A Task

One of our main “tasks” in these first months is to learn as much as we can about UCF’s culture, Uganda’s culture, and how transformation happens here. The learning curve is steep. But we are working on it and trying to make as many observations as we can. I really feel this learning curve when I am asked to teach on a biblical passage or asked to give counsel to someone. Its hard to speak into someone’s life when you don’t really understand fully how they live their lives. Now, yes, there are definite similarities in the general things of life (eating, sleeping, talking, making friendships, etc.) but there are definite differences to try and understand. I like to visualize what I am thinking (hence why I want a whiteboard everywhere I go) about all of these similarities and differences. So, bear with me, but here is a chart of how I presently think Biblical study and cultural differences fit together. I am sure this will change in time but its a start….

Levels of              Examples
Application

General                Love your wife, care for people, 

                            thoughtfulness, worship, 

                            work hard, remember the Lord 

Specific               Give your wife a gift, memorize a passage in the Bible

Personal              Give your wife a drink from Starbucks on Tuesday, 

                           Meet with your friend to see how his job is going, 

                           confess to the person that you have hurt.

A couple of observations about this.

First, As you get more specific in application, you will find less and less in Scripture (i.e. you won’t find much in the Bible that talks about how to date in honor of the Lord). You will also find that you have to know more of the culture to help people with specific application.

Second, the Bible is amazingly multicultural and uni-cultural at the same time. multicultural in the sense that any culture can read it and understand it and it will speak into their lives. The Holy Spirit is the author of it and will use it in the hearts of all believers no matter where they are in the world or what language they speak. It speaks at the universal level, where all mankind can identify. But its also uni-cultural. It speaks to a particular group of people at a particular time in history, seeking to shape that particular culture into the culture of the kingdom of God. And so the church is miraculously diverse, but unified as one. There is unity within diversity, which of course reflects the triune God we serve.

Third, Sarah and I have to think hard about application of Biblical principles to the everyday life of people here. What does it look like to love your neighbor here? What does wisdom look like here? How are people supposed to handle their money? How does what the Bible says relate to personal health? What are the real ways in which people need to reflect Christ to the lost? How are they supposed to date?

We have much to learn and its hard to teach and counsel when you don’t have a grasp of specific application.

Fortunately, we are not alone. In, John 14:15-31, Jesus promises to send us the Holy Spirit. He indeed is our helper and we feel his presence in our lives. We rest totally and completely in this. We are trying to listen to his leading every moment of the day. Its difficult to be in a place of complete dependency like this. But its good and its part of the deep work of God going on in our hearts. He wrote down the general principles in the Bible and then works in the world to bring about specific cultural change.

We know that you all are praying for this learning process and the work of the Spirit. He is working in response to your praying. Let this post give you a glimpse of that.  And so, thanks for all of your love and prayers and support! They are pushing is along!