giving honor: a key to fruitful cross-cultural partnerships

A Key to Fruitful Cross-Cultural Partnerships

Giving Honor

Werner Mischke / Mission [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

©2017 Mission ONE / Created by Werner Mischke / [email protected]

GIVING HONOR—A KEY TO FRUITFUL CROSS-CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS

OVERV IEW

1 PR

OBLE

Ma) RIVALRY IN THE N.T. WORLD.

Honor competition and rivalry was a major part of the culture of the New Testament world.

b) RIVALRY TODAY. What does rivalry and honor competition look like in networks or cross-cultural partnerships today?



OVERV I EW

2 SOLU

TIO

N a) BEING LIKE JESUS—GIVING HONOR. Jesus and Paul teach that serving and giving honor undermine rivalry and honor competition.

b) GIVING HONOR—TODAY. What does “giving honor” look like in networks or cross-cultural partnerships today? It looks like empathic listening.

1aRIVALRY IN THE

NEW TESTAMENT WORLD

P R O B L E M

1aRIVALRY IN THE N.T. WORLD:

Honor competition and rivalry was a major cultural feature of the

New Testament world.

P R O B L E M

©2017 Mission ONE / Created by Werner Mischke / [email protected] I VA L RY

HONOR COMPETITION


DEFAULT CULTURE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

HONOR COMPETITION


LOVE OF HONORDEFAULT CULTURE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

“philotimia”

And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’

‘‘’’–Mark 10:36–37 ESV

LOVE OF HONOR


CHALLENGE & RIPOSTE: “social game of push-and-shove”


And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

‘‘’’–Mark 9:33–34 ESV

CHALLENGE & RIPOSTE: “social game of push-and-shove”


IMAGE OF LIMITED GOOD “Win-Lose” / everything of value in short supply


“one person’s superiority means that another is comparatively

demeaned.”

IMAGE OF LIMITED GOOD “Win-Lose” / anything of value in short supply


“BOASTING”DEFAULT CULTURE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE


Paul lived in a face-to-face society where self- advertisement [boasting], rivalry, and public competition were a perpetual cause of tension in every day life. …

‘‘–James M. G. Barclay: Paul and the Gift


As recent research has emphasized, almost all social relations in Paul’s cultural context were both ordered and threatened by the competition for honor. In the absence of “objective” measures of quality (such as educational qualifications), a person’s worth was heavily dependent on his public reputation, a “dignity” energetically claimed and fiercely defended. …

‘‘


The pursuit or defense of honor was, many ancient commentators claimed, the chief motivating force for action: “by nature we yearn and hunger for honor, and once we have glimpsed, as it were, some part of its radiance, there is nothing we are not prepared to bear and suffer in order to secure it” (Cicero, Tusc. 2.24.58). …

‘‘


And challenge was, indeed, the very essence of this culture. Honor was derived from comparison, from placing oneself (or being placed by others) higher on some hierarchical scale, in which one person’s superiority means that another is comparatively demeaned. This made honor ever the subject of contest: indeed, the ordeal or test was the very arena in which honor was proved.

‘‘


In this environment, every claim to honor [boast] was a real or potential provocation, and every challenge required an active riposte. Honor was a precious but unstable commodity, requiring active promotion [boasting] and persistent demonstration in a court of opinion that continually looked on with a critical eye. ’’James M. G. Barclay, PhD: Paul and the Gift,

(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015), 433-4.

‘‘


“...it is ordinarily overlooked that Rome is the boasting champion of the ancient world, filled with honorific monuments and celebrations of imperial glory.”

Robert Jewett: Romans: A Commentary (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007), 295–6.


‘‘’’Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.


‘‘’’Galatians 6:14 ESV

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.‘‘ ’’Romans 2:23 ESV


so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’‘‘ ’’1 Corinthians 1:31 ESV


We do NOT mean to suggest… that our Christian networks and

partnerships around the world have the same degree of boasting, rivalry, or honor competition that plagued

the New Testament church in the Roman Empire.


We DO mean to convey:… that by bringing to the surface

the issue of honor status and the problem of honor competition

in the New Testament church—along with the specific solutions

provided by Jesus and Paul …


We DO mean to convey:

… we really can achieve greater unity in our mission teams, networks, and

cross-cultural partnerships—for greater fruitfulness in God’s kingdom.

1aRIVALRY IN THE

NEW TESTAMENT WORLD

P R O B L E M

©2017 Mission ONE / Created by Werner Mischke / [email protected] TODAY

What might rivalry and honor competition look like in networks or cross-cultural partnerships today?

P R O B L E M


RIVALRY TODAY: The levels of honor status (often unstated) in a mission team, network, or partnership may vary according to multiple IDENTITY FACTORS: • age — young, middle age, old • gender — male or female • race — Arab, East Asian, South Asian, Anglo-European,

African, Latino, native/indigenous • tribe — minority tribe vs majority tribe • caste — untouchables, lower, mid-level, upper


MORE IDENTITY FACTORS:

• family / kinship — orphan, ‘low’ family, well-known family

• economic well being — poor (lower class), middle class, upper class, nobility

• national identity — Western vs Eastern & “Global South”; American vs any other

• education — little, some college, advanced degrees


What *might* rivalry (honor competition) look like today?

• Possible resentment or cynicism—when leaders are chosen based on default cultural values rather than biblical servanthood / competence.

• Voices of qualified persons may be marginalized in decision-making.

• Doubts about fairness: Who will lead? Who is rewarded? Whose success will be celebrated?


We shouldn’t think of rivalry as a problem that afflicts

some peoples but not others. Rivalry is a human issue.


Quick poll #1


1. age 2. gender 3. race 4. tribe 5. caste

6. family / kinship 7. economic well being 8. national identity 9. education

Poll: What do you think are the top three factors which influence levels of honor status in your mission team, network, or partnership? (pick three)



OVERVIEW

1 PR

OBLE

Ma) RIVALRY IN THE N.T. WORLD.

Honor competition and rivalry was a major part of the culture of the New Testament world.

b) RIVALRY TODAY. What does rivalry and honor competition look like in networks or cross-cultural partnerships today?



OVERVIEW

2 SOLU

TIO

Na) BEING LIKE JESUS—GIVING HONOR.

Jesus and Paul teach that serving and giving honor undermine rivalry and honor competition.


2a

S O L U T I O N

BEING LIKE JESUS: GIVING HONOR

S O L U T I O N



LOVE OF HONORAnd he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’

‘‘’’–Mark 10:36–37 ESV

BEING LIKE JESUS

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

‘‘–Mark 10:36–37 ESV

LOVE OF HONORBEING LIKE JESUS

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant‘‘

–Mark 10:42–43 ESV’’LOVE OF HONORBEING LIKE JESUS

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’‘‘

–Mark 10:42–43, 45 ESV’’LOVE OF HONORBEING LIKE JESUS

J E S U S I S T E A C H I N G …Great honor is accessible to everyone—regardless of honor status, gender, age,

race or tribe or caste, family background, economic position, nationality, or education.

Every believer can gain honor by being a humble servant in relationship with God.

Jesus is ‘democratizing honor’—making accessible to everyone—

the availability of honor in the kingdom of God.

By knowing Christ the King and gaining honor through serving, the problem of honor competition

and rivalry—is undermined.

What about Paul? How does Paul address

rivalry and honor competition in the body of Christ?

What about Paul? He describes the antithesis of rivalry—what a unified body of Christ looks like.1 Corinthians 12:21-26 / Romans 12:10

The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’

nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’

1 CORINTHIANS 12:21-26

‘‘’’

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow

the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,

which our more presentable parts do not require.


‘‘

’’

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the

same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together;

if one member is honored, all rejoice together.


‘‘’’

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in

showing honor.

ROMANS 12:10

‘‘’’


What principle does Paul put forth as a means

for creating unity?

1 CORINTHIANS 12:21-26 / ROMANS 12:10


Unity in the body of Christ happens in proportion to the way the so-called strong and honorable demonstrate

honor and respect toward the so-called weak and less honorable.

–The Global Gospel, p. 318

P R I N C I P L E



Supernatural unity happens as we intentionally show honor

to those who seem to have less honor in the Body of Christ.


P R I N C I P L E

This is what Jesus did.Giving honor to those who lack it:

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially

those who labor in preaching and teaching.” (1 Tim 5:17 ESV)

A little nuance … Levels of honor status in a Christian community or network may vary

according to spiritual factors:

‣ “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed (Rom 13:7 ESV)

‣ “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Pet 2:17 ESV)

Moreover, the Bible does not call us to withhold honor from people who may deserve it according to political,

traditional, or cultural standards:


Quick poll #2

GIVING HONOR: A KEY TO FRUITFUL CROSS-CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS


POLL: To what extent does your ministry team, network, or partnership have a culture that values “GIVING HONOR”? (Results shown in aggregate).

1. Not sure 2. Low value 3. Moderate value 4. High value 5. Very high value

The only kind of honor competition befitting Christians is when they … ‘Outdo one another

in showing honor’ (Rom 12:10).

–The Global Gospel, p. 111

‘‘’’

What about the obstacles

‣ emotional

‣ spiritual

‣ cultural ?

Believers are able to more easily give honor to those who lack it, when

they themselves have shame resilience. Shame resilience comes from a

deep awareness of one’s own honor in relationship with God the Father

through Jesus Christ.

–Romans 8:14–16 ESV

‘‘’’

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. … you have received

the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

–John 1:12 ESV

‘‘But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God.’’

If we take seriously the claims of Scripture, we must conclude that God

offers us a surplus of regal honor in relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ which is nothing short of astounding.



OVERVIEW

2 SOLU

TIO




S O L U T I O N

What does “giving honor” look like today in networks or cross-cultural partnerships?

GIVING HONOR

On the one hand, it looks different in every culture.

“giving honor”

On the other hand, there is a good way to show

honor that’s common to all cultures.

“giving honor”

Listening.

Levels of listeningI only appear to be listening. I’m thinking about something else. My mind and heart are elsewhere. And the person I’m talking to knows it.

1

Levels of listeningI listen in order to be heard. I’m thinking about what I will say next. I want to make a good impression by what I say. I may gain something valuable as a result.2

Levels of listeningI listen for the information. I need the knowledge to be effective in my job, family, relationships, or ministry.3

Levels of listeningI listen to understand. I repeat using many of the same words I have heard—so that the person knows I understand him or her. I want to reflect what the person is thinking.

4

Levels of listeningI listen to understand with feeling. I interpret what I have heard using my own words, and I try to use the appropriate emotion. I want to reflect what the person both thinks and feels.

5

Empathic listeningI listen to understand with feeling.

Listening with your heart

5

… let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak …‘‘

’’ –James 1:19 ESV

Empathiclistening

Givinghonor

LET’S EXAMINE ONE MORE THING:

What if we listen empathically with an honor-shame filter?

GIVING HONOR: A listening guide

through honor-shame… to understand rivalry and defuse conflict

The Honor/Shame Wheel The Global Gospel, p.80

KEY QUESTION:What honor-shame

issue may be involved in the

particular rivalry or conflict?





Love of honor

• Has someone been insulted? Is there a loss of honor?

• Does their shame need to be covered? Their honor restored?

• Is the community gaining or losing honor?



Two sources of honor: ascribed and achieved

Is there a default cultural standard of ascribed honor (based on age, family, title, etc) that conflicts with a standard solely based on achieved honor?



Image of limited good

• Has someone in the group gained honor, making another person feel demeaned?

• Is recognition given fairly? • Is the person aggrieved

somehow excluded?



The Honor/Shame Wheel The Global Gospel, p.80



OVERVIEW

2 SOLU

TIO




To what extent do you have a culture of giving honor

in your ministry team, network, or partnership?

BURST GROUP: Honor-Shame Principles for Cross-Cultural Partnering and Leadership November 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 Synergy Commons / synergycommons.net

You’re invited!

BURST GROUP: Honor-Shame Principles for Cross-Cultural Partnering and Leadership

What does an honorable leader look like in your cultural/national context? How might someone like this “give honor” to others in a culturally appropriate way?

DAY

1

GIVING HONOR: A Key to Fruitful Cross-Cultural Partnerships

Thank you

Werner Mischke / Mission [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

giving honor: a key to fruitful cross-cultural partnerships

Services