I was recently asked the question, "Are all Christians commanded to cross cultures in ministry?"
The short answer to this question is “yes”, but let me explain further.
1. Remember that culture is a junk drawer term. There are many ways to define culture and numerous layers to a person’s, or society’s, culture. Therefore, crossing cultures is not as hard or flamboyant as it might sound. Crossing cultures may mean crossing economic, geographical, or ethno-linguistic barriers. This, by the way, is the difficulty with only defining “missionary” as one who purposefully cross cultures for ministry. Normally, people who do such are only thinking in terms of ethno-linguistic differences. Those are huge, but they are not the only factors that contribute to cultural identification.
I think James 2:1-13 is a great illustration here. The passage speaks to economic differences, not necessarily ethnic differences. But we all know that economic differences lead to cultural differences. This is an inevitable reality. Therefore, without speculating too much, I think James 2:1-13 speaks to culture as much as income levels. The main point is “don’t show favoritism to rich people, to people like you, or to people not like you”.
2. In most parts of the world, crossing cultures is a normal part of daily life. It is inevitable. Perhaps with the exception of North Korea, I’m not sure I can think of an area on earth that is not stock full of varying cultures and subcultures. Therefore, [KEEP READING]
[written by Shanna Wright, an Austin Stone partner that recently returned from a family trip to the Dominican Republic]
I have been thinking about this post for a long time. It was funny to see that through all my reflecting, the answer was sitting there in a simple conversation I had the night after we returned from our travel to the Dominican Republic. Here is my answer to what it was like to take our sons, ages 6 and 8, on a mission trip to a foreign country...
I was talking with a friend who wanted to know how the boys did on our trip. We were really just two moms sharing about our kids...a very natural thing for moms. Honestly, they were Americans. They complained about the heat. They turned up their noses at food they did not recognize. They cried when they were overtired or embarrassed. They were spoiled and rotten. Now to be really honest...we all were. The adults on the trip were also hot, tired, did not always like the food, and were sometimes embarrassed by a lack of skills. However, we are adults. We are trained to keep those things inside so we do not look self-absorbed. But honestly, the ugly truth is still there. In our flesh, we want things our way. As we watched the boys struggle, our first inclination was to press them to rise to the occasion. We tried conversations, persuasion, even a little nudge to the back of the arm with a look of disapproval. Ultimately, this did nothing. All our earthly parenting skills did nothing. We did what we should [KEEP READING]
Today, Ryan King, Minister of International Mission at The Austin Stone, will marry Theresa Claunch, Area Minister for Women's Missional Communities for The Austin Stone.
They have really modeled for our church how godly people date, fall in love, get engaged, and get married. I, along with the rest of the staff, could not be more excited for them today as they embark on a new phase of their lives.
In celebration of their union today, I wrote the following as a simple gift for them.
For Ryan and Theresa
When one King becomes two
Sacred covenant effected.
Delight in pleasures new
Glorious institution erected!
Remember, though, the Unseen
Present in the wedding.
He is another King
Who keeps all things steady.
The marriage rule is simple:
"Let this King rule the center."
Your union will not cripple
If He unites your pleasure.
Two Kings are really three
A shadow of things to come.
We'll taste today the Unseen
When the marriage anthem sung.
"The supreme question of foreign missions is how to multiply the number of Christians who will individually and collectively exert this force of intercession for the conversion and transformation of men. Every other consideration and plan is secondary to that of wielding the forces of prayer."
"The evangelization of the world depends first of all upon a revival of prayer. Deeper than the need for men - deep down at the bottom of our Spiritless life - is the need for the forgotten secret of prevailing, worldwide prayer. Pray that our mission work may all be done in this spirit: waiting on God, hearing the voice of the Spirit, sending forth men with fasting and prayer. Pray that in our churches, our mission interest and mission work may be in the power of the Holy Spirit and of prayer. A Spirit-filled, praying church will send out Spirit-filled missionaries, mighty in prayer."
For more on Andrew Murray, see here.
Last night I wrote an article that will be distributed during our Summer Conference on "5 Common Myths About The Great Commission". One of these myths is that "Jesus wants converts". The most interesting thing about the Great Commission is that it does not command us to make converts of Christianity. Instead, we have been commissioned to make disciples of Jesus. The difference between convert making and disciple making is crucial.
