Monday, March 10, 2014

Cultural

Have been reading quite a bit about cross-cultural ministry.  A statement that John Perkins made in his forward to John Hayes' book Submerge has stuck with me.  "Cross-cultural is where the war is and that's where the violence comes from."  He was thinking of national cultures when he wrote that, but I was thinking "all cultures...everywhere...even the church."  The church is multi-cultural by design.  And challenges to unity come along predictable fault lines.

Can those who are committed to evangelism get along with those who are committed to discipleship?
Can those who are of Apollos get along with those who are of Paul?
Can those who are emotional in their approach to God get along with those who are intellectual in their approach?
Can those who are pioneers get along with those who are settlers?


There are perhaps a thousand of these cultural distinctives that can be found in the body of Christ.  One of the roles of a Christian leader is to help people build bridges across these divides.  Remember what Jesus said?  Blessed are the peacemakers.  It is near and dear to God's heart to help people put down the weapons (even if the weapon is a twitter account), and get along.