Cultural Anthropology Colloquium #3
2 Comments
Published by David Sills, D.Miss, Ph.D.
on Thursday, February 09, 2006 at 8:40 AM. 
Lingenfelter has produced a useful tool for helping intercultural workers interact with other cultures and be prepared for the inevitable culture shock. One of the primary contributions of the book is the culture-preference inventory and matrices that guide the missionary to understand his own cultural tendencies. Armed with that information, the missionary can conduct research in the target culture to discern where potential tension points will occur. He also points out the goal of becoming 150% persons and states that only Jesus Christ was a 200% person. What insights did you gain from this book that will help you minister interculturally? Do you agree with the "150% person" concept? Are there ways in which you have already experienced this on the church field where you serve now? How can this book help you to move from one pastorate to another--even here in our own country? What would you change about this book if you could?
I found the basic values questionaire to be a tremendous asset in Ministering Cross-Culturally. I really appreciated the practical nature, not just of the questionnaire, but of the entire work. The consistent use of tables presenting two approaches to various "tensions" was very useful.
[p]For me, I found the entire discussion concerning time to be fascinating. I once read that if "aliens" landed in America they would belief that we worshipped clocks. We have them everywhere - in our homes, churches, schools, athletic arenas, cars - we even wear little ones on our bodies! While I cannot deny the fact that I have been "cultured" to be time conscious, I, personally tend toward an event orientation. This has actually gotten me into a bit of hot water regarding our "starting time" for worship services. This reading (as well as the Russell reading earlier) reminded me that the majority of our culture is extremely time conscious and, therefore, "starting times" are important.
[p]I consider the 150% person concept to be quite helpful. It is not perfect, nor is any analogy, but I think it conveys the idea that we can never fully engage another culture completely. And, yes, I recognize the overuse of the adverbs! It was intentional. We can seek to fully engage a culture, we just cannot do so totally and completely. Our own cultural biases prevent us from doing so.
[p] I believe this work would be great required reading for all those entering pastoral ministry. Even when ministering in "our" culture, there are subtle subcultural differences that I believe Lingenfelter sensitize us to. Further, the perpetual discussion of the various tensions we face would do any and every pastor well. I know I would have benefited greatly from this work earlier in my own ministry.
[p] I would agree the illustrations are a bit limited. Yet, I found it engaging to get inside another culture more deeply than I would have in a single page story.
[p] This is one book that I will use often in ministry and recommend regularly.
david,
My sympathies on your forced conversion to UK sports. I understand the ministerial implications. Consider it a sacrifice that God will reward in glory.
Remembering your laptop background from our class in December, the conversion must be complete, total and authentic!
Rob
A little levity during March Madness - which takes on a whole new meaning in this program!