Category / Communication

by johnkking

Contextualization and Post-Modernity

Recently a friend tweeted the following link to a brief overview of critical transitions that need to happen in the life of an individual as he/she is discipled from being a “skeptic” into a “world changer”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep8XM5IFWsI

As I dialogued with my friend regarding the video, I pointed out that it is very “Western” and “individualistic,” especially in Choung’s discussion of the “skeptic” needing to “trust” a Christian to be able to transition into a “seeker.” I also raised the issue that Choung does not seem to have any familiarity with the concept of God raising up a person of peace who could serve as a bridge into his family and/or her community.

Today I did some searching on Choung’s website and found the following blog which contains the video mentioned above:

Real Life Continuum video which explains the basic model of the book is also out! http://www.jameschoung.net/2012/11/22/real-life-in-print/

It also links to an earlier video, “True Story,” that uses four circles to help visualize what needs to happen in coming to Christ. Later Choung writes about these two videos showing these charts being drawn and their connected books, “True Story and Real Life actually share a common lineage: they are popularized versions of first and second halves of my dissertation on postmodern leadership development. True Story gave the theological ground for Real Life’s disciple-making model.

Please note the very specific context of his dissertation—postmodern leadership development. What happens if you attempt to use his approach in a pre-modern setting? What about a modern setting? I will be exploring these questions as a means of getting Western thinkers to reconsider exporting our strategies cross-culturally without carefully exploring our own presuppositions.

by johnkking

DBS Helps Cross-cultural Communications

Cross-cultural communication is a challenge at best! Just ask wives and husbands how many times they realized their spouse did not hear what they intended to communicate.

In every cross-cultural conversation there is a sender and a receiver. The sender uploads what she/he intends to communicate, but their message is always encoded from within their cultural context (yes, this more closely approximates that of the receiver the more fluent their language skills are). Then the receiver downloads the message and filters it through his/her ethno-linguistic cultural grid. But the process is also impacted by “noise.”

The only way to assess what is understood is to ask for feedback. “What did you understand me to just say?” is a great way to seek clarity. When this person shares what they heard, then you can attempt to overcome the effects of noise and the differences in the ways we utilize words/phrases cross-culturally.

One of the great beauties of Discovery Bible Studies (when the stories are being heard in the heart tongue) is the passage is not being explored cross-culturally. Yes, I know that Scriptures were written from within and for other cultures (e.g., pre-exilic Hebrew, post-exilic Hebrew, 1st century Judeo-Christian, 1st century Gentile Christian, etc.) but it is not going through the additional cultural grid of the cross-cultural missionary.

The Word of God illuminated by the Spirit of God is enough to produce the people of God!

by johnkking

How Foolish?

In his Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry popularized the aphorism, “None so blind as those that will not see.” No, this exact statement is not found in scriptures, but it certainly is consistent with Jesus’ explanation for why he used parables (Matthew 13:13).

The problem with blind spots is we often do not know we have them—we are blind to our blind spots. The sign at the top of this page well illustrates such dullness. But before we become too haughty toward the originators, many spiritual teachers need to ponder the issue of literacy.

Can the illiterate people in your community easily come to know God through your ministry? Has your ministry style been shaped more by the printing press than by the heard Word? Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

A missionary friend in Equador recently shared, “Given that over half of the people we are ministering to here cannot read, I have noticed that their ‘groomed nature’ is not of being able to retain what they are learning by memorizing from not only themselves not reading, but when others are merely reading Scriptures, etc. However, when they hear a story, they remember it down to the tiniest detail. That speaks to my heart and shows me a fruitful way to minister to them by storytelling—reading some Scripture verses and incorporate a Biblical story that brings to life the concept or set of verses being taught. That’s one of the many wonderful things about Jesus! He doesn’t limit ways in which we can share Him!”

Make sure your teaching method does not require people to do what is actually impossible for them to accomplish. The Word was accessible to the illiterate long before the printing press was invented! Also, I encourage you to remember that three-fourths it was recorded in narrative format. God knows what He is doing! Let’s imitate Him!

by johnkking

Still Learning My Way Around

Recently I was encouraged to put an index to some of my more useful blog posts, on this site. I have placed links to similar posts within posts, but I was not sure how to accomplish what was requested.

After I got on my site the next time I decided to check out the “Categories” and the “Tags” links (if you put your cursor over the words that follow either of these two, you will find they change color, meaning if you click on one you will be provided every entry that deals with a specific category, or every one that mentions the tagged topic. So the categories is sort of like a topical table of contents and the tagged words are sort of thematic indexes. This is what you get when you read the blog of a novice–I keep learning more of the features that are built into this blog format.

If you go to the top of this article you will see that just below the title, “Still Learning My Way Around,” there is a box that has “Category:” followed by several items like, “Bible Studies, Communication, Community Development, etc.” Click on any of those and you will get all of the posts I have grouped under than category.

In that same box, just below “Categories” is the option of “Tags:” which is followed by words like “Discovery Bible Studies.” If you click on that you will get the 10-11 articles that mention these.

Hopefully this is old news to most of you. But just in case you are still sort of new to this whole blogging scene (like I obviously am), I want to be sure you know how to use this feature. While I listed all the categories, I only gave you a few of the tags since there are more than 40 of them.

Let me know if any of these posts prompt questions. Some of my best writing happens when people ask good questions.

by johnkking

Insider Language

Recently a friend wisely pointed out that I use a lot of “insider language” in my writings. The problem with such is not everyone is an insider—they do not share the connotations I/we attach to the words, phrases and acronyms. For some that is a put-off. For others it is a challenge. For most it does not really matter, because they are not interested, yet.

I am going to take my friend’s observation to heart and attempt to do a better job defining the terms I use. When I wrote my thesis for my Masters Degree the first section had to be definitions of terms as I would use them in the paper. Beginning with this section allowed readers to grasp the meaning I intended. While they might not choose to use those words in exactly the same way, they at least had the opportunity to be aware of my perceptions.

When I am reading an article I try to assess what the author means when it appears s/he is using language in a specialized way. I remember hearing my dad and uncle talking insurance business lingo when I was a kid. It was obvious they had shared meanings they attached to their “code” words, phrases and acronyms. Most of the time I was glad they did not explain it to me because I was already hearing more than I wanted to know. Besides, I could always ask if I was curious.

But later in life I was appointed to serve on a community health task force because of my involvement with a local emergency shelter for homeless people. More than eighty-percent of the members were from the public health field and I really felt like a fish on dry land. They spread their “insider language” on thick. It appeared their assumption was that anyone on this task force would already speak the language. After hanging on several months I resigned because I realized I did not have any desire to learn a new culture or language.

I am thankful for readers of my blog who ask questions! Your boldness in speaking up reveals an interest in understanding. (The fact that you have to write them out and wait for my response is a high compliment.) It would be easier to “blow-off” the whole matter and say, “Much learning has driven you crazy, John!” Thanks for sticking with me (if you have wondered about some of my “insider language” I would love for you to let me know so I am more aware of what needs to be explained).

Insider language develops as a form of short-hand for people who work in the same field (just think about the computer lingo you have learned over the last twenty years). When you first encounter the new field it sounds like a foreign language. Once again you either take the plunge to learn the short-hand, or you do not. But ultimately, you learn enough to be functional if you must become proficient.

Are you focusing on the interested or the late adopters? Are you charged with rapidly training the early wave who ask lots of questions or are you responsible to educate those who are involved because of their support  and interest in you or another participant? Choices about the use of “insider language” should probably hinge on the audience. But it takes wisdom to make good decisions, and it often takes good friends who will point out your blind spots to you (thanks, Jerry).

Interestingly, the original disciples puzzled over some of Jesus’ choices in this matter. He deliberately used parables that restricted some people from grasping his meaning, while he explained these matters to the disciples— when they asked (Matthew 13:1ff). Maybe there are times when we should use “insider language.” What do you think?