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World-Wide Christians

World-Wide Christians. World-Wide Christians. I. We need an updated sociology: Seamless Missions - We are the missioners…& the mission field 12% of USA are foreign born Pennsylvania (2010) 5.8% of Florida ’ s population Top countries of origin, India, Mexico, China

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World-Wide Christians

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  1. World-Wide Christians

  2. World-Wide Christians I. We need an updated sociology: • Seamless Missions - We are the missioners…& the mission field • 12% of USA are foreign born • Pennsylvania (2010) • 5.8% of Florida’s population • Top countries of origin, India, Mexico, China • 1/3 of America is unchurched • Highest among politically liberal and single • Black/White divide in USA (12% African American)

  3. Foreign-born in Pennsylvania

  4. World-Wide Christians II. We need a Biblical theology • Generic US Protestantism isn’t strong enough to ignite a missionary effort. • Gospel reduced to a “ticket to heaven” by a 1-time sinner’s prayer. • It is not a robust understanding of salvation (holiness). • It is anti-foreigners/sojourners

  5. World-Wide Christians = Bi-Cultural Christians IV. We need Bi-Cultural Christians Not only caring about those who are different but understanding (and liking!) them. Not only caring about those overseas but those around the corner. Is Mt 28:19-20 a missionary verse…or a church verse? Not only “inviting” but “going?” What if every believer had a missionary intensity - willing to sacrifice career, housing, schooling, nationalism to “go & make disciples ‘panta ta ethne’”?”

  6. World-Wide Christians are Bi-Cultural There really is a difference

  7. Becoming Bi-Cultural:Understanding Cultural Differences ? ? 1. Linear-active, Multi-active, or Re-active ? ? ? 2. Guilt, Shame, or Fear Based ? ?

  8. Linear Active Cultures Task-oriented, highly-organized planners Germans, English, Americans Believe in Sequence Transactional Data oriented cultures

  9. Multi-Active Cultures People-oriented, communicative inter-relators Mediterraneans, Latinos, middle-easterners Believe in Spontaneity • Relational • Opportunity better • than appointments

  10. Reactive Cultures Introverted, respect-oriented listeners Finns Japanese • Listening cultures

  11. Begins with Innocence The problem presents as Guilt over infractions Goal is Well-being The Solution is forgiveness Holiness = freedom from grip of sin Guilt Based Cultures It all orbits around Individual

  12. Begins with Respect The problem presents as Shame (before others) Goal is Well Being The Solution is Honor restored Holiness = healthy community Shame Based Cultures It all orbits around Community

  13. Begins with Safety Problem presents as Fear Goal is Well Being The Solution is Power Holiness = freedom from impotence in face of threats Fear Based Cultures It all orbits around External Beings

  14. Problem Presents as Hopelessness (Unrealizable Hopes) Begins With My Dreams/Hopes Goal is Well-Being The Solution is replace “me” with “Other” (God) Holiness = Acting in Hope A Guess on USA Majority Culture It all orbits around Me

  15. Why culture matters to youA Latino/Anglo case study-How to avoid the bi-cultural train wreck • Worship • Time • Planning and Committees

  16. Worship • Praise • Music • Clapping on 1&3 in Latino cultures, 2&4 in Anglo • Silence or sound • Anglo model: The quiet whisper (individual) • Latino model: Acts 2 (group) • Body movement • Worship emphases • Anglo, on transformation • Latin, on power (feet of clay) • Length of service

  17. Time Anglos… • time is mechanical (clock and calendar). It is an objective reality. • are time-dominated and monochronic (conceptualize sequence)

  18. Time Latinos…polychronic • “Time is event or personality related, a subjective commodity which can be manipulated, molded, stretched or dispensed with…” • Time is relationship, invest it on people • Saving time isn’t as important as experiencing the moment – sacrifice the future for the present.

  19. Planning & Committees • Planning • Anglo-imagines future and then works back to present • Latino-responsive, flexible, and improvisational but future is unknowable • Committees • Anglo: Check off agenda boxes and go home • Latino: Be together, build the team, react to what comes up

  20. Our Church’s Cultural Task: BecomingThough I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”I Corinthians 9:19-22

  21. Our process for Becoming Bi-Cultural:Global Outreach Seminar

  22. Go & Become! • Who should not sign-up? • Your church has multiple ethnic groups/languages… AND • Your church has global and local fruitfulness Everyone else…form a line, no pushing, please.

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