OPPOSITES ATTRACT

This has been kind of a whirlwind summer for Lyn and me. VBS was followed by Solid Rock Church Camp. Then we left for the 4-C Family Conference (with David and Sandy) in Iowa. As soon as we got back from that, we were switching our suitcases to head over to Hungary to witness our daughter getting married. Weddings are always wonderful occasions, filled with beauty and pageantry. This one was even more, because of all the different traditions. Since the happy couple is also planning an American wedding (September 12, and you are invited) reflecting American traditions, they made the first ceremony truly Hungarian. Translators made it possible for us to follow along. The reception lasted till 3am, and included a “second supper” after midnight! The food was quite different – even the cake – but very delicious.

As a father, I can see that Meg and Gabor have some challenges ahead of them. Cultural differences usually pop up in surprising little things. Things that you assume “everyone knows this.” Like how to celebrate birthdays, for instance. Or how to paint a room, or how to raise kids.

In a sense, all marriages are somewhat cross-cultural, since “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.” Yes, men and women are wired differently in many ways. It is curious that God chose to design a world where opposites attract. And though those “opposites” can create a lot of tension in a marriage, they also give it strength and vitality.

One of the strange things about Culture is that it largely operates behind the scenes. We do not hear the accent in our own voice. People from the South or from Minnesota have accents, not us. People from England have really strong accents, but we talk plain English.

It is hard for us to realize how much our Culture affects our religion. The great missionary statesman, Dr. Ralph Winter, always urged his students to be aware of how their own culture influenced their understanding of the Bible. Our upbringing shapes how we interpret the Word. It determines which verses we read, and persuades how we obey.

That is why we need the church. It protects us from getting lost in our own narrow views. And that is why it is so healthy for us to have a wide network of relationships. Even though I am fully committed and fully invested in Whetstone Church, I make it a point to have friends who are Baptist and Methodist and Lutheran and Assembly of God and Independent.

And that is one of the big values in taking missions trips. Traveling outside our culture helps us to see our own culture in a clearer light. It has helped me to see that God is far bigger than my preconceived notions. When I see the power of the Gospel transforming lives in India, I know without a doubt that we follow the one True God!

Talk about “opposites attract” – how is it possible that the infinite holy God could be attracted to me? When the Body of Christ becomes the Bride of Christ, that will be the most cross-cultural marriage ever! But oh what a day that will be.