Cultural Respect - Utah Devotional (March 23)
Cultural sensitivity is vital to the effectiveness of our mission trip. Whether you are in Cedar City or halfway across the world, the culture you are stepping into will always be different from your own. Culture is deeper than we often realize, but it can be helpful to think about three influences that shape people: family background, environment, and spiritual influence.
Family Background represents where you come from. Every one of us grew up within some kind of family structure. Regardless of who raised you or what your family dynamics looked like, your family has shaped who you are today. For example, I come from a Hispanic family. That background has influenced how I see the world. In many Hispanic homes there is a strong emphasis on community over individualism. Family members show up for one another. There is a deep sense of loyalty and belonging. There is also often a strong desire to bring honor to the family and do things well. Whether you realize it or not, your own family has shaped you, too. The way you communicate, respond to conflict, and think about responsibility has likely been influenced by your family background.
Second, there is our environment, or the place where you grew up. For many of us, that place is Newberg, Oregon. Newberg is an interesting town. It is close enough to Portland that you feel the influence of a larger city, yet it is separate enough to maintain a small-town culture. Because of that, there is a strong sense of community. There are over forty churches in Newberg, though many exist because of theological splits over time. On top of that, Newberg loves its activities and sports. Because the town is small, people show up and support what others are doing. Games, performances, and school events often feel like community gatherings. So in many ways, growing up in Newberg shapes people who are community-oriented, familiar with church culture, and influenced by nearby city life.
Finally, there is spiritual influence. My hope and prayer is that the Holy Spirit is the one ruling your heart. But the reality is that every person is spiritually influenced by something. The spiritual authority someone submits to ultimately shapes the direction of their life. For example, being Hispanic and Christian makes me very different from a cousin of mine who is Hispanic but practices Wicca. We share similar roots and similar roads growing up, yet the spiritual influence of our lives has led us in completely different directions.
I share all of this to help you see something important: the way people grow up deeply affects how they see the world. Think about the average Latter-day Saint. Many grow up in tight-knit families with strong moral values. They often live in safe, orderly towns in Utah where a large percentage of people believe the same things they do. In some areas, nearly sixty percent of the people around them belong to the same church. For many of you, that experience may feel very different from your own. So when you begin conversations with people who come from a different background than you, the question becomes this: How do you share the beauty of the gospel in a way they can truly hear?
Thankfully, God does not leave us guessing. In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul arrives in Athens and begins speaking at the Areopagus, the center for religious and philosophical discussion in the city. It was surrounded by temples and altars dedicated to many Greek gods. Standing in that environment, Paul does something remarkable. He observes the culture around him and uses it as a bridge to talk about the one true God. He even begins by referencing an altar dedicated “to an unknown god.” From there, he explains the truth about the Creator. Paul meets them right where they are.
That example matters for us this week. Today is our second day in Cedar City, and we will be stepping into conversations with people whose family background, environments, and spiritual influences may look very different from our own. So how do we approach those conversations well?
Here are three practices that will guide us this week:
Be Humble – God calls us to die to our pride. Our job is not to win arguments or prove people wrong. Our job is to listen well and speak life. When we ask good questions and truly listen, we begin to understand what someone actually believes and why. And when we understand that, we can share the gospel in ways that connect with their hearts. Humility grows when we remember our own need for the gospel. When you spend time with God and remind yourself daily of His grace, you realize you are not above anyone else—you are simply someone who has been rescued by Jesus. And when that humility shapes your heart, the gospel naturally flows out of your conversations.
Be Loving – Everything we do on this trip should be marked by love. Loving people often means laying down our expectations. Plans may change. Conversations may take longer than expected. But when we slow down and trust the Lord’s timing, we begin to focus less on our schedule and more on the people in front of us. When our hearts are truly broken in love, we become less concerned with what we hoped the day would look like and more concerned with serving others however they need. Love shifts our posture from accomplishing tasks to caring for people.
Be Teachable – You may experience some culture shock this week. Even though the people of Cedar City are Americans, their worldview may be very different from what you are used to in Newberg. Nearly everyone in this area has been influenced by the LDS Church in some way. Because of that, you may see spiritual confusion in ways you have never seen before. Instead of responding with assumptions, approach this week with a posture of learning. Every person you meet will have a unique story. Their experiences with faith, family, and the church will all be different. Ask questions. Listen carefully. Pay attention. When we remain teachable, we grow in our ability to love people well and share the gospel clearly.
Today we will begin conversations with LDS leaders. As we do, remember these three things: be humble, be loving, and be teachable. We have studied a lot about LDS beliefs, but what we have not fully seen yet is how those beliefs play out in individual lives. The leaders we meet represent what the religion teaches publicly, but each person we interact with this week will have their own story.
Listening well is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone. When people feel heard, they feel valued. And listening to someone’s story allows you to practice something Jesus modeled perfectly—incarnational ministry. Instead of standing above someone as if you know everything, you step into their world and walk with them. That is how Jesus loved people.
So as you walk into conversations this week, remember Paul walking into Athens. He knew the people around him believed many different things, yet he observed carefully and met them where they were. And through that posture, he faithfully shared the truth of the gospel. So as you interact with people this week, remember this: Everyone comes from a different background, environment and influence than you. Meet them where they are.
And as you do, be humble, be loving, and be teachable that you may lead to them to see the beauty of the gospel.
Suggested Prayer:
God, give us eyes to see people the way You see them. Help us to listen well, to understand before we speak, and to love without assumptions. Teach us to engage culture with grace and truth. Use us to reflect Jesus in both our words and our posture. Amen.
Questions To Ponder:
Individual Reflection :
What are some “beliefs” or values in your hometown culture that shape how people think about God?
Where have you seen people searching for meaning or identity, even if they don’t know Jesus?
Group Questions:
What did Paul do well in understanding the culture before sharing the gospel?
Why is it important to listen and observe before we speak about Jesus?
How can understanding someone’s background help us share the gospel more clearly and lovingly?