Culture Shock

A trip to Africa led me to consider the topic of culture shock. Just as I was a foreigner in a different culture, God’s people are foreigners in this world.

During my freshman year of college, my anthropology instructor explained the concept of culture shock. Basically it is your reaction to being exposed to a culture different from your own. During a recent trip to East Africa, I had the opportunity to experience a lot of culture shock.

People living in mud huts? I don’t see that at home. People driving on the left side of the road and speaking a language I never heard before? I don’t see or hear that every day. Witnessing how people transported themselves between locations? Very interesting.

People speaking the truth and caring for others—in today’s world?

Called out of the world

To clarify, the last thing does not specifically apply to East Africa, the United States or anywhere else. As a whole, people have drifted away from God and His way of life. Hearing about shootings, wars and all kinds of bad behavior is commonplace now.

We in the Church have been called by God to come out of the world (John 15:19). As Paul wrote, “We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

With this calling, we are to live a different way of life—God’s way. The challenge is living God’s way while still in a world that doesn’t. As Christ said in John 17: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (verses 14-16).

Being a light

While in East Africa, I couldn’t help but stick out. There weren’t many other 6-foot-tall, white Americans who could only speak English roaming through the countryside. At the camp, the campers asked many questions about what America was like. In that sense, I was an ambassador to them from America.

As ambassadors for God, we, too, should stick out from everyone else. But how?

Jesus Christ teaches us: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

We are to be a light to the world. We have God’s precious truth. We have the knowledge of His plan and the way of life everyone will eventually be taught. This should make us stand out—we shouldn’t be hiding it.

After people in the world get to know us, do they experience culture shock?

To learn more about being an ambassador in this world, view Jim Franks’ sermon “Ambassadors for Christ.”