Cross-cultural Life!

So much of our thinking about relationships, household roles, time management, efficiency, fun, and success comes from our cultural upbringing. 

Jumping into a new culture has been wildly exciting and friendships are being forged. Since we live in the Banaba Girls' House, we are integrating into their daily lives and becoming friends. However, there is a cultural adjustment happening for everyone involved.

Immersing ourselves into the Filipino culture has been a dream come true for us. And, it requires us to set aside our ideas in order to listen and understand their ideas.

One of the guiding principles for doing ministry in another cultural context is to try to understand your host culture's perspective.

When you look at life only through the lens of your own culture, you are limiting yourself. When you think that your cultural lens is correct, you have crossed the line into being ethnocentric.

So, what is the answer? Where can we know what God wants for us no matter what culture we are born into? It is actually really simple!

All Christ-followers are committed to following the truth of God and applying it to their daily lives. Jesus Christ is the infinite embodiment of truth and wisdom. When God picks us out of the world and adopts us into His family, He gives us two gifts: He gives us the Bible and He gives us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to teach us Jesus' culture. Jesus' culture is not American or Filipino. Jesus' culture is a lifestyle of applying and doing truth.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17