June 30, 2008 – Chennai, India 14:36 (GMT +5:30)
Bruce Neumann recently sent me a short paper dealing with Culture Shock it was an interesting article, and was written to help people understand and deal with adjusting to a foreign environment. But I think it and papers like it could have another and far more important usage namely helping those of us that remain in our birth culture to understand those to whom such a culture is foreign in order that we might more effectively reach out to them with the gospel. This is far more important concern in the US than in most other countries. Obviously the US is full of people from almost all cultures of the world. And many of them never really integrate into US culture. In fact the history of the Lutheran church bears out how easy it is to recreate a new culture similar to a homeland rather than integrate into the one already there. I think it was Todd Ohlmann who mentioned to me at one point that it is far harder, humanly speaking, to reach out with the gospel to an Indian in the US than it is to reach out to an Indian in India. This is due in a large part to the simple fact that they see their religion as one of the few remaining links to the life they grew up with, the culture they are comfortable with. And for that reason they hold on to it with even tighter fists. Especially I wanted to mention two points that the article speaks about.
“The second stage [of culture shock] is usually a downturn as disillusionment and frustration arise . . . Sojourners can become aggresive and exhibit unpleasant behavior . . . Physical symptoms of distress also can result from this stage of culture shock. They include aches and pains in limbs, headaches, chronic fatigue and lack of energy, loss of appetite, inability to get a good night’s sleep, stomach upsets, and frequent colds and flu. ”
“You can feel closer to home if you find people in the new environment who are from your own culture. But beware of the tendency to develop an “us” and “them” attitude toward the host culture: foreigners can encourage each other to adopt hostile views of the natives that make it harder to deal with culture shock, not easier”
I share these points here to encourage you all as faithful witness of Christ, to be especially understanding and forgiving when your paths cross with people from foreign cultures. It is very easy not only for foreigners but also citizens to develop an “us” versus “them” attitude. But such an attitude in no way helps either them or ourselves.
I don’t remember when or where I heard though I think it was while touring one of the churches in question, but the story itself made a great impression on me and I doubt I will ever forget it. In downtown Milwaukee there were two churches, one of them is now pretty much depleted of members, the other is healthy and growing. The reason for the difference that was given to me is that the one was able to reach out to the African-American’s while the other was not. I was not so much interested in the fact that one survived and the other didn’t, as I was impressed by the fact that although both preached the same message, one was listened to by the African-Americans and the other was not. I have no doubt that a large part of the reason was the simple attitude of the parishioners and or church leaders.
One Lord,
one faith,
one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is above all,
and through all,
and in you all.
Ephesians 4:5-6