July 26, 2023
What if we are all experiencing culture shock?
Culture shock (n): the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.
We, Evangelical Americans, may rail against the culture we lived in in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, but some of us reaped the rewards whether we recognize it or not: We could speak more freely about our faith, expect general Christian morality even in public schools, and it seemed most Americans agreed with Christians about the definition of marriage or what it means to be male or female.
Did we speak about marriage/gender/things of faith as winsomely as possible in decades past?
Absolutely not.
But some of us benefited from the culture in which Christians lived all the same.
But that cultural era is gone. What remains? “Symptoms of culture shock include loneliness, anger, and anxiety,” said intercultural communications expert, Scott Moreau (Effective Intercultural Communication 2013, 217).
(Do those emotions sound familiar?)
“For some the experience [of culture shock] is barely noticeable; for others it is so debilitating that they end up leaving the new culture and returning home,” Moreau added.
Many of us are “returning home”—but our one-way flight back takes us not to our newly unfamiliar home country, but to our hyper-niche tribes. Without the Spirit’s power, we have trouble engaging people who differ even slightly in their theological beliefs in order to quell our culture shock symptoms.
The problem with this response is that it is…well, fruit of the sinful nature. “The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear… It stirs up trouble. It separates people into their own little groups.” (Gal. 5:19-20 NIRV)
Gulp.
Yes: We need to stand on Truth. But the way many of us hold that truth while hiding from or yelling at people tells me we are letting our culture shock speak more than the Spirit.
So, how do we adjust? Renowned cultural patterns researcher, Robert Kohls, recommended a few things (in 1976, mind you). I adjusted his thoughts into biblically related recommendations:
- “The first thing to do is to pursue knowing your host country and culture as well as you can.” Translated? Let’s get curious about what we don’t understand. Learning can lead to genuine love for our enemies.
- “Look for logical reasons behind everything in the host culture which seems strange, difficult, confusing, or threatening.” Let’s ask God for His heart for people we don’t understand.
- “Avoid the temptation to disparage or otherwise talk negatively about your host culture.” Let’s first take our pain to God (not the internet), forgive those who have hurt us, and ask forgiveness of those we have injured.
- “Find a host national with whom you can talk about what you have experienced.” We need to process with others who love Jesus and have adjusted more to this new era of the world.
- “Have faith in yourself and in essential goodwill of your hosts.” I don’t have too much faith in myself or my host country, but I have faith in God who can make people out of dust and make light shine in the darkness. Let’s trust that He will never fail us nor abandon us.
Our current world is not our home, and God is using our culture shock to remind us of this reality.
Instead of giving up or hyper-tribalizing, however, let’s learn, grieve, forgive, and then roll up our sleeves and make disciples—yes, even (and especially) now.
