How well do we know our different cultures?

The articles in this series are about “engaging with culture”. Recently I have been pondering “just which culture should I engage with, or try to understand more?”

In my neighbourhood I meet people from many countries, shopping, working in the supermarket, waiting for the bus. In church too the percentage of people who were born outside the UK has increased greatly. I wonder what they make of us locals!

God is moving people across continents, including Christians keen to share the good news of Christ in the UK. What an opportunity, for unsaved people from Britain and elsewhere, to see Christians from diverse nations loving each other, at church and in the community! “One new humanity”, “no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens … being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph. 2v15-22). (The FIEC event Reflecting Heaven, 12–13 November, will consider this.)

Yet people from different cultures, even Christians, have different views on many things: childcare, expectations of church leaders, how to be hospitable, how to face bereavement, etc. How can we all get along and learn from each other? Although we want to understand each other, it can feel overwhelming. How can I learn about, say, Ghanaian culture and Hong Kong culture and Albanian culture and… etc.?

Culture is sometimes depicted as an iceberg. Above the water are visible differences like dress, food, or expressions of sung worship; yet most is under the surface, invisible: values, beliefs, worldviews. Missiologists describe certain attributes of culture, with different groups at different places on a continuum, for example; from individualistic to group-oriented, and from relationship-oriented to task-driven. Some (like the British) express themselves and interpret others mainly through words; others pay more attention to the context of the communication – who is present, what is their relationship, etc. Some give negative feedback quite directly; others don’t!

Of course, we shouldn’t stereotype countries or people – contexts change and individuals vary, especially when they have lived in multiple cultures. Yet, differences exist. For example, an East Asian student exploring Christianity may want to show respect to their British host Bible study leader by giving the right answer. They may not agree with the answer, but they want to avoid shaming their host or themselves by disagreeing. The Christian from a less egalitarian or individualistic country than the UK, may have been a church elder back home, but not go forward to help or offer an opinion here; he may think it rude to approach the pastor directly. A West African family might be puzzled (and a little hurt) that they have been going to church for three months and no-one has been round to their house to welcome them and enjoy the food and hospitality they are ready to share.

Eating or serving on teams together, enjoying joint family outings, asking each other questions, all help; and gentleness, humility, humour and grace are essential. Yet a little extra insight can make a big difference. It’s worth looking into cultural differences e.g. individual vs group orientation, egalitarian vs hierarchical. There are resources to help: the lively short book, Foreign to Familiar, by Sarah Lanier is one; FieldPartner International’s course, Growing in Cultural Intelligence, is another.

I’m well-travelled, but I think I need to understand my own culture better. I notice that in my church small group and other meetings, most comments come from the British. Maybe our individualism, or emphasis on communicating through words, means we are missing what others want to communicate. Having been immersed in my culture since birth it’s hard for me to see it. Perhaps there’s something in the old Greek adage “Know thyself”.

The apostle Paul urged the Roman Christians not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom.12). I think there is wisdom in identifying our own cultural patterns; how much do they conform with Christ’s way, and how much are they merely our culture?