This year we’ll experience so many types of cultures. Europe, India, Africa, Southeast Asia and each place will have a unique culture. There are different people, clothes, customs, languages, foods, and smells. It’s neat to be able to experience so many of these as we travel from place to place.
I recently finished reading a book called Culture of Honor. It talks about how to treat each other in honor and respect and how to work out problems so that everyone can gain from them.
A good definition of culture is an “Establishment of certain principles that help create a norm”. For us it’s about creating an environment attracts and hosts the kingdom of God.
My team is living in community throughout this whole year and one thing that we have established is our own team culture, which is a part of the larger World Race culture.
We have principles that we stand fast to so we can live in better community with each other. Part of our ministry is serving our team and developing our team. If we are having major problems between us and aren’t working together like a well-oiled machine it’s hard to go into an area and make an impact. People see how we work together and it’s a major part of our witness, especially when we can’t communicate in their language.
To keep lines of communication open we give each other feedback. In a structured setting, every person on the team gives a positive and a constructive feedback to every person. That way everything is out in the open, we know what each other perceives about us, we’re uplifted by the encouragement, and have new ways in which we can grow. Since God is good and has created us then that means everything good inside us is from God. This also means that if something inside us isn’t good it isn’t from God. What good does God see in them? We confirm the good things in each other and throw out the bad.
We honor and prefer- or uplift- each other by putting each other above ourselves. It’s not about becoming a doormat for everyone to step on but it’s looking at each other through Christ’s eyes and with His love.
We’ve given up our entitlements in order to give it to someone else. We aren’t entitled to anything. Not our next meal, quiet time, a place to sleep, personal space, a shower, a seat in a bus. One day when we had to go into town we had 19 people piled in an 8 passenger van- no personal space there! When we do get these things that we normally think we’re entitled to, they are a gift and a blessing.
No matter where we go or what we do we live in this culture. We want people to be attracted to us everywhere we are- not because of things we do, how hard we work, or what we say, but because of how we act and treat each other, with the love of Christ.
What kind of environment do you live in? One that attracts the kingdom of God? Or one that turns people away? Something to think about for sure.
