Do all your friends look like you?
You’d quickly see that my closest friends are more alike than they are different if I brought them all together in the same room.
We share similar values. We have similar backgrounds. We even wear similar clothes and look alike. It’s easy for me, but I do love them. They’re not that different from me.
You’re probably the same. As Christians, God wants us to do more. We miss out on God’s love when we never cross cultures.
What is culture?
Merriam-Webster defines Culture as “the beliefs and customs of a society, group, place, or time.” Culture is the beliefs, customs, arts, etc. of a certain society, group, time, or place. My Filipino-American friend Aicel compares culture with tinted lenses that color our perceptions and interpretations about the world.
We are drawn to people from the same culture no matter where we come from. We’ll almost never choose people who think the same way as we do if we have the option. Why?
It’s easier to do it that way.
Our cultural boxes keep us safe and our lives are relatively tidy.
Think about some of the reasons that we avoid other cultures.
- We don’t know how to overcome language or communication barriers.
- We do not have enough time.
- We don’t understand or know where to start.
- It is possible to say or do something wrong.
- We’re sinful.
Do you find the last sentence uncomfortable? I feel the same way.
When I stop to think about it, my sin is the most important reason. I don’t wish to overcome language barriers. I do not want to waste my time. I don’t like to be uncomfortable. I don’t think it is worth the extra effort to interact with people of other cultures.
Yikes. That’s sin.
It’s important that we know, love, and care what Jesus does if we want to lead a Christ-centered lifestyle.
To what extent does Jesus care?
Jesus is concerned about all groups of people and cultures. He loves and celebrates each of them. He is eager for them to come to know him.
There is no one culture that has everything. God has created different people groups and His character is reflected in them all. We never see His true character when we only look at our own culture.
Philippians 2:1 Paul tells us that we should adopt the same mentality as Christ who crossed the largest cultural gap possible – from heaven to earth. Imagine? Can you imagine? All for us.
Jesus interacted constantly with people of other cultures while he was here. These interactions were often considered scandalous. It was scandalous when Jesus healed the Roman centurion’s servant or spoke to the Samaritan at the well. Both were people who had a hostile relationship with Jews.
We miss out on a huge part of Jesus when we do not follow His example.
We Americans are fortunate to have a wide variety of cultures and people groups at our fingertips. I think God has done this to make us more tolerant. He wants us see people different from ourselves. He wants us care. And He wants us enter their lives and invite them to ours. What does it mean to engage across cultures?
Where do we begin?
- Praise for awareness. Aicel had never noticed women in a hijab before she traveled to North Africa. She says that when she returned, she began to notice the women around her. They weren’t not there before. “I just didn’t have my eyes open.”
We must also pray for His heart towards people. Love is the first step to action. We will never act unless God gives us the ability to love.
- First, consider your neighbors. Do you have ethnic minorities or immigrants living in your area? Invite them to dinner or coffee. There is a nearby university. There is likely to be a large community of international students.
80% of foreigners are never invited into an American home. Invite an international student to a Thanksgiving meal so they can experience American culture, and you can get to know theirs.
- Taste the food, even if it is different. It’s easy to learn about someone else’s culture and life through coffee and meals. Sharing food that tastes good and is familiar to you with others can be a great way to connect.
- Learn from them. Which holidays are they fond of? What type of food do they enjoy? Aicel tries to learn some Arabic words when she hangs out with Arab friends. Her friends are more excited if she speaks their language.
Ask if you are worried about cultural sensitivities. Aicel: “My husband says it’s better to make an error than never to reach out to someone.”
- Welcome new friends to your life. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:18: “Because of our love for you, we shared with you both the gospel and our lives.”
Aicel: “I realized that I must pray for God to change someone’s mind about Him and His gospel.” “But I am called to love and appreciate the entire person, and not only see them as an object of salvation.”
Spiritual conversations are essential. Don’t forget about other topics, such as your children, job, hobbies, and relationships.
It’s not always easy to make friends with people of other cultures, but it’s worth the effort.
You will have a more comprehensive understanding of God’s love for everyone. As you depend on Christ, your heart will look more like Christ. You’ll make lifelong friends you wouldn’t have otherwise. When we decide to step outside our comfort zones, we can reap many rewards.
He invited me to meet his Afghan friends a few year ago.
The warmth, humor, and hospitality of these people who I never would have crossed paths with was amazing. I’ll always remember bouncing and shaking my hands, draped in an Afghani scarf and dancing in a circle to Afghan music with my new friends. They are now among my closest friends.
It’s amazing how much joy Christ has stored up in His commands. He wants us to cross cultures not just for our own sanctification or to spread the gospel to every tribe, language and nation.
He wants us to be happy.