It’s a good reminder that when you are working cross-culturally, things aren’t always as they seem. What makes perfect sense to a person from one culture, seems totally inappropriate to someone from another.

Renaissance Church is going to be truly multi-cultural. So I’ m sure we’ll have plenty of opportunities to work through issues like this.

And after we’ve come to a mutual understanding… then we can laugh!

Paul is the Bible’s greatest example of ministering cross-culturally. He teaches us to never change the message of the gospel, but to be willing to do just about anything else to help people know Jesus. The fewer cultural barriers someone has to jump over to meet the Jesus we are preaching, the easier it is for them to come to Christ.

What can you do to bridge the cultural divide between yourself and a friend or coworker?

Pray about that. When you get an answer, go do it.

One things I’m doing is learning Spanish. I learned French as a youth – and that has served me well. It has allowed me to minister effectively in France and Quebec (and hopefully someday in French-speaking Africa). But in Charlotte, the language I most need besides English is Spanish. There are many unchurched Spanish speakers near our future church location. Someone needs to reach them.

Sign me up for whatever it takes.