cultivating christ-like intercultural relational competency a theological primer, or why bother?...
TRANSCRIPT
Cultivating Christ-like Intercultural Relational Competency
A Theological Primer, Or Why Bother?
Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D.www.rpmministries.org
The Big Question
Does the Bible have a comprehensive theology… or is this all just “politically correct” thinking?
The Big Idea
Intercultural relating is not a PC Issue. It’s a God Issue! Intercultural relating is everywhere in the Bible! We embrace intercultural relating because of the Word not because of the World.
The Big Issue:What Are We Talking About?
Culture:
The shared life patterns of relating, thinking, acting, and feeling learned
through social interactions that group members use to relate to one another and to others.
The Big Issue:What Are We Talking About?
Intercultural Relational Competency:
The ability to relate like Christ when interacting with people whose patterns of relating, thinking,
acting, and feeling are culturally different (diverse) from yours.
Taking God’s Worldview
Intercultural Relating Is God the Father’s Passion: James 1:27-2:13; Romans 2:4-11; Genesis 16:13; Psalm 68:5 (Theology Proper)
Taking God’s Worldview
Intercultural Relating Is God the Son’s Commission: Matthew 22:35-40; 28:18-19; John 2:23-4:54 (Christology)
Taking God’s Worldview
Intercultural Relating Is God the Holy Spirit’s Provision: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 4:3-6 (Pneumatology)
Taking God’s Worldview
Intercultural Relating Is the Trinity’s Eternal Relational Expression: John 1:1-18; John 17:20- 26 (Trinitarian Theology)
Taking God’s Worldview
Intercultural Relating Is Salvation’s Mission: Ephesians 2:11-22; Revelation 5:9; John 3:16 (Soteriology)
For he himself is our peace, who has made the
two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing
wall of hostility.
With your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and
nation.
Taking God’s Worldview
Intercultural Relating Is Indicative of Sanctification Progression: Colossians 3:1- 11 (Soteriology)
Taking God’s Worldview
Intercultural Relating Is Central to the Church’s Mission: Acts 2:11-47; Acts 10:1-11:30; Col. 3:11-17 (Ecclesiology)
The End of the Story: Revelation 7:9-10
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count,
from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
They were wearing white robes and were holding branches in their hands.”
The End of the Story: Revelation 7:9-10
“And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”
Michael Jordan and the End of the Story
I’ve read the end of the story and we win! The “we” is intercultural!—Rev. 7:9-10
Because God is moving all of history toward Revelation 7:9-10,
we must equip one another to relate and minister interculturally
now as a TEAM
in light of our eternal future.
Taking It Home with Us
Taking It Home with Us
Since the Bible passionately, consistently, and systematically
emphasizes the centrality of intercultural relating,we derive our mission and motivation for
relating and ministering interculturallynot from the world, but from the Word.
So What?
Based upon what we’ve explored from God’s Word, how would you “graciously respond” to the “push back?” What are you motivated to do differently or more of because of what we’ve examined together?
A Christ-Centered TEAM Approach
T: Taking Another Person’s Earthly Perspective E: Engaging in Hope-Building Conversations A: Abolishing Barriers M: Making Intercultural Peace