Using Biblical Examples from Diverse Cultures in Preaching
Scripture itself models the proclamation of God's work among diverse peoples and languages. From Genesis 11's account of linguistic dispersion [1] to Ezekiel's vision of gathering scattered nations [3, 4], the biblical narrative consistently presents God's redemptive purposes as spanning cultural boundaries. This textual reality provides both warrant and pattern for preachers drawing on examples from multiple cultural contexts.
Biblical Precedent for Cross-Cultural Reference
The New Testament explicitly addresses linguistic and cultural diversity in the assembly. Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 14 assumes a context where "great variety of [languages are] spoken by men" [1], yet insists that communication must serve edification: "if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?" [6]. The criterion is intelligibility and building up the body [7], not cultural uniformity. This suggests that examples drawn from diverse contexts are legitimate when they clarify rather than obscure the gospel message.
The prophetic literature anticipates this diversity as part of God's redemptive plan. Zechariah describes Israel's dispersion as intentional: "Like seed sown far and wide, they shall, when quickened themselves, be the fittest instruments for quickening others" [8]. Isaiah's promise to "bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west" [9] envisions a gathering that transcends geographic and cultural boundaries. These texts establish that God's people have always comprised multiple nations and tongues.
Practical Application in Proclamation
The concept of example in Scripture itself is instructive. Easton's Dictionary notes that examples function as patterns—Christ's example for believers, pastors' examples for flocks, and even negative examples like the wilderness generation serving as warnings [2]. When preachers cite examples from African, Asian, Latin American, or other non-Western contexts, they extend this biblical pattern of learning from the experiences of God's people across boundaries.
The intercessory prayer tradition modeled in Scripture includes petition for "all men" and "fellow-countrymen" [5], reflecting concern that spans ethnic and national lines. Preaching that incorporates diverse cultural examples embodies this same breadth of vision, demonstrating that the gospel addresses universal human conditions while respecting particular cultural expressions. The key remains Paul's standard: does the example serve revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching [6]—or does it merely display cultural curiosity?
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Language — Of all mankind one at first -- Ge 11:1,6. Called Speech. -- Mr 14:70; Ac 14:11. Tongue. -- Ac 1:19; Re 5:9. Confusion of A punishment for presumption, &c. -- Ge 11:2-6. Originated the varieties in. -- Ge 11:7. Scattered men over the earth. -- Ge 11:8,9. Divided men into separated nations. -- Ge 10:5,20,31. Great variety of, spoken by men -- 1Co 14:10. Ancient kingdoms often comprehended nations of different -- Es 1:22; Da 3:4; 6:25. Kinds of, mentioned Hebrew. -- 2Ki 18:28; Ac 26:14. Chaldea. -- Da 1:4. Syriack. -- 2Ki 18:26; Ezr 4:7. Greek. -- Ac 21:37. L”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
- Ezekiel “I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country. -- Ezekiel 34:13”
- Ezekiel “As a pleasant aroma will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. -- Ezekiel 20:41”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Intercessory — Christ set an example of -- Lu 22:32; 23:34; Joh 17:9-24. Commanded -- 1Ti 2:1; Jas 5:14,16. Should be offered up for Kings. -- 1Ti 2:2. All in authority. -- 1Ti 2:2. Ministers. -- 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19. The Church. -- Ps 122:6; Isa 62:6,7. All saints. -- Eph 6:18. All men. -- 1Ti 2:1. Masters. -- Ge 24:12-14. Servants. -- Lu 7:2,3. Children. -- Ge 17:18; Mt 15:22. Friends. -- Job 42:8. Fellow-countrymen. -- Ro 10:1. The sick. -- Jas 5:14. Persecutors. -- Mt 5:44. Enemies among whom we dwell. -- Jer 29:7. Those who envy us. -- Nu 12:13. Those who ”
- 1 Corinthians “But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? -- 1 Corinthians 14:6”
- 1 Corinthians “Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up. -- 1 Corinthians 14:5”
- Zechariah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 10:9: sow them among . . . people--Their dispersion was with a special design. Like seed sown far and wide, they shall, when quickened themselves, be the fittest instruments for quickening others (compare Mic 5:7). The slight hold they have on every soil where they now live, as also the commercial and therefore cosmopolitan character of their pursuits, making a change of residence easy to them, fit them peculiarly for missionary work [MOORE]. The wide dispersion of the Jews just before Christ's coming prepared the way similarly for the apostles' preaching”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 43:5: Fear not, for I am with thee,.... With thy ministers that preach the everlasting Gospel, to make it effectual to the conversion of many everywhere, as well as to bear thee up under all trials, and to cause thee to stand against all opposition: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; which is to be understood not literally of the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity; for these several quarters, east, west, north, and south, will hardly agree with that, though it may be supposed they were scattered in several countries; but spir”