LETTING OUR LIGHT SHINE IN OTHER CULTURES

“Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.”

Dorothy, Wizard of Oz

The phrase “the Ugly American” is defined by the dictionary as a “pejorative term for Americans traveling or living abroad who remain ignorant of local culture and judge everything by American standards.” It is very easy to forget that we are not in America when we are doing work in foreign countries. Learning to be flexible is the key to success in doing this work in India. India does not have all the modern conveniences related to infrastructure (i.e. communication system, transportation [roads], power plants, etc.) which we as Americans take for granted. There are just some inconveniences that you must accept if you are going to accomplish anything worthwhile. It is painful and miserable when people can’t deal with it. There really is no point in complaining about it. We are not in the United States.

I have enough other faults and weaknesses but complaining is just not one of them. I think I know why I don’t complain, but it is not important to the point I want to make. Initially there is a culture shock and it takes some adjusting. However, if you travel abroad, the easiest way to adjust to a culture is to just be a Christian. Being a Christian has nothing to do with whether I am an American or an Indian. The universal nature of God’s Kingdom (rule) is such that it can and is to be lived in every culture (Revelation 7:12). In fact, isn’t that God’s point to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2? God assured Nebuchadnezzar that He was going to set up His kingdom (rule) and it “shall not be left to another people” (vs. 44). Simply put, God’s kingdom/rule over people was going to be universal, and it would be established without respect to human culture, might or ingenuity (i.e. “without hands’).

For this reason, Jesus established a new covenant that was universal in scope. Jesus wanted us to make disciples for Him. To accomplish that, He commands we “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15-16). The reason He commanded this is because the gospel is for all men regardless of their culture, race or ethnicity. If we are going to let our light shine in other cultures, it will be on the basis of our faith in the gospel and not on our insistence for our American way of life! (read carefully 1 Corinthians 9:19-23).