Cultural Differences as Opportunities for Evangelism in Missions
The New Testament portrays the spread of the Gospel as a journey across diverse cultures, often highlighting the challenges and opportunities presented by these differences. The Apostle Paul, for instance, was commissioned as an apostle, a divinely appointed missionary evangelist [6], to proclaim the good news. The early church understood that the Gospel message was intended to reach "all the world" [4], necessitating engagement with various peoples and their distinct ways of life.
One significant challenge in cross-cultural evangelism is the diversity of languages. The prophet Ezekiel was sent to his own people, and the text notes that it would have increased the difficulty had he been sent to "many people" differing in tongues, requiring the missionary to learn new languages for each group. This foreshadows the later mission of the apostles and the gift of tongues, which facilitated communication across linguistic barriers [1]. The ability to communicate effectively is crucial for sharing the Gospel, as evidenced by the early church's experience.
Beyond language, cultural differences encompass a wide range of practices, beliefs, and social structures. The New Testament church recognized that God bestows "gifts, differing" among believers [7], and "differences of administrations" or ministries [3]. These varied gifts and roles, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers [6], are intended to build up the church and enable it to reach maturity in Christ [8]. This diversity within the church itself can be seen as a model for engaging with external cultural diversity.
Missionary evangelists, such as those supported by Gaius in 3 John, traveled to proclaim the message [5]. Their journeys often brought them into contact with different cultures. The experience of John, exiled on Patmos, demonstrates that God communicates with humanity through historical events and can give significant missions even in challenging circumstances [2]. The willingness to endure suffering and separation for the sake of the Gospel was a shared experience among early Christians, fostering a sense of community despite physical distance [2].
The rapid spread of the Gospel in the early centuries, described as a traveler visiting "the whole habitable earth" [4], indicates an active engagement with diverse cultures. This engagement was not always easy, but the New Testament narrative suggests that cultural differences, while presenting obstacles, also provided opportunities for the Gospel to demonstrate its universal appeal and transformative power. The ultimate goal of ministry, including cross-cultural evangelism, is for the entire Christian community to deepen its understanding and experience of the Christian faith, growing in knowledge of God's Son and becoming more like Christ [8].
Sources
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 3:6: many people--It would have increased the difficulty had he been sent, not merely to one, but to "many people" differing in tongues, so that the missionary would have needed to acquire a new tongue for addressing each. The after mission of the apostles to many peoples, and the gift of tongues for that end, are foreshadowed (compare Co1 14:21 with Isa 28:11). had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened-- (Mat 11:21, Mat 11:23).”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:9: 1:9-11 This third introduction (see study note on 1:1-11) is historical; it shows God communicating with humanity in historical events. God gave John a significant mission while in exile. 1:9 your brother and your partner: Though separated from other Christians by his imprisonment, John shared a sense of community with them in suffering, based on hope in God’s Kingdom and a willingness to endure. • The Roman fortress on the island of Patmos housed prisoners and exiles. Patmos was in a group of islands that protected the thriving seaport of Miletus. • for preach”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:5: And there are differences of administrations,.... Or ministries; offices in the church, ministered in by different persons, as apostles, prophets, pastors, or teachers and deacons; who were employed in planting and forming of churches, ordaining elders, preaching the word, administering ordinances, and taking care of the poor; for which different gifts were bestowed on them, they not all having the same office. But the same Lord; meaning either Jesus Christ, whom the believer, by the Holy Ghost, says is Lord; who, as the ascended King of saints, and Lord and ”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 1:6: Which is come unto you - The doctrine of the Gospel is represented as a traveler, whose object it is to visit the whole habitable earth; and, having commenced his journey in Judea, had proceeded through Syria and through different parts of Asia Minor, and had lately arrived at their city, every where proclaiming glad tidings of great joy to all people. As it is in all the world - So rapid is this traveler in his course, that he had already gone nearly through the whole of the countries under the Roman dominion; and will travel on till he has proclaimed his messag”
- 3 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 3 John 1:6: borne witness of thy charity before the church--to stimulate others by the good example. The brethren so entertained by Gaius were missionary evangelists (Jo3 1:7); and, probably, in the course of narrating their missionary labors for the edification of the Church where John then was, incidentally mentioned the loving hospitality shown them by Gaius. bring forward on their journey--"If thou (continue to) forward on their journey" by giving them provisions for the way. after a godly sort--Greek, "in a manner worthy of God," whose ambassadors they are”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:11: 4:11 In his letters, Paul has four different lists of God’s gifts (see also Rom 12:4-8; 1 Cor 12:8-10, 28), none of which is comprehensive. Here the focus is on the gifts of leadership most needed for the growth of the church. • Apostles are divinely commissioned missionary evangelists. • Prophets speak messages from God for his people. • Evangelists proclaim the Good News. • Pastors (literally shepherds) care for God’s people (see 1 Tim 3:1-7). • Teachers expound Scripture and God’s truths to the church. • Pastors and teachers might refer to separate ministrie”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 12:6: Having then gifts, differing,.... As in a natural body, the various members of it have not the same office, and do not perform the same actions, thus they have not the same, but different faculties; one has one faculty, another another; the eye has the faculty of seeing, the ear of hearing, &c. thus in the spiritual body the church, as there are different members, these members have not the same work and business assigned them; some are employed one way, and some another; also they have diversities of gifts for their different administrations and operations, and all f”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”