A blog by one of our TI Family, Elizabeth Matthews.
Inculcate: to teach and impress by frequent repetition or admonitions
Synonyms: breed, enroot, implant, infix, inseminate, instill, plant, sow
Inculcation is a term used to prepare for adaptation for the shift from our passport country to our called country. It is a process that begins long before we arrive, and probably never stops once we are planted. Our American-ness can be very deeply rooted, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, in many cultures, our attitudes can seem odd at the very least, and outright hostile at the extreme. For instance, in many cultures, particularly Asian, Americans’ firm handshakes and direct eye contact are considered aggressive and dangerous. Those two attributes are also problematic among some African cultures. If our goal is to bring the light of Jesus to a region through relationship building, we most definitely don’t want our first impression to be aggressive and hostile.
Before long-term arrival, it is wise to visit the country in conjunction with an experienced person or organization. Begin to learn about the country’s history and its culture as much as possible. Short exploratory visits will help gain some understanding if you arrive in humility, ready to learn.
I’ve watched Americans arrive haughtily, short-term and long-term, believing they can fix a country’s problems. I don’t believe God calls us to fix problematic, deeply rooted cultural issues so much as He calls us to bring the light of Jesus. It is through His presence in a land that any country has an opportunity to adopt a Kingdom culture as its foundation. Aid organizations are often there to bring order to problematic areas of electricity, food distribution, water, etc. Your ministry may fall into an aid category (including orphan care), but that doesn’t change the fact that our hearts need to present as inviting and humble, rather than “I’m here to fix your problems!” In every instance, we serve from an understanding of the culture, not bringing America to their land. We must always show genuine respect of the culture to which the Lord assigns us.
I live in a country that is a dictatorship with massive poverty. Few people have access to water where they live, and even those who live in towns with water piped into their homes, such water still must be boiled to be used, maybe 10% of the population. My son and daughter-in-law have a ministry that raises money to drill water wells in villages so Ugandans have access to clean water, and children can go to school rather than spending their days searching for water from filthy swamps (25:35 Water). They will be raising funds and drilling wells until the day they die unless a governmental shift occurs wherein every member of this society is seen as valuable. Until that day happens, we minister one soul at a time, each of whom is highly valuable to God. Mark 9:41 and Matthew 10:42 records Jesus saying that if you give a cup of water to the least, such acts are recorded by the Lord.
As Americans, we tend to arrive in another land and judge cultural differences as right or wrong. It would be wiser to take the mindset that there are very few actual right or wrong issues. Ninety-nine percent of what we encounter will be different, neither right nor wrong. Multiple wives is biblically wrong. But even in such cases, approaching people with, “You’re wrong!!” is not helpful. Making relationships based on Christian love and humility will position us to speak truth into people’s lives over issues of sin. Until people know we truly care about them, they won’t receive our “advice”. So relationships precede ministry. I worked with an 18-year-old American volunteer who critically gave parenting advice to the middle-aged Ugandan mama staff at an orphanage. No doubt the arrogance of such an inexperienced person has a negative impact on the recipients who have parented their own children, and hundreds of children at the orphanage. It was a situation of the parenting being different, neither right nor wrong.
I previously work with an organization that has been in Uganda for many years. Yet the leadership has created an organization of staff that is beholden to them if they want to keep their jobs. Somehow, the Lord put me in this organization and I was like that cup of cold water to the local staff. They were thirsty for someone to listen to them, to learn about their cultural experiences, and to really care. I have read several books about the 20-year war in this region, the atrocities, and the long-term pain the tribe carries after a brief eight years of peace now. I’ve heard over and over again, “I’ve never met a [white person] like you.” Let’s be that unusual Westerner who comes in low and humble, serves and loves without judgment. One who is different from the others who have been here before—with this difference being better because it’s full of love.
Two of my favorite books to prepare for shifting cultures:
- Foreign to Familiar: A Guide to Understand Hot- and Cold-Climate Cultures by Sarah A. Lanier
- When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett
When Helping Hurts was more of a dry read for me, but was beneficial in preparing for African culture. Foreign to Familiar was fabulous, even helping me understand my life having been raised by a British mother in middle America, and then living in Texas as an adult. Also, to understand criticisms against missionaries, look into the No White Saviors movement. Some of their accusations have substance, which has fortunately resulted in missionary sending organizations and church missions adopting different training methods.
Bottom line points:
- Research the new culture
- Research country history
- Arrive low and humble
- Have an attitude of serving
- Establish relationships first—Ministry after relationships
- Check arrogance and pride at the door
May you be blessed as you serve with sacrificial love!
