Cross-cultural Communication

Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication

Monoculturalism – is the assumption that all people are the same as in our culture giving rise to judging other people’s behaviors and attitudes according to one’s own cultural norms.

Monocultural – one’s experience is limited to one’s own culture Spiting in Meru Holding hands

Examples of Monoculturalism from U.S. Perspective:

Life style in better Naturalism Individualism Economics EducationBiblical Examples: Egyptian and Israelites (Gen. 43:32) Jews and Samaritans (Jn. 4:9) Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:28; 11:3)

Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication

Elements of Monoculturalism Equates one’s own perception of reality

with reality itself Assumes one’s own beliefs are accepted

because they are superior Does not respect other cultures or

subcultures Heathen vs. Christian Primitive vs. Advanced Superstitious vs. Religious Civilized vs. Uncivilized or Savage Developed vs. Underdeveloped

Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication

Kraft’s Three Types of Monoculturalism Eclectic – selected best customs

throughout the world to make a superior culture

Reactionary – ridicule one’s own culture and adores another

One World – feeling that all the world is headed toward a single culture with accommodation to Western thoughts and ideas

Fourth Type of Monoculturalism Protective – feeling if one does not

uncritically uphold one’s culture in it will be undermined by another

Hindrances to Cross-cultural Communication Ethnocentric – a person believes his/her

own culture is superior to another Justification of ethnocentrism

Technological – more advance in products Cultural – most civilized and advanced (Gen.

43:32) Economics – we are wealthier Educational – we are more educated Theological – Christian heritage Racial (Jn. 4:9, Acts 10:28; 11:3)

Cross-culturalism – is the learned skill of relating to people of other cultures in appropriate ways within their cultural context.

Characteristics of Cross-culturalism Learning the language and culture Understand peoples worldview Function effectively within culture Contextualize the Christian message and

life Respect for culture and people, as own

Eph. 2:14, 19 Rom. 12:10

Biblical examples of cross-cultural barrier breaking. John 4 Acts 10-11

Cultural differences Meat offered to idols Jew and festivals and sacrifice (Acts 21:23-

26) Circumcision

State of communication in modern world Faster travel Quicker communication

Phone Internet

Globalization Worldwide shared images Greater knowledge of other peoples and

places

M

M

R S

Feedback

R SEncodes Decodes

Noise Noise

TIME

CULTURE

Biblical Culture

American Culture

M

M

S RR S

M

M

S RR S

S = Source

M = Message

R = Receptor

Third

Culture

R

TIME CULTURE

CULTURE

Elements of Effective Cross-cultural Communication Missionary is adapting to culture Missionary recognizes the impact of his own culture Missionary is familiar with the biblical culture

Goals of Effective Cross-cultural Communication People must learn to interpret scripture in their

context Scripture not communicators tradition to be the

base for the knowledge of God and His will People develop their own rites Host people and missionaries share same biblical

reality

Cultural Perspective with + 3 Worldview Distance (U.S. vs. Africa)

GodDistant

Spiritual Realm

World/Nature

Div

iner

Sorc

erer

SpiritualSpiritual/Physical/Physical

Ancestral Spirits

African Traditional Religion

God

Material World

Deism

American culture Naturalistic – makes a distinction between natural

and spiritual Two realms:

Spiritual/Supernatural Natural

Examples: Disease: germs Individualistic Optimistic: thin we are in control Present-oriented

African culture Spiritualistic – Spiritual powers effecting daily life Group-oriented

Family, age mates, clan, tribe Problem solved as a group

Fatalistic – not in control because dependent on rains and spiritual world

Past-oriented (traditional) Linear in that past generation live on as spiritual

beings Meru juju

Cyclical in that ins some cases the spirit of ancestor comes back and lives in them Kisigis Kurnet rite

New Testament culture Spiritualistic – Spiritual powers under the

sovereignty of God Group/individual-oriented

Philippian Jailer and his household, Cornilius- his household

Paul, Ethiopian eunuch Optimistic

Freedom from sin Release from demons or spirits God in control and involve in His creation

Past, Present, and Future oriented Saving event in past Present relationship with Christ Future home with God

Process for communicating the Gospel effectively

Understand the cultural context Discern the host’s culture’s worldview Be culturally perceptive

Re-evaluate one’s own worldview and culture in light of scripture

Understand spiritual powers (Eph. 6:12) Realize God continues to work in the world (Jn.

5:17) Be more God-reliant than self-reliant

Seek God’s timeless message for all humanity

Seek God’s timeless message for all humanity

God’s message guides our understanding of reality, worldview

God’s eternal message does not change with culture

Teach the essentials Incidentals left to the church in their own culture

Singing Prayer Services Holy kiss Head coverings