The Importance of Cultural Sensitivity in Global Missions
Colin writes...
In this ever-shrinking global village, cultural sensitivity is no longer optional, it’s essential. To to do business, to engage with others across the globe, or even just to love our neighbours, we need to appreciate the cultural differences that we have.
When we moved to our new home in South Africa, we quickly learned some big lessons. My son was banned from a young lady’s house because he kept his hands in his pockets when he met her father. On another occasion, I walked into a shop, asked for what I needed, and was met with the pointed reply, “How are you?” I mumbled my reply, and asked again for help, to be met with, “I’m fine thanks”. We Brits want to get the job done, whereas other cultures want to spend time connecting. It took me a while to realise that skipping the greetings and chat was not the way to go! Small misunderstandings like these highlight how vital it is to understand and adapt to cultural norms.
Most global mission organisations recognise the importance of cultural sensitivity training. I once participated in a role play designed to prepare us for travel to a different culture. A course tutor confiscated our passports because we refused to pay a bribe, leaving us to sit silently in a small room for hours. It was frustrating at the time because I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be learning, but the exercise opened my eyes to the realities of navigating unfamiliar cultural landscapes.
But as important as cultural sensitivity is, it’s just the tip of a rather large iceberg called “worldview” - the set of beliefs and values that shape how people see themselves and the world. Cultural sensitivity may help us avoid offending others, but effective cross-cultural mission requires something deeper, something far more revolutionary: a profound appreciation and engagement with the concept of worldviews.
A Transformation Story
"If you want to change your life, you have to change your story.” These words have stayed with me since the moment I heard them, reminding me of the transformative power of storytelling. Those of us who love Jesus and long for his kingdom to come, are always in the business of change. We are changing to become more like Jesus. Our hope is that those we serve will also take seriously this call for transformation. But how does this change happen? How can we see people embracing the life and values of God’s kingdom rather than serving their idols, staying in their fears and keeping the values they have grown up with? (England, we’re talking to you too!) We must simply learn to tell a better story: a story that a person can embrace and call their own.
Too often, the church has been content with surface-level changes: what we wear, how we speak, what we drink, or what we do for entertainment. These shifts are only cultural, and usually they haven’t touched the heart. Scratch beneath the surface, and you may find the story hasn’t changed, and so neither have the core values.
The Bible tells a better story. A story of purpose, of catastrophe, of a hero, of redemption, of hope and transformation. This story has the power to change people at their core, reshaping how they see themselves and their place in the world. It moves beyond superficial cultural changes to address idols, fears, and beliefs that define a person’s worldview.
The Goal of Global Missions
Our role in global missions starts with learning how to greet people properly! But our goal is to learn to tell them the great story in a way that they can hear and embrace as their own. It’s this story, the story of the gospel, that brings true transformation. Cultural sensitivity is an important first step, but it’s not the destination. Real change happens when people encounter the better story of God’s kingdom and allow it to reshape their lives.