“What is your culture?”
I recently taught a workshop around the historical, theological, and cultural dimensions of mission work, and this was the question that lingered longest.
In a room full of women and men who believe there is a biblical imperative to love and serve others–every tribe, tongue, and nation. In a room full of people who have traveled near and far, experiencing various other cultures along the way.
Yet, for as much as they love experiencing other cultures, they could not identify their own. I don’t write this with judgment–I am just as curious about the question as they were! What is my culture? What are some of the defining characteristics of my own culture?
I am a white, Midwestern, American woman. I am straight, educated with a post-college degree, and consider my faith to be the most significant part of my life. I am married to a white, straight, Midwestern, American man. These are all part of my culture but each of these things also has their own culture associated with them.
Take womanhood, for example. The culture of being a woman is vast! Dresses and lipstick, sourdough, feminism, “tom-boy,” mothering, and more are all different aspects of this culture.
Or American, another example. Barbeque, eagles, guns, and the flag are all part of American culture but I don’t have a preference for BBQ and I don’t own any guns or flags. I do however like eagles! Seeing their nests high up in the trees, watching them swoop down for fish or soar and glide through the sky. They truly are majestic.
And the second part of this question that had them stumped was “In what ways has your culture contributed to the way you serve?”
How has my whiteness informed the ways I’ve contributed to making the world a better place? How has growing up in the Midwest guided me to participate in activities compared to growing up somewhere else? How has being an American led to my understanding of the world and how I exist in it?
These are all distinct parts of my culture that, again, I do not ask with judgment. But I wonder how much this culture has made me who I am. Who would I be if I was born in a different place, a different time, with a different culture? Would I still love and serve the ways I do now?
I ended the workshop sharing this truth: The call to missions is not specific to a certain culture, but we are. Once again, without judgment but with curiosity. As we love and serve in the way of Jesus, as we honor the image of God in all people, we must learn and acknowledge the ways we’ve been shaped by our culture to do so, before we expect to enter into someone else’s culture to do the same.
I invite you to be curious with me. Ask yourself,
- What is my culture?
- How has my culture contributed to the way I serve?
- What do I like about my culture?
- What parts of my culture can be a challenge to me or others?
I’d love to hear your answers. Let’s take a journey of cultural curiosity together!
