Shocking Considerations
Culture shock is what occurs when one enters a new setting. The absence of familiar signs and symbols causes confusion and stress. Questions surface like: ”What do I do here?” “Why do they do things that way?” “Is this safe?” Or, in my case now: “Where did all this traffic come from?”
As our culture grows increasingly diverse even settings which were once familiar become contexts for stress and confusion. Yet, the ability to engage across cultures is critical for our growth as a person and our understanding of the world God created. Working to know others opens doors that encourages greater understanding of our own context as well as learning to embrace the perspective of those whose experience is different from our own.
Though difficult, pushing ourselves out of our cultural comfort zone also has significant benefit for our spiritual growth preventing us from complacency. Miroslav Volf, in his book Exclusion and Embrace, suggests that hearing things from alternative perspectives helps ensure that our Christian faith is not founded upon our personal need for comfort and familiarity. He says; “Listen to voices of Christians from other cultures so as to make sure that the voice of our culture has not drowned out the voice of Jesus Christ.”
This is one of the main benefits of being actively involved in mission. Some of the most meaningful worship experiences I have had occurred in places where I was unable to understand the language or follow much of the liturgy. I knew, however, that we were all worshiping the same God. Where I could have been frustrated, I found myself acknowledging my confusion but also experiencing the freedom that comes when our understanding of God is expanded.
Engaging in mission opportunities, both domestic and international, puts us in situations where we build meaningful relationships with others and recognize that only together do we gain a more full understanding of God. Ultimately this will help us worship God more freely and fully. So, when you find yourself surrounded by the unfamiliar - embrace it. Thank God that you have been given another opportunity to grow socially and spiritually.
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Dan Kreiss, RPC’s new Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, brings with him a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.