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Introduction
Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility by Duane Elmer is a book that integrates social science research, the Scripture, and cultural perspectives to discuss servanthood in cross-cultural settings. The author divides the book into three parts: the first part identifies the need to serve people; the second part focuses on its basic principles, and the third part examines leadership and power. The main goal of this book is to provide an in-depth understanding of challenges and possible solutions that can be applied to Christian cross-cultural servanthood.
Main body
Openness is identified by Elmer as the first concept of servanthood, which implies the ability to welcome people regardless of their cultural background. It is important to stress that openness is not considered as a personality feature but as a skill that can be developed by Christians. The avoidance of any categorizations allows for preventing the automatic responses to judge others. Jesus called people to remember that despite their weaknesses, He “have set before you an open door, which no one can shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8).
Acceptance is one more principle that should guide those who want to serve, and it flows from openness to different cultures. Since God accepts all the people, it is essential to combat ethnocentrism and learn languages to understand others: “Most of life is a matter of nonessential differences”. For example, when a person faces a behavior that is not famous to him or her, it is easy to characterize it as wrong, but cross-cultural servants should communicate the value of others.
Based on openness and acceptance, trust emerges as the ability to establish cross-cultural relationships. There can be various pitfalls, such as “we won’t build trust but will attempt to transform them; we’re not there to dialogue but to lecture”, which reflect the fragility of these relationships. Therefore, Elmer prioritizes the emotional risk and trustworthy actions of servants. The practical implications of the identified concepts are related to the fact that they offer specific real-life examples and strategies that can be adopted by Christians to build trust. For example, the author rationally states that conflicts compose an integral part of the relationship-building process, and they often require a mediator to resolve them.
The ability to learn from others is another essential idea of the book, and it integrates openness, trust, and acceptance. The importance of following the path that is identified by Elmer in terms of servanthood is related to the need to affirm others’ esteem. The author states that often, servants fail to learn from others, acting only as teachers and remaining inattentive to others’ views. Elmer clarifies that such relationships are defined by the educator, Paulo Freire, as subject-object relationships. The ultimate step in Christian servanthood is cross-cultural understanding. The desire to become “like Christ to others” is regarded by Elmer as the empowerment of humility, which is significant for true service.
The concepts that are examined in the given book reflect the way the Christian cross-cultural work can be organized. As mentioned by the author, Christian leaders can face misunderstanding, arrogance, and misuse of power. For example, he writes that the leaders identifying as leaders may act as “tyrants, dictators, self-aggrandizers, and benevolent oppressors”. The traditional leader training is critiqued by Elmer as it prepares people to merely fit into a leadership role, but they ignore trust and relationship building. Therefore, the concepts of the book make readers ponder over a new approach to cross-cultural Christianity. There is a call to practice openness, trust, acceptance, and understanding. Elmer’s ideas are consistent with the Scripture: “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). It is important to practice patience, flexibility, and humility across cultures to not only adapt to their realities but also effectively resolve emerging conflicts.
Conclusion
The materials presented in the book by Elmer also shed light on the benefits of practicing the identified concepts. By learning from others, it is possible to discover new meanings and attitudes, which can provide valuable insights on Christianity, God, and relationships. The creation and support of the multicultural environment is another advantage that is feasible and relevant to modern conditions. More to the point, the author motivates servants to recognize and develop the mentioned concepts as abilities, not character traits.
Regarding my field of study is Addiction Counseling, my goal is to help those who struggle to overcome alcohol and drug addiction. I believe that no one can better help than a person who has been there. I have been a golf course superintendent for the last 30 years, and I have finally figured out what I am supposed to do with my life. I want to let others know that there is hope, and the material presented in this book would help me to build trustful relationships with people having different cultural backgrounds. Although it can be difficult to lead them, I consider that I should develop my ability of cross-cultural understanding to truly become a Christian servant.
Bibliography
Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Books, 2006.
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