Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility Paperback – March 8, 2006

Anti-Americanism is a deep well from which intellectuals and elitists have drawn for a century and a half. Elmer drinks deeply from this elixir until it subconsciously oozes from his pores as he writes his book, "Cross-Cultural Servanthood." All the usual bigoted suspects are invited to the stockades, where America is shackled in shame; there armed with the rotten fruits and vegetables of "higher criticisms" against western culture.First the rotten cabbage of paternalism is thrown, then the smelly tomato of superiority smears her arrogant face. Next, the barrage of all the old worn out stereotypes are unleashed upon the enslaved pariah: Insensitivity, hubris, confidence, rudeness, ethnocentrism, classism, racism, neocolonialism, dogmatism, arrogance, and controlling dominance. As all great liberals do, he even goes to the subconscious1 in order to condemn thoughts not held actively by guilty colonialist arrogant westerners. If one statement might summarize his thesis, it could be this: "...this hidden and evasive superiority...tells us we are the most powerful, the most technically advanced, the richest, the best educated, the leader of the free world...The Bible calls it pride."2 Never mind that all of those things are true blessings from God; the mere fact that we acknowledge that condemns us as a bloated, arrogant know-it-all. As a fan of the founding of this nation, and as a student of history and culture; it is so insulting to me that this author has such animosity toward the principles upon which this nation funds the advance of both freedom and the gospel around the globe, that I can't hear his healthy admonitions.The theme that Elmer is supposedly putting forth would describe how a person can be more effective winning souls in missions if they were a humble servant of the culture, rather than an arrogant know-it-all who uses force and bullying to get his way. Any fool can agree with that premise. Honestly, this book could be about a chapter long, and basically say "Don't be an insensitive jerk. Listen before you talk. Learn how to behave yourself. Be open to the aspects of other cultures which don't violate scripture." But that would only address the symptoms of being a free-market westerner; not the root problem: Being a westerner.Elmer does do a good job at bringing awareness to the problems of obnoxious habits of ministers. He most effectively illustrates this by relating a story about his daughter-in-law arriving at the set of a movie scene where her husband was acting on set. The crew made her the center of their affections, wanting to know everything there was to know about her and instantly made her feel at home (even as an honorary member of the film crew!).3 As a California native, I can testify as to how true this account is of the people in that state; and when compared to the miserable neglect she suffered from a bible study the following evening, it is understandable how people abandon the old stereotype of the unwelcoming church for the temporary warmth of acceptance from the world. A ministry application of this approach is to always be outgoing and exceptionally hospitable toward guests at the church. When a visitor comes, make them feel that they are the center of attention without making them feel singled out or thrust upon. Again, learning about this culture can inform the approaches toward those who visit our sanctuaries.Having said that, the author does not go on to say how the film crew reacted when actual life changing events take place, or when confrontation is given or exhortation is called for. Soon, in California, the party ends with one who attempts to hold anyone accountable to their actions. The wise Christian should learn from the story's initial lesson to love and accept the stranger immediately; but should not retain the post-modern mindset of this Golden State, which cannot tolerate correction. At some point, a transition must take place where the unearned acceptance of a stranger transfers into a discipleship relationship where correction based upon firm knowledge takes place. This is difficult to encourage when the author describes the certainty of knowledge as "false humility."4 If having knowledge is now arrogance, then what are we to teach? While giving a hand waving warning against universalism,5 his disdain for certitude and knowledge would make it difficult to fend off such heresy.He also makes a good case, showing Christ as the ultimate example of a man who could do or have more being a humble servant to the cause of winning others. There is a fantastic picture of Christ washing the disciples' feet,6 the role of the least servant in the household. While this is a picture of humility, it does not diminish any of the virtues that Christ has, nor does it inhibit the truth by which He speaks or the authority by which he confronts sin. In fact, it is the difference from his culture, where he spoke authoritatively; that set him apart as a witness to God! Mark 1:22 says "They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." How amazing is it that our Lord is recognized for speaking with an assertive confidence in the truth; yet this author chastises such an effort? Surely care must be taken not to be perceived as an arrogant fool; but confidence in absolute truth must create an aura around which only the elitist academic professional book writers might decry such a show as arrogant!Elmer says western missionaries are: Superior,7 out of touch,8 neocolonialist, paternalistic (which has the added leftist fire of meaning "non-feminist" and "non-egalitarian" as well),9 truth-bearing,10 arrogant,11 non-pluralistic (i.e. non-judgmental or non-universalism),12 "Anglo-dominant,"13 "dichotomizing" (another word for having discernment),14 more quickly to judge negatively,15 too concrete,16 too ethnocentric,17 and so on all throughout the book. While Elmer correctly points out negative perceptions about westerners, his solution is worse than the disease. When attitudes to which negativity is attached are noted in the book, the solution isn't to merely control the attitude; it is to change the way of thinking from a western style of thought over to an eastern philosophical approach. Instead of rightly condemning arrogant, abusive indoctrination with an attitude of superiority; he concedes the entire biblical concept of discipleship altogether! In a stunning betrayal of scriptural imperative, he says:"It is very easy, especially when we are entering a rather economically poor part of the world, to believe (probably unconsciously) that we are called to spiritually feed people, educate them in the Bible and show them how to live the holy life. I know I slip into this unbiblical posture too often and find myself doing the "Pharisee" thing: looking down on others, taking a master role, and lording it over them with my knowledge, titles and degrees..."18Here his arrogance has come to climax in his defiance of the scriptural mandates for leaders to disciple (Matt. 28:19), to exhort others to live a godly life (Heb. 3:12-15), and to feed their spiritual needs (John 21:17)! He even describes giving someone the correct biblical answer as a "virus."19 Perhaps it is his abandonment of absolute truth20 in fear of being labeled a modernist that leads him to reject such clear scriptural mandates. It makes his hand-waving denial of religious universalism21 ring untrue with such utter disregard for God's laws! Here, he throws out the baby of a Christian worldview with the filthy water of hubris, blaming the underlying system of faith for such shortcomings; painting thousands of years of biblical truth with the filth of western excesses. This plays exceptionally well to today's audience, but only serves to undermine the authority by which we might battle true arrogance, closed-mindedness and brutishness: Scriptural certainty (2 Pet. 1:19).Perhaps it is this insensitivity to truth that leads Elmer to use horrible exegesis when describing how the missionary is to treat the world. Elmer tends to confuse the universal body of believers in the world with the local assembly of called out saints known as the church;22 then misapplies specific commands to these local assemblies, applying them to the world instead of other Christians, as the context dictates. For instance, the exhortation to "Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you..."23 is extended to those outside of the church in his steps of the pilgrimage.24 He later goes on to express views of egalitarianism that fit the spirit of scriptural equality, but not the specific commands; as when he submits himself to the teaching of his 7 year old son,25 rather than teaching his son to obey 1 Tim. 5:1 and submit to the older men.Regardless of this fact, I will apply his exhortations to my missional technique by safeguarding my approach from all of the stereotypical vices so that the public will not automatically reject the caricature of a westerner. I will love and accept those in society which I can without breaking God's commandments, and I will try to make people feel as though they were the guest of honor at a Hollywood filming set, rather than the outcast at the bible study. I will allow as much as culture in as can be accepted without forcing it to change, but will never yield an inch on the unchangeable commands of scripture.The tragedy of this book's attack on traditional Christianity is that it robs the discerning reader of the opportunity to learn how to behave properly in foreign mission environments in order to maximize the potential to reach them. He gives an excellent illustration of a monkey, filled with good motives, which "helps" a struggling fish out of his predicament in water and brings him "safely" to dry land, where he eventually finds rest and stops striving.26Christ demonstrated how to reach a different culture when he approached the Samaritan woman. He didn't say "please, if it would seem non-paternalistic; and if it would be non-imposing; and if it doesn't demean your gender for me to ask; might I have some water pretty please with sugar on top?" He simply asked for water. Then, when she was curious about why Jesus displayed such a violation of culture (where a Jew drank with a Samaritan), he didn't apologize for decades of racism before asking her to teach him her customs; he rather teased her with the knowledge that he confidently held about her salvation and her lifestyle (John 4:9-18). He offered her prophetic truth in such "arrogant confidence" that it convinced her that He was the messiah and shared the good news with the entire village! This example of Christ's missionary work to an opposing culture stands in 180 degree opposition to the politically correct bile of Elmer.If I could ask one simple question of Elmer, it would be: "Sir, which culture in the world should we disparage and ignore? Which culture, consisting of people made in the image of God, who believe in a certain truth and a certain approach to life; a proud people who have spent centuries building up a certain way of life, and who value their foundational principles with intense passion; which people should we actively write a treatise against, and whom shall we make a public pariah of in order to prove our point?" While he would not be able to say it, due to a his false attachment to a hypocritical agreement to be non-judgmental toward other cultures; his writing certainly betrays an unhealthy hatred for western culture.In conclusion, the very complaints brought up by Elmer against westerners could be recast as coming from the mouth of Satan in the Garden: "Did that paternalistic know-it-all REALLY say you will die? Did he account for YOUR feelings? Your unique culture? Your ability to reason on your own, without his invasive paleo-colonial politics?" By abandoning the "modern" culture with its certainty of the existence of right and wrong,27 actually calling "correct knowledge" a "virus;"28 he falls prey to the deconstructionist bent of the existentialist god of this world. Where exactly did Christ call right knowledge such an offensive term? Elmer drifts into the philosophical minefield of post-modernism, where absolute truth is unknowable. It is through this arrogance of humility that he dooms any statements he makes in the book. For if knowledge is unknowable, then so too is his thesis; that we must be less western in order to win the rest of the world.What a waste and an utter shame that, in a book devoted to reaching out to differing cultures; the author cannot divorce himself from his arrogant, ivory tower leftist agenda long enough to practice what he is preaching in order to see the point of view of the patriotic westerner who genuinely wants to help the world improve its lot in life. Perhaps it is this type of attitude against westernism that helped the most pro-abortion president in the history of the nation become elected president twice as evangelicals stood idly by. Perhaps the attitude of hatred existing in the church against the capitalistic westerner has been unexamined for so long, that the Christian is now merely a useful idiot to the state? This book is a hypocritical exultation of such self-destructive folly. Elmer has expended any right upon which to confront me on any matter at all for his arrogant display of hypocrisy in this book. It should be every Christians prayer that this man repents and asks for forgiveness of his hypocrisy in order for his good words to be heard above the din.Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Servanthood, Downer's Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006

Elmer’s book convincingly argues that God's truth is one, but it is contextualized and resonates in various cultures. Based on his rich experience in the mission field and solid theological background, Elmer sheds light on why many missionaries with excellent skills in biblical exegesis and theological foundations fail in the mission field. He points out that in many cases, the cause of mission failure is not because the people in the mission field have not been “enlightened” by the gospel, as many missionaries think, but because the missionaries themselves have not been trained in how to respect the culture of the mission field and how to communicate the truth of the gospel in its cultural context. The author explains well that when missions are coerced and imposed in an imperialistic manner, the truth of the Gospel can only be diminished. Although the idea that missionaries themselves can be obstacles to the gospel may be painful for some, following Elmer's story will lead one to acknowledge that cross-cultural servanthood is not an option but a necessity in missions.

Elmer articulately writes about how to be a humble servant, especially coming from a U.S. perspective, based on his own experiences on the mission field. He provides very simple but profound biblical truths that we should all use in daily life in humility and to serve others more effectively, especially in different cultures. I personally vouch for his methods having spend a significant amount of time in other cultures learning the same lessons.

Elmer makes the case to maintain cultural awareness in every cross-cultural missionary effort. He underlines the dangers of old missionary paradigms and stresses the importance of preaching Christ instead of our our culture. Elmer stresses the importance of servanthood for meaningful and transformative proclamation. Relying on the supreme example of Christ and other biblical characters, the book shows how humility can be lived no matter our standing or circumstances.

This book challenges the traditional view of ministry, by changing the focus from what we bring to the cross-cultural relationship, to how we can serve another and listen to what they need and can give us in turn. It challenges us to live as servants because Jesus came as a servant.

Cross-cultural evangelism and pastoral care are very difficult, and there are many challenges to be faced. The language barrier is a major obstacle, so cross-cultural services require more dedication. The author Elmer not only a theorist of cross-cultural service, but also a practitioner. The experience has always motivated Christians into difficult service more than the theory.

This is written by an American who was an overseas missionary with his family. His has done a lot of research in terms of social science's findings on cross cultural communication and relationships as well as Biblical teaching on servanthood and relationships. He teaches Christians and non-faith groups on cross cultural communication. However this book is very specifically for Christians who want to be able communicate and develop relationships with people outside of your home culture. His writing style is very readable and Elmer comes over as humble in the sense that he is honest about his own mistakes and wrong attitudes.Whilst the main purpose of this book is to guide Christians in moving into relationships with people of other cultures where the new culture will be the majority culture and you will be the outsider, it also has much that is useful if you are seeking to form relationships with people of other cultures in our multi-cultural centres of our home countries and even in relationships with any others, since all of us think differently even within our own cultures.Elmer examines the various stages of developing healthy relationships using examples of each stage and looking at Biblical basis for those skills. He also offers suggestions of practial ways we can start to change our attitudes in our home culture. The six stages are openess, acceptance, trust, learning (about, from and with others), understanding and serving.Two points that stood out for me were how Elmer came to an understanding of God's general and specific grace and the way that we can learn of God even from those who do not share our faith or have no religious belief. Also towards the end of the book there is a short study on Joseph and his cross-cultural servanthood but also the mystery of God - not all that we experience is understandable now and some of it never in our lifetime - but God is part of the mystery.Given the way some Christians historically and today are seen as narrow minded and our tendancy to associate our culture with the "correct way" to do things, this is essential reading for any Christian wanting to relate to people of different backgrounds and see the amazing limitless of God in others.

Enjoyed reading this ok. Quite insightful. Though seemingly addressing the needs of church planting missionaries, the principles discussed are quite important for the development of leadership skills particularly in a cross cultural setting.

How much humility has been lacking in me - something that Duane Elmer has gently taught.A riveting, interesting book with lots of examples in many contexts. Encouraging.

This book has great insight to get you really thinking about issues in cross-cultural ministry and how to prevent them. All in all, it is about humility. You are not a servant unless the local people see you as one, and that means taking the time to learn what serving is in their culture and to their heart. So critical to success!

Like this book because it did a great job explaining cross-cultural servant hood. There are not a lot of books about this topic so I appreciated the read.