Thursday, March 7, 2013

Culture Clash


When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!’” Acts 14:11

It’s important to understand the culture and the potential perspectives when exploring a new place. I learned children in some parts of Haiti will not look you in the eye if you are older and talking to them. Their culture teaches them this action. It’s not because I was Caucasian like I thought. My misunderstanding of the culture prohibited me from communicating God’s love for his Haitian people appropriately.

Paul healed a lame man in Lystra. However, the crowd fell on their understanding and their experiences, and deemed Paul and Barnabas as gods. It’s what they were taught. They didn’t know Paul and Barnabas, as humans tapped into God’s power were not using their own power to heal.

What situations do you walk into without doing a little bit of research on the perspectives of whom you are going to see? What is one new thing you can learn today that will help bridge the gap in communication?

The girl in the picture is Izlande SainVil who lives in Bataille. She does not have a sponsor. If your heart is pounding faster because you want to make sure she goes to school and has food, please pray about becoming asponsor.

By Mollie Bond

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