Navigating Cultural Differences Regarding Authority
By Executive Director John Yoder
This blog is part of a series Cultural Differences that Drive Pastors CRAZY
The dean of the Chinese Three-Self seminary escorted us to the private room of our restaurant. Small, rectangular private rooms are common in Chinese restaurants, each with a round table that will seat all guests. The dean ushered us with him to the seats of honor. He sat in the chair opposite the door. That let him observe everyone and everything, enhancing his ability to control the flow of the room. We foreign guests sat on his left and right sides.
Faculty and staff filled in the remaining seats. The secretary sat in the lowliest seat of all, directly opposite the dean, with her back to the door. It was her responsibility to order the food, pay the bill, and handle any issues that arose.
Nobody placed individual orders. The secretary ordered several entrees that would be shared by all. The faculty carefully took their verbal cues from the dean. They knew when it would be appropriate for them to speak up and to remain silent.
Westerners chafe at such hierarchical systems. I’m aware of one American pastor in Japan who said to his guests, “Wouldn’t it make everyone more relaxed if we all just sat anywhere we want?” The Japanese humored their guest. But the only person in the room who felt more relaxed was the foreigner!
Is it better or worse to regard one another as peers? In our international church in Beijing, I was accustomed to both. The Americans called me John, and the Chinese called me Reverend Yoder. No Chinese would ever dream of calling their leader “Pastor Bob”. I honestly didn’t care which term our members used. Both are completely accurate. I learned to be very comfortable with those who regard all Christians as peers, as well as those who give high regard to the office of pastor.
Hierarchical and egalitarian cultures both see different sides of the truth. On one level, all believers are of equal worth and status as children of God. On another level, we are commanded to honor and obey those holding roles of authority. Christians are specifically commanded to obey civil rulers (Romans 13:1-2), parents (Ephesians 6:1), husbands (Ephesians 5:22), masters (Ephesians 6:5), and pastors (1 Thessalonians 5:12, Hebrews 13:17). Our culture determines the extent to which we focus on others’ person-based equality versus their role-based authority.
Crossing cultural boundaries increases these tensions. When young Koreans grow up in Korea, they are surrounded by hierarchical government, church and family structures. But when young Koreans are being raised by Korean immigrants in America, the rules have changed. They are exposed to a hierarchical value system at home, and an egalitarian value system in the surrounding culture. American culture empowers youth, women, and singles in ways that Korean culture does not.
If the first-generation Korean immigrant parents are threatened by American culture, they may pull back and operate by purely Korean norms. That isn’t likely to be received well by their children. Many second-generation Asian Americans are deeply resentful about the lack of empowerment they experienced in their parents’ churches. A single Korean woman may have an MBA, earn a six-figure income, and be a corporate VP. But in the church she may only be qualified to sing in the choir or work in the children’s ministry. The contrast between the two cultures can feel overwhelming.
So how do we balance the tension between person-based equality and differing role-based authority? 1 Peter 2:17 is a good start: “Honor all people.” 1 Peter 5:5 is even more specific: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” Peter’s command for young people to be submissive to older people is tempered by his assumption that all believers must maintain humble, submissive postures towards one another.
Generational tensions exist between people of all cultures around the world. But those tensions are increased when two different cultures impact one family or church. Both sides can muster Bible passages to assert they have the unique claim to truth. Each side must listen to the other. Cultural preferences regarding the balance between person-based equality and role-based authority are tensions to be perpetually managed, not problems to be permanently resolved.