Culturally Effective
First of all, sorry to everyone for not writing in a while. Things these days have been a bit crazy and we are still learning how to balance our lives. So here is a much needed post.
I am not a big fan of the term ‘culturally sensitive’. Simply considering our line of work and making an impact for Christ, I don’t think ‘sensitive’ is necessarily what are called to be so much as ‘effective’ or if that sounds a little too business-like, ‘impactful’. Now some people may be saying, ‘Nathan, I get the impactful part, but what is the deal with focusing on the culture so much? If you know the Bible and are led by the Holy Spirit, you’ll be fine.’ Well concerned reader, I understand your point, but there are some gross oversimplifications in what you are saying.
One thing that might need to be grasped is the fact that the Bible is an extremely cultural book. I can prove this point by simply asking the question, ‘When was the last time you shepherded some sheep?’ (This last question doesn’t apply to all the shepherds that read my blog) So in essence, we are looking at how to apply the principles from a very cultural book to another culture that is vastly different, including our own. The great thing is that the principles are transferable because the needs of man transcend cultures. Everyone wants to feel a part of something, needs relationships, have a purpose, feel cared for and a myriad of other universals. The trick is figuring out how you practically demonstrate these things.
If I were to show up at your door with some salt and some bars of soap in the U.S. you might think I was making a statement about your cooking and hygiene, but here it can have a serious impact in expressing a desire for friendship.
