By Executive Director John Yoder

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Have you ever been completely baffled by the behavior of someone from another country? Have you ever wanted to scream, What were they thinking?

Cultural differences cause frequent misunderstandings between pastors. This blog is the first in a series on crazy-making cultural differences I commonly encounter. This initial blog lists issues we will discuss in detail in upcoming blogs.

Time Why is my partner always so late/compulsive? American culture values efficiency, structuring time to accomplish the maximum number of tasks. Global cultures prioritize relationships over tasks, structuring time for the nurturing of those relationships. American culture prefers meetings that begin at predetermined times. Global cultures prefer meetings that begin when the appropriate people have arrived.

Spiritual Realities Why does my partner see demonic forces behind everything/nothing? Many global cultures are animistic, believing that spirit forces influence every aspect of daily life. Secular Western cultures believe that impersonal scientific forces alone cause every aspect of daily life. Western Christians believe in the unseen spirit realm, but frequently behave as if we do not expect to experience God or Satan meaningfully influencing our daily lives.

Conversation Why won’t my partner speak up/listen? Americans do what their teachers have encouraged since first grade: speak up and make their voices heard. Global cultures also do what their teachers have encouraged since first grade: sit down, be quiet, don’t challenge the teacher, and don’t embarrass yourself by saying something inaccurate. In adulthood, both groups continue to practice what they learned in childhood. Small group leaders who fail to understand this dynamic will be perplexed by the reluctance of their foreign friends to express themselves.

Disagreements Why is my partner so indirect/blunt? Americans are famous for “saying what we think”. That has both advantages and disadvantages. Indirectness brings a different set of advantages and disadvantages. Those who speak too directly can be highly offensive. Those who speak too indirectly leave others unclear about their desires.

Structures Why is my partnering church’s decision-making process so fuzzy/corporate? Most Western churches have constitutions and bylaws. Most global churches make decisions by consensus or by following the pastor’s lead. They don’t see any need or biblical basis for corporate decision-making systems, and see them as hindrances to their organic decision-making processes.

Focus Why is my partner so focused on relationships/tasks? Most global cultures are more relationally focused than Americans. Immigrant pastors frequently comment that American pastors view them as another task on their to-do lists. What we perceive as hospitality may seem quite aloof to foreign guests. It can be helpful for both sides to express their understanding of the word friend.

Authority Why does my partner always/rarely want to treat others as peers? Americans prefer to address authority figures by their first names. Most global cultures are quite uncomfortable communicating casually with persons in authority. In our international church in Beijing, Americans called me John, and Chinese called me Reverend Yoder. In a multicultural setting, we must flexibly use both styles.

Connectedness Why does my partner care so much/little what others think of them? Connectedness and conformity are important to many global cultures. America is the world’s most individualistic culture. Americans may regard global family systems as enmeshed and codependent, while they may regard ours as disassociated and aloof.

In upcoming blogs, we will discuss each of these issues in greater detail.