Humble Servant
School of Truth & Transformation / Speaker Duane & Muriel Elmer Topic: Cross-cultural Ministry
Understanding another culture is the ability to see patterns of behavior and values that reveal the integrity of the people and see how these pieces of the cultural puzzle fit together and make sense to us. Until we don't understand them, it will be difficult to communicate and develop meaningful relationships. A tapestry illustrates the process of understanding another culture. While the needle is weaving, it's difficult to see the big picture. Entering a new culture is like seeing the back side of a tapestry. Its confusing and there is no obvious pattern to help us understand. What is different or wrong? Where are we going to draw our limits? What is worth fighting for? How do we deal with conflicts in this new setting? How can we be assertive to interpret the other culture, and not get frustrated and do wrong assumptions? Wow! This and so much more we saw this week, with some goals in mind: Serve like Jesus, with the ability to welcome people, and make them feel safe and secure. To communicate value, worth and esteem to the people, make them feel accepted. To build confidence in the relationship acting in the others best interests. To glean relevant information about, from and with the other person. To see the patterns of behavior and underlying values that reveal the integrated wholeness and integrity of the person. To relate to people in such a way, that their dignity as human beings is affirmed and they are more empowered to live their lives in Gods glorifying ways.
What stood out to me was the importance of acceptance. Before that, people must experience our openness, and this requires stepping out of the comfort zone to initiate and sustain a friendship with cultural differences just as Jesus embraced us not having much in common at the beginning of our relationship. He accepted us just how we were. This place of openness and acceptance can be a place where healing takes place.
What flipped me around in the teaching was all the bad assumptions we do with the culturally different. I have been so wrong making judgments wrong interpretations of the same reality with different grids of values so different perspectives. That's why Jesus is so categorical when he says we should never judge. We studied lots of cases of communication, misunderstanding, wrong assumptions. It was truly eye-opening and loving at the same time. This plus the importance of been mediators as representants of the living God. We carry the ministry of reconciliation, that's our main purpose in life. I really enjoyed being inspired to sincerely love those I still don't understand and challenged to have this attitude in life, practice curiosity, stop judgment, interpreting and reframing with God's perspective the situations that come across, play out forgiveness more regularly.
My conclusions are that Jesus, our Lord Christ came as suffering humble servant. How are the local people perceiving my service? Am I following the steps and humble attitude of Jess? Love and trust are culturally defined. Am I understanding those I serve? Understanding is not negotiable. I will stop judging what I don’t like or don’t understand. As Duane, the speaker said, "You never know what God is gonna do with what irritates you." He meant something good. Anyway, if we don’t understand those we serve, we can become an oppressor or a monkey, in the sense that can have the best intentions, but the result will end up in a complete failure if we don't know what we are doing.
"Understanding is the basis of care. What you would take care of you must first understand, whether it be a petunia or a nation" Dallas Willard
A deep trust will drive us to act in the best interest of the other. Trust is the glue that holds relationships together.
What stood out to me was the importance of acceptance. Before that, people must experience our openness, and this requires stepping out of the comfort zone to initiate and sustain a friendship with cultural differences just as Jesus embraced us not having much in common at the beginning of our relationship. He accepted us just how we were. This place of openness and acceptance can be a place where healing takes place.
What flipped me around in the teaching was all the bad assumptions we do with the culturally different. I have been so wrong making judgments wrong interpretations of the same reality with different grids of values so different perspectives. That's why Jesus is so categorical when he says we should never judge. We studied lots of cases of communication, misunderstanding, wrong assumptions. It was truly eye-opening and loving at the same time. This plus the importance of been mediators as representants of the living God. We carry the ministry of reconciliation, that's our main purpose in life. I really enjoyed being inspired to sincerely love those I still don't understand and challenged to have this attitude in life, practice curiosity, stop judgment, interpreting and reframing with God's perspective the situations that come across, play out forgiveness more regularly.
My conclusions are that Jesus, our Lord Christ came as suffering humble servant. How are the local people perceiving my service? Am I following the steps and humble attitude of Jess? Love and trust are culturally defined. Am I understanding those I serve? Understanding is not negotiable. I will stop judging what I don’t like or don’t understand. As Duane, the speaker said, "You never know what God is gonna do with what irritates you." He meant something good. Anyway, if we don’t understand those we serve, we can become an oppressor or a monkey, in the sense that can have the best intentions, but the result will end up in a complete failure if we don't know what we are doing.
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario