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Managing the Blind Spots in training outside of our home culture. T.J. Addington. World view and practices are deeply shaped by our culture. Church governance Leadership paradigms Values Issues of money Prejudices These are not new issues. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Managing the Blind Spots in training outside of our home cultureT.J. ADDINGTON
World view and practices are deeply shaped by our culture
Church governanceLeadership paradigmsValues Issues of moneyPrejudices
These are not new issues
We cannot eliminate blind spots but we can manage them by:
Knowing what we don’t know Taking the posture of learners and fellow
pilgrims and not experts Honoring others above ourselves Honoring the host culture Being deeply observant and respectful
Much training by pastors and educators from the US is deeply problematic
We come as experts We often export culturally bound practices and the dysfunctions of
the American church We do one off’s too often without long term relationship and a
long term strategy Perspective of those we are teaching We feel good, they feel good and we all go home and not much
happens The next guy who comes to train may contradict everything we
just taught.
We manage blind spots by
Thinking Kingdom culture Two passports, two cultures
1 Peter: Strangers and aliensJesus on leadership (Matthew)
“This is how we do it in our culture” How do we do it in God’s kingdom? Takes the issue from our culture to His teaching in a
biblical framework (Korea) It forces us to make sure we are addressing the text and
not exporting our culture
We manage blind spots by
Thinking Biblical principles, not specific programs or strategy.
Always bring it back to the textAll biblical principles are timeless. Strategies may or
may not beApplication of Biblical principles is best done by those
from the host culture When we don’t distinguish between the two we
create unintended consequences (form and function of the church)
We manage blind spots by
Not simply teaching but creating dialogueIt helps with critical thinking skillsIt gives us context we would not otherwise have
(Cuba)It puts the responsibility for action on the host culture
(Hong Kong)It mirrors JesusDialogue and questions move the relationship from “I
am the expert” to “What do you think?” and “have you thought about.”
While we lead and teach by example the application of our teaching should be the primary responsibility of our host cultureHow would you apply this?If Muslims came to Christ in large
numbers what would their services look like?
We manage blind spots by
Keeping it simple and understandable If it is not transferable it is not simple enoughComplexity is confusing while simplicity can be
rememberedThe Scriptures are not complex – Jesus and
parablesPut it in their context which means we need to
understand their context“Can you teach me to plant rice?”
We manage blind spots by
Trusting the Holy Spirit and those you are working with JesusPaulAllow for messinessAllow for process
We manage blind spots by
Training trainersIndiaTrainers know the local contextIt elevates the host culture to the training
positionTraining trainers to engage in dialogue
and application
We manage blind spots by
Elevating the Bride above our Brand: Until we can see the body of Christ for what it
really is in the United States and around the world we will live with glaring blind spots because we don’t have a corner on the truth.
When we are able to learn from one another we will be able to better learn from others.
Myanmar
We don’t own, control or count anything as ours!
We will not control you We will not count you as ours We have a round table of equal partnerships We both bring value to the relationship We want to know how we can best serve you It is not about our brand It is in relationship together It is not based on MOU’s but on trusting relationships
One could ask, why send missionaries anymore? (Elephant)
We want national folks to train other nations We know nationals can minister in their
context better then we Why not just send money rather than
missionaries – and a few trainers
One could ask, why send missionaries anymore? (Elephant)
Great Commission. Jesus said “go” until He returns Relationship: We are in this together and better together It assumes that we see value in another culture and relationship, not
just in a gospel transaction HOWEVER, our role is changing from” it is about what we can do” to
“it is about what we can help others do”. Who should we not send? When sending missions die, the church starts to die (England) We cannot encourage others to go beyond their group or border if
we are not willing to make the same sacrifice If we are not willing to be with those who work on the front line,
what does that say about our willingness to share in their sacrifice?
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