Comments on: McJalapeños and cultural sensitivity http://cottrillcompass.com/blog/2006/mcdonalds-culture.html The personal blog of the Cottrill family, Canadians living in Mexico. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:58:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jim http://cottrillcompass.com/blog/2006/mcdonalds-culture.html#comment-850 Jim Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:10:52 +0000 http://cottrillcompass.com/blog/2006/444.html#comment-850 You're absolutely right - of course, some people never really <i>do</i> find that middle ground. They either go home or get bitter. I think the biggest controversy comes in those little decisions - how to actually share the Gospel in another culture. You don't want to share a culture instead of Christ. Then again, if we really think we can totally understand the subtleties of another culture, we're fooling ourselves. You're right - "our biggest struggle of all"! I guess that's where we need the wisdom of the One who sees the hearts of all. You’re absolutely right - of course, some people never really do find that middle ground. They either go home or get bitter.

I think the biggest controversy comes in those little decisions - how to actually share the Gospel in another culture. You don’t want to share a culture instead of Christ. Then again, if we really think we can totally understand the subtleties of another culture, we’re fooling ourselves. You’re right - “our biggest struggle of all”! I guess that’s where we need the wisdom of the One who sees the hearts of all.

]]> By: Jan http://cottrillcompass.com/blog/2006/mcdonalds-culture.html#comment-845 Jan Sun, 25 Jun 2006 19:50:29 +0000 http://cottrillcompass.com/blog/2006/444.html#comment-845 It seems that one stage that people go through when they move to the mission field (in our humble experience with groups, teams, and short-term and long-term missions), people go through a stage where they actually reject their own culture. I don't know why, but it kind of becomes an embarrassment to them... maybe this is part of taking on the new culture where they are. Then, things kind of swing back to the other side and they start to get irritated by their new culture and long for their own. Finally, they seem to find a middle ground, taking the best and worst of the both cultures. I know that living in Nicaragua has changed me for the rest of my life... now I am in Mexico, and I look forward to seeing how God will use this culture to change me and make me more like him as well. In sharing the gospel, you are right, you cannot just speak the language to share it. You must learn to think as they think and understand where they are coming from. They filter through their cultural lenses just as we do. We must pray for wisdom in how to reach them and we also must be carfeul not to try to bring an "American Jesus" to them... this may be our biggest struggle of all! Lord, help us to know the real You! It seems that one stage that people go through when they move to the mission field (in our humble experience with groups, teams, and short-term and long-term missions), people go through a stage where they actually reject their own culture. I don’t know why, but it kind of becomes an embarrassment to them… maybe this is part of taking on the new culture where they are. Then, things kind of swing back to the other side and they start to get irritated by their new culture and long for their own. Finally, they seem to find a middle ground, taking the best and worst of the both cultures. I know that living in Nicaragua has changed me for the rest of my life… now I am in Mexico, and I look forward to seeing how God will use this culture to change me and make me more like him as well.

In sharing the gospel, you are right, you cannot just speak the language to share it. You must learn to think as they think and understand where they are coming from. They filter through their cultural lenses just as we do. We must pray for wisdom in how to reach them and we also must be carfeul not to try to bring an “American Jesus” to them… this may be our biggest struggle of all! Lord, help us to know the real You!

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