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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Book Application: Christian Intercultural Communication Assignment on Christian Intercultural
Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures By Dr. C. Tim Chang with Ashley
E. Chang
Submitted to Dr. Porfirio Rodriguez
.
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion
of
GLST 650
Intercultural Communication
by
James Boykin September 17
th
2023
Introduction and Critical Review
..................................................................................................
1 Five Application Lessons…………………………….
...........................................................................
2 Leverage Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
.......................................................................
2 Manage Conflict on the Mission Field ......................................................................................
3 Culture Shock…………………. ..........................................................................................................
4
Value of Contextualization
. ..........................................................................................................
4
Putting God First
...........................................................................................................................
5
Conclusion Bibliography
...............................................................................................................................
6
Introduction
In the book Critical Review and Thesis In their book, “Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures,” Dr. Tim and Ashely Chang, delve into intercultural communication.
The thesis of this book is a best practice and a guide for those who look to share the gospel with anyone outside of their community, or in a cross-cultural setting. Chang stated, “One who would seek to communicate the Christian message cross-culturally would find the tools of faith and biblical models are therefore equipping and emulating.”
1
in reading this book it was clear that the Chung’s wrote this book as a chronicle of their experiences. This book is great and can be used not only from a spiritual perspective but also from a secular one, as I am implementing perspectives of the book at work. The purpose of this paper is to state the usage and application of lessons from this book. In looking at the five key lessons learned from this book, we will see how the author intends us to apply them to ministry. Critical Review
Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang give a wonderful take on how to share the gospel with people from other cultures.
According to Chang “Ch
ristians use verbal and no verbal communication features to make the Gospel relevant to their host cultures.”
2
The use of verbal and non-verbal communication is so important when effectively communicating. These factors in communication are what comprise intercultural communication. Tim and Ashley Chang make it clear what Intercultural communication is and how it applies to ministry. Intercultural 1
C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang
. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
with People of Other Cultures (
Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021),
2
Ibid.
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communication as defined by Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung states: “The symbolic exchange process whereby individuals from two or more different cultural communities attempt
to negotiate shared meanings in an inter-active situation within an embedded societal system.”
3
In going further in dept Chang stated, “Christian intercultural communication also focuses on the way we negotiate shared meanings as we cross cultures”
4
Five Application Lessons
Out of the many lessons that Tim and Ashley Chang pass to the reader, I found the one in Leverage Verbal and Nonverbal Communication to be the most applicable to my current and future positions in ministry, followed by Manage
Conflict on the Mission Field. Next to it is culture shock. After, I would discuss the value of contextualization finally Putting God First
. Leverage Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
“The study of Christian intercultural communication focuses on how we use our words and our actions to portray the Gospel message.”
5
How do we give the gospel without using words? While we are familiar with the relative exclusivity of verbal language, non-verbal language is a little more complicated. Nonverbal communication is “the message exchange process involving the use of nonlinguistic and paralinguistic cues that are expressed through multiple communication channels in a particular sociocultural setting”
6
Nonverbal actions are 3
Stella T. Toomey and Leeva C. Chung. Understanding Intercultural Communication. 2nd ed. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2012),
4
C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang
. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
with People of Other Cultures (
Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021),
5
Ibid.
6
Stella T. Toomey and Leeva C. Chung. Understanding Intercultural Communication. 2nd ed. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2012)
categorized as everything outside of verbal, the way we look, facial expressions, body movements etc., all of which can carry different meaning dependent on the culture. As communicators of the gospel, we strive to present the gospel even without the use of words; this involves ensuring our actions are a true representative of Christ. The way we live is to be a light to the world. Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16 stated, “
You are the light of
[Christ the-world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
nor does
anyone
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 shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds
and
moral excellence, and
recognize and honor and]
glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
7
Manage Conflict on the Mission Field
The book takes on a natural flow, while at the same time being honest with the realities of being in the mission field. In life, we will often fall short, not because of some measurable level of success but because of the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves. Our job is present to God, and ensure that we use all the tools given to us, to ensure that we are effective in our efforts. The level of success we have is not based on how many people we convert. The litmus test for success is obedience. Tim and Ashely Chang state “When we follow God, it does not matter if we can point to success or failure—what matters is that we obey Him. We’re not responsible for “fixing” everyone—the truth of God’s love already exists within every culture, and we’re only vessels that are aiding those around us to discover this timeless truth.”
8
We must
be realistic and know where our motives lie. We are to be truthful with who we are and with 7
Mat. 5:14-16 (ESV).
8
C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
with People of Other Cultures (Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021),
the one who created us and should not be afraid to reexamine our lives and ask the Lord hard questions
9
Culture Shock
As a minister, my goal is to have an intercultural flock within a cross-cultural setting. It is important as we prepare others to go out into the world that we stress that they be fully equipped to put on the whole armor of God given that according to the Chung’s, it “
is essential in engaging in spiritual warfare as Satan does not want the kingdoms of the world to become the kingdom of our Lord.” With this armor, we will be able to stand against the wilds of the devil
including the culture shock used by Satan to thwart us.
10
We must embrace and appreciate the differences in culture even the diverse cultures within our local congregations. Value of Contextualization
Contextualization is not just for missionaries abroad but also those serving in the local church. The word contextualization describes a practice where missionaries became one with the local people by eating their food, wearing their clothes, and even identifying the Gospel with the local history and culture. Contextualization should cover as many aspects of culture as possible.”
11
As a youth leader, my role is to teach students scripture and biblical principles; this often includes appealing to the culture (to a certain extent) of the kids I lead. Whereas most of the church congregation dresses formally, I dress a little more casually often wearing jeans and gym shoes. The joy I get is allowing the youth to worship God in their culture, (as long as it's 9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
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respectful and reverent). As church leaders, it is important that we do not try to change them to
look like those sitting in the pews instead we help lead them to transform to the image of Christ.
Putting God First
With working for the church, we can get so bogged with the work that we can often put the work of the church before God. Tim and Ashley Chang stated, “The truth is that from time to time, we can lose sight of God and the work He has for us.”
12
In the world we live in there are
so many things we can get distracted by, from work to, family even down to our cell phones. It is
important to understand that every culture has a form of distraction, and if we allow those distractions to overwhelm us, regardless of how well-meaning they are our relations with God will suffer and our presentation of the gospels to those God has placed in our care and charge will also suffer. Conclusion
As Christians, we are able to effectively communicate interculturally. is pivotal in the sharing of the gospel. Having the correct perspective of who God is and keeping him first and allowing his spirit to lead the conversation will alleviate the culture shock one can feel while at the same time managing the conflict that we may encounter. As communicators of the Gospel, we must contextualize the presentation of the Good News and provide this message in both our verbal and noble language. Bibliography
C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
12
Ibid.
with People of Other Cultures (Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021)
Stella T. Toomey and Leeva C. Chung. Understanding Intercultural Communication. 2nd ed. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2012)