationships.
- He chose to identify with humanity
(verse 7-8). He showed interest by deciding to engage with humanity. He was
willing to sacrifice. It took putting off the glory of his heavenly culture,
humbling himself and being available to serve. He could have presented himself
as a super human but instead he was able to identify with the lowest as well as
the highest. He did not speak to people
with a heavenly language, did not dress in heaven’s attire nor did he bring
heavenly supplies such as bottled water. He knew people respond to care and
solutions, so he came loving and serving.
- He was highly exalted.
Because of selflessly identifying with humanity to the point of giving his life
for them, God the Father highly exalted him, and gave him a name, which is
above every name (verse 9-11). God
reserves a special blessing for those who like Christ will sacrificially reach
out across cultures.
Implications
To
relate well cross culturally:
1) Deal with your own feelings of
inadequacy and insecurity (How
you view yourself). Christ
knew he was and that no one could change the fact about him being God. God
making himself a servant remains God. Cross-cultural hostility often comes from
fears and suspicions coming from an unsettled estimation of oneself. Such
people operate on a zero sum basis where whatever another gains is perceived as
a loss to them. Believers will relate
best from knowing who they are and who holds their ability and security. Even what you consider a limitation God can
use it to your advantage (Judges 3:12-29).
God’s major hurdle in sending Moses was in having him accept himself and
realize his God given capabilities ( Exodus 13,14; Judges 3:1-7, 31)). If you cannot accept yourself as God has
accepted you, it will be hard for you to accept others as God has accepted
them. `If anyone is in Christ he is a
new creation, the old things have past away and all things are made new. (II
Corinthians 5:17)’
2) Deal with your own prejudices (How you view others). Be
selfless like Christ. Prejudice is unreasonably viewing others negatively. A
dictionary defined prejudice as an adverse judgment or opinion of others formed
beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. Often people of one culture stereotype by
brushing everyone in a culture the same. Every culture has its rotten apples
and many who are not rotten. Also, avoid associating a past negative experience
with the present and projecting it into the future. Just because someone hurt
you, does not mean you will always be hurt.
Always respond according to your identity not as reacting to what others
do or say. That is what Jesus did (1
Peter 2:23). When you criticize others, you create a log more worrying to God
than the speck in the other people’s eyes (Mathew 7:1, 2).
3) Deal with relational tensions (How you view personal differences). Cultural differences by nature create
tensions. The tensions can be productive
or dysfunctional depending on the perspective parties involved adopt. When the
tensions are resolved, they produce synergy because difference is the beginning
of synergy. In other words, a thousand people who are the same cannot achieve
the same quality of ideas as a few who are different but able to work
together. However when tensions are
unresolved they can lead to worse results due to dysfunctional conflict. Therefore, celebrate differences and be a
bridge builder (Mathew 5:9). Be a student through reading, listening and
observing. Learn what is necessary for effective collaboration and cooperation.
Accommodate failures of those who offend you and learn to forgive them as
Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:28-32).
Always seek opportunities to serve through finding common ground and
goals. Cultures have a lot in common by
way of food, language, dress, sport, education, faith, etc. Grow the common
spaces, focus on the positive and achieve synergy through peaceful coexistence
and dialogue.
Practically,
be humble and seek to serve. Avoid speaking and acting in ways that mock or put
other cultures down. Recognize and show respect to other people and their
histories. Be observant and learn the
cultural norms and customs of the other people to understand them better. Identify with them by adopting their dress,
and life-styles as much as is consistent with the word of God. Ask the Lord for a friend from the other culture
to inform you about the dos and do nots of their culture. Express your faith in ways that respects
and preserves cultural identities. Be
seen to be making an effort to identify with the people. You will find that the people often
appreciate such effort. Where possible
live among the people and eat their food, dance like them, join their
conversation speak their language, dress like them, hang out where they are.
Bear in mind like as Christ did, it will not always be according to your
comfort and convenience but relating appropriately and productively as Christ
would do.
Message by Dr.
Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith
Life Center.
Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay
Building,
204B Bram Fischer drive,
Randburg, Johannesburg, South
Africa
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