I recently had such an experience during a cultural awareness day that we held. Drawing on Brett Westbrook’s insightful notes, we explored the richness of God’s heart for all nations and how we, as followers of Christ, can better understand and embrace cultural diversity.
Dr. Tim Orr and Brett Westbrook
Have you ever experienced a moment that shifted your perspective on life? A moment that took you out of your comfort zone and opened your eyes to a different world? I recently had such an experience during our Cultural Discovery Day. Drawing on Brett Westbrook’s insightful notes, we explored the richness of God’s heart for all nations and how we, as followers of Christ, can better understand and embrace cultural diversity.
To understand God’s desire for the nations, we must first understand what "nations" means in the Bible. The Hebrew word often translated as "nations" is "goyim," referring not to countries as we understand them today but to peoples, tribes, and ethnic groups. God’s heart for these diverse groups is evident throughout Scripture, starting with His promise to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3. God called Abram to leave his country and promised that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through him." This promise set the stage for God’s ongoing mission to reach every nation.
We looked at several passages highlighting this theme during our cultural awareness day. In Exodus 9:16, God declared His purpose in raising Pharaoh: "that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Again, we saw God’s desire to be known among all peoples. In Exodus 19:4-6, God established His covenant with Israel, called them a "kingdom of priests" and a "holy nation," set apart not for themselves but to be a light to all other nations. Joshua 4:23-24 recounts the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, where God dried up the waters so that "all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful." Psalm 67 beautifully captures this universal call: "May God be gracious to us and bless us... so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations."
These passages reminded us of a recurring theme: God’s heart beats for the nations. He desires every people group to know Him and experience His love and salvation. But how do we, as followers of Christ, engage with the nations? How do we understand and bridge the cultural divides that separate us?
During the cultural awareness day, we explored the importance of understanding culture through a story shared by Duane Elmer that perfectly illustrates the need for cultural sensitivity. Imagine a monkey stranded on an island due to a typhoon. From his safe perch, he spotted a fish swimming against the current and assumed the fish was struggling. With great effort and risk, the monkey snatched the fish from the water, placing it safely on dry land. For a moment, the fish flopped excitedly but soon became still. The monkey, feeling satisfied, believed he had saved the fish.
This story, while humorous, served as a poignant metaphor for cultural misunderstandings. The monkey’s intentions were good; he wanted to help. But he failed to understand the fish's environment and needs. He assumed that what was good for him would also be good for the fish. How often do we, with the best intentions, impose our cultural norms on others without understanding their context?
We asked ourselves several questions: What was the monkey’s motivation? He wanted to help. But why did he think removing the fish from the water was helpful? The monkey assumed the fish’s environment was dangerous because it differed from his own. How do you think the fish felt about the help it received? It’s clear that the monkey’s "help" was harmful.
This story challenged us to think carefully about cultural differences. J.P. Lederach says, "Culture is the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them." Dr. Richard Lewis likens culture to "the rules by which the game of life is played." When engaging with others from different backgrounds, it’s crucial to remember that all cultures are different, beautiful, and broken. Each culture uniquely expresses humanity's shared experience, but they also reflect our collective need for redemption.
During our cultural awareness day, we witnessed these differences firsthand. As we visited a mosque, we observed the simplicity of the space, the separation of men and women, and the ritual of removing shoes—practices that may have been foreign to us but held deep meaning for our Muslim friends. At a local grocery store, we participated in a scavenger hunt that challenged us to navigate a different way of shopping, exposing us to new products and customs. As we shared a meal at a buffet restaurant, we listened to the owner’s story, gaining insight into his journey and cultural background.
Through these experiences, we were reminded that cultural differences are not merely curiosities but expressions of deeply held values, beliefs, and worldviews. American culture, for instance, is often characterized by a love of accumulation. Did you know the average U.S. house size has doubled since the 1950s? In contrast, our Kazakh friend Orinbyek once thought Ephesians 5 was mistranslated because it told men to love their wives as they love themselves—an idea foreign to his cultural understanding.
Yet, as we engaged with these differences, we also glimpsed the multifaceted beauty of God’s creation. Just as a diamond reveals new facets with each turn, so does each culture reflect another aspect of God’s glory when expressed in Christ-centered worship.
As we concluded our day, we took time to pray. We prayed for protection, spiritual discernment, and God’s love to fill our hearts. We prayed that we might see beyond external behaviors and understand the underlying worldviews that shape them. And most importantly, we prayed for our friends to experience the salvation that comes through knowing Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on this day, I realize that cultural awareness is not just about learning facts or observing customs; it’s about building bridges of understanding and respect. It’s about recognizing that while we may have different backgrounds and experiences, we are all made in the image of God and are all in need of His grace.
So, as we move forward, let’s carry these lessons. Let’s approach each new encounter with open hearts and minds, ready to learn, serve, and grow. Remember, it’s not enough to have good intentions; we must also have understanding. Just as the monkey learned that his good intentions didn’t necessarily result in good outcomes, so must we learn that genuine love requires humility, empathy, and a willingness to enter another’s world.
In doing so, we reflect God’s heart for the nations—a heart big enough to embrace all peoples in all their diversity and beauty. So let’s go forth, not as saviors but as humble servants, eager to share God’s love with a world that desperately needs it.
Let us remember this day as a step in our journey to understanding, a step towards fulfilling God’s desire for all nations to know Him. As we continue to grow in cultural awareness, may we also grow in our capacity to love as God loves—with a heart that beats for all nations.