Working Together in the Body of Christ

Ethiopia Network meeting 4-27-07 Bill Young

How Do We Work Together?How Do We Work Together?

•Cultural and contextual issues

•Issues of Dependency

What is culture?????What is culture?????

The integrated system of•learned patterns of behavior•ideas•products

characteristic of a society.

CultureCulture

Cultural Feature: BuyingCultural Feature: Buying

From John Wimber, Power Evangelism, Harper: 1986, p. 190

Cultural Feature: YouthfulnessCultural Feature: Youthfulness

From John Wimber, Power Evangelism, Harper: 1986, p. 190

Cultural Feature: AgeCultural Feature: Age

From John Wimber, Power Evangelism, Harper: 1986, p. 190

Cultural Feature: ClothingCultural Feature: Clothing

From John Wimber, Power Evangelism, Harper: 1986, p. 190

All that happens What we believe What we What we Our view of (REALITY) possible experience analyze reality

The Role of Worldview:The Role of Worldview:REALITY & realityREALITY & reality

From Charles Kraft, Christianity with Power, 1989: Vine Books, p. 19

The Role of Worldview:The Role of Worldview:REALITY & realityREALITY & reality

Each culture has its understanding of REALITY, which is their reality or worldview

We all assume our worldview is REALITY until we encounter another worldview

We need the combination and correction of all realities to get REALITY

McArthur’s Corrective Map of the WorldMcArthur’s Corrective Map of the World

From Charles Kraft, Christianity with Power, 1989: Vine Books, p. 23

How Do We Do “Mission” Work?How Do We Do “Mission” Work?

•Cultural and contextual issues

•Issues of Dependency

Note: much of the following Note: much of the following material is based on some from material is based on some from

Rob WeingartnerRob Weingartner

The demographic center of the The demographic center of the church and the locus of the church and the locus of the church’s mission initiative church’s mission initiative

have shifted away from the have shifted away from the West. West.

From the West From the West to the restto the rest

From From everywhere everywhere to everyoneto everyone

““Is this creating dependency?” Is this creating dependency?”

A moreA more useful question:useful question:

““Is the dependency in this Is the dependency in this mission relationship healthy mission relationship healthy

or unhealthy?”or unhealthy?”

One-way flow One-way flow of resources of resources from us to from us to

themthem

Sharing gifts Sharing gifts as part of the as part of the

worldwide worldwide body of body of Christ; Christ;

reciprocityreciprocity

We are doing We are doing mission mission forfor

them (and for them (and for God)God)

We are in We are in mission mission

together as together as parts of the parts of the

body of body of ChristChrist

““Unless we humbly, intentionally, and Unless we humbly, intentionally, and patiently build dialogical patiently build dialogical relationships and practice two-way relationships and practice two-way mission mission withwith people, our cultural people, our cultural default is a demeaning one-way default is a demeaning one-way mission mission forfor people.” people.”

Sherron GeorgeSherron GeorgeCalled as Partners in Christ’s ServiceCalled as Partners in Christ’s Service

Rather than point Christians Rather than point Christians away from reliance upon one away from reliance upon one another, the Bible celebrates another, the Bible celebrates dependency in the body of dependency in the body of Christ. Christ.

This dependency is This dependency is reciprocalreciprocal and and complementarycomplementary ..

We (PCUSA) Are We (PCUSA) Are Automatically in a Automatically in a Position of Power Position of Power in Relationshipsin Relationships

Eight ways to create unhealthy Eight ways to create unhealthy dependencydependency

Ignore our position of power in relationshipsIgnore our position of power in relationships Make alliance with a lone rangerMake alliance with a lone ranger Send money directly to individualsSend money directly to individuals Finance pastors and local churchesFinance pastors and local churches Give resources based only on needGive resources based only on need Underwrite 100% of ministry’s needUnderwrite 100% of ministry’s need Hire nationals to be your mission staffHire nationals to be your mission staff Do for others what they can do for Do for others what they can do for

themselvesthemselves

How to get How to get off off

coursecourse Assume you think alikeAssume you think alike Assume you understand and have the answerAssume you understand and have the answer Don’t worry too much about cultural differencesDon’t worry too much about cultural differences Promise more than you can deliverPromise more than you can deliver Make it up as you go alongMake it up as you go along Let Let themthem worry about language issues worry about language issues Save time by taking short-cutsSave time by taking short-cuts Do what Do what youyou can and trust God to take care of the can and trust God to take care of the

rest of itrest of it Run a race with no endRun a race with no end

Focus on Focus on projects and projects and

moneymoney

Priority on Priority on relationships; relationships;

going long going long and deepand deep

Mission is Mission is about what about what we do to we do to change change

others’ livesothers’ lives

Mission begins Mission begins with own with own

transformationtransformation and involves and involves

our our continuing continuing conversionconversion

The new global church realities The new global church realities invite us into a deep humility invite us into a deep humility in which we let go of control in which we let go of control and learn from the faith and and learn from the faith and faithfulness of the majority faithfulness of the majority church.church.