right? wrong? or just plain different?

This probably one of the most valuable lessons I have learned so far on this trip. When entering a completely new culture, the instant mindset is to compare our culture with the host culture. In this frame of mind the constant thought process that is used is that the way the people do something is right or wrong because it is not the way that they are used to. However, during orientation Deborah challenged us to think in a different way. Instead of seeing their way of life as wrong, see it as different. With mindset the way you view the host culture is brought into a whole new light. You can begin to see the differences and value the way they do things. And you can learn from them. You can begin to ask questions and start learning how and why they do things the way they do. You have to realize that the way they do things isn’t necessarily wrong, it’s just different. Just because someone does something differently than the way you do, doesn’t mean that it is wrong. This even happens within the culture, even within the States. Not everyone does everything the same. Not everyone has the same Christmas or Thanksgiving traditions and not everyone prepares food the same way as your momma did. It’s not that it’s wrong but that it’s just different. To determine if something is wrong or different, the Bible is the authority. You have to use the Bible to back up what you are calling wrong because it could be that it’s just different and there is nothing wrong with it. Looking at the culture from this point of view is so crucial when interacting with the people. It creates a whole new level of respect for the culture and it also helps you to be on guard with what you say. Instead of criticizing their culture and calling it “stupid” or “dumb” and completely destroying the relationship with the people, you can say “Well that’s different” or “That’s new” or “Woah! I’ve never seen that before!” or “I’ve never thought about doing it that way.” You never realize the damage that your expressions can do on a relationship. When you act like it is wrong and completely unacceptable, why would someone want to interact with you? Instead of being critical of their way of life, you accept it for what it is…different. And it can actually flourish the relationship because the people will see that you are accepting to their way of life and are willing to learn and be around them. It is showing them Christ. Christ is accepting. Christ is understanding. And He accepts people just as they are and appreciates all of our differences. I mean after all, He created us that way.