God's Word and Our Conflicts

Introduction

“Well, the Bible says…” is both one of the most beautiful and most dangerous phrases a leader can say. There’s an eternal beauty to the Word of God. It speaks from ancient times and across cultures to speak into our day-to-day lives, for the global community. It is an authority that the global church has, which can bond us all together. That is, if it is properly understood, interpreted, and applied.

I grew up in the States. Therefore, my theology and understanding of the application of biblical truth are wrapped in Western value systems. On its own, that isn’t a bad thing. It has been my context for most of my life. The problem begins when we transmit Western value systems across cultures.

It is in the transmission of the gospel, steeped in Western ideology, that statements like “well, the Bible says…” become dangerous. Because what we are incidentally saying is, “Well, America says…” We then deify and codify our cultural preferences as biblical truth and transmit them as equal to the gospel of Jesus.

The Problem

When missionaries do this, we don’t make believers more like Christ; we make them more like us. And this has been done to disastrous results. American theology exported to the nations has left a trail of brokenness in its wake. This brokenness is often covered up by numbers reports or the ignorant assumption that local people couldn’t submit to Christ. The reality is, of course, a lack of submission to Western value systems and a misapplication of biblical truth. And many missionaries are blind to this.

God will hold us accountable. If we are engaging the nations, we must learn to discern what is God and what is America. I have a long way to go in discerning these things. I respect those who can recognize their deficiency. I fear for those who think they have figured it out. Their ignorance and arrogance leave a trail of broken people who have accidentally been asked to believe in the American way more than the way of Christ.

This battle of value systems seems most evident in times of conflict. The ignorant missionary perhaps assumes they are immune to transmitting their culture because times are good. However, when conflict arises, it becomes a battle of culture cloaked in biblical language. Remember, Beloved, we are not called to make disciples of American culture, but of Christ.

We think our Western ways of handling conflict are biblical ways because they are all we know. We must do better. The challenge for missionaries is to first self-reflect on what values are rooted in the heart of scripture and which are applied to cultural preferences. This means we need to do the work of discovering the difference between biblical principles and cultural applications.

The Solution

We must do the work of hermeneutics, understanding the original language, culture, audience, and context of Scripture. It is here that we find the original meaning for the original audience. From the original meaning, we derive the principle. A theological principle is always true across all time and culture. The next step is to apply it to the context and culture in which we find ourselves. This can be especially tricky when we are in a foreign context or dealing with people who do not share our cultural background.

I say this because we can find a biblical principle that applies to the situation, and our thinking ends there. The missionary, church, or organization just automatically applies the principle to their lives and assumes this application for everyone else..

This is not sufficient. Yes, the missionary’s job is first to apply it to their culture. However, the missionary must humbly learn to employ the principle in the host culture. If not, we run the risk of damaging God’s children with a warped version of God’s Word.

This takes work and intense study of both the Bible and the local culture. This means humbly laying down our “Americanness” and embodying “Christlikeness.” Though such thinking is difficult and time-consuming, it will yield fruit of the Spirit. Oh, the beauty of the church learning to love each other in light of cultural differences. This work, humbling as it may be, will lead to that wonderful picture in Revelation of all nations, tribes, and people gathered around the throne of God. Let’s do the hard work, Beloved, it is worthy work.

Are not God’s children and His church worthy of such concern? How dare we bludgeon our international brothers and sisters with American ideology covered with the Holy Bible. Even more sad is when we fool ourselves into thinking we are the only ones doing the right thing. Such pride will certainly bring on the judgment of God. Let us repent and seek the way of Jesus. After all, Jesus displayed what it meant to embody the culture of those He loved. Let’s follow His example above our own.

American conflicts are confrontational and built on individuality. Therefore, blame and guilt become the tools for correction. That’s fine for those like me, who grew up like this. What about the rest of our brothers and sisters who are not Western? Shame is also a heavy biblical theme. Therefore, saving face is an important biblical practice we often overlook.

The Result

Foreign isn’t bad. We must rid such thoughts from our hearts and minds. Just because it is a different way than our way doesn’t make it inherently wrong. Our brothers and sisters around the world may speak and think differently about how to handle conflicts, but they are no less holy. The diversity of God's people in handling conflict biblically glorifies God. It completes the tapestry that is God’s people. What a beautiful picture when we see these elements of saving face and honor displayed in our non-Western family. Instead of foreign and different, it gives us insight into a more holistic gospel.

So, Beloved, if you find yourself facing conflict with someone who does not share your cultural background, don't rush into thinking your way is the only way. Do the hard work of loving your brother or sister by engaging God's Word and applying it to their cultural value system as well. Take the time to see the beauty of God in their culture. We are the global family, let's love each other holistically.