3 Lessons from Scripture for Cross-Cultural Workers
1. Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Jesus’ words speak directly to any anxiety you may be feeling in life. This includes the loneliness, discouragement, and isolation you may experience as a cross-cultural worker preparing to leave your home or finding your feet in a new home. Jesus provides a reminder that His Father is faithful not only to provide for your basic needs like food, water, and clothing but also to address every other need. This includes your need to be known and loved. When crossing cultural boundaries, it is not uncommon to feel like you are on the outside looking in. Perhaps you feel like the “foreigner” that will never truly be accepted. As much as you may want to feel right at home immediately, it is completely normal for this process to take time. Be careful not to mistake your impatience for God’s unfaithfulness.
Note that Jesus uses the action verb “seek” to explain our part in all of this. While God does and will provide for all of your needs, cross-cultural workers must fight against the urge to passively wait for God’s provision. You may ask, “How can I swim against the current of passivity?” After all, it is much easier to be passive than to take action. Here is what I would encourage you to do: Actively pursue community, vigorously love others, openly rejoice with those who are rejoicing, lament with those who are experiencing sorrow, and fulfill your calling by boldly proclaiming Christ. Some of these things might be outside your comfort zone (they may even feel impossible), but God is faithful to meet you in the unknown.
2. Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Remember, as a cross-cultural worker, your mission is to love people and share the Gospel with them, not to save them. There is this tendency for missionaries to utilize converted souls as the primary metric for success during their time on the field. This is a common way to view time spent on the field because it is easily quantifiable. The problem with thinking about “success” this way is twofold.
First, love becomes a non-factor. In Philippians 1:15-18, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that people can indeed share the Gospel out of envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition. Love, on the other hand, does not boast, is not proud, and is not self-seeking (1 Cor 13:4-5). Without love, any “self-sacrificial” action (yes, even preaching Christ) can easily become a source of sinful pride.
Second, as mentioned previously, saving people should not be the motivation for moving to the mission field. The saving of souls can only be accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit. Taking on that responsibility for yourself can lead to two issues. The first issue is disappointment when you do not see “success”, measured purely by converts. The second issue is boastfulness when you see an abundance of “success”. As a missionary, exposing people to the love of Christ is the mission.
3. Romans 12:12-16
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Life as a cross-cultural worker can be rewarding, but it is not easy. And like most people, patience and joy may not typically be the first two words you associate with tribulation. However, we can rejoice and be patient in hardship because God has promised to care for us, just like he does the sparrows and the lilies.
Remember, Paul is writing as a missionary himself. While ministering in Greece, Asia Minor, and Syria, he experienced anguish beyond what most of us can comprehend. Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned. Yet, he was able to live out his instruction to the Roman church; that is, to be patient in tribulation. Paul plainly tells them how to do this. He divulges his big ‘secret’, which is this - Hold steadfastly to your hope in Christ and your relationship with Christ. This often means trust-falling into God’s plan even when our shortsighted eyes cannot see the way forward. Because we cannot know the future, remembrance is a powerful way to lean into God’s faithfulness during tribulation. When you find yourself sitting in the chaotic rubble of your current circumstances, intentionally take time to look back at all of the carefully stacked Ebenezers that point to God’s unwavering faithfulness.
Cross-cultural workers can often travel to the mission field and quickly become so overwhelmed that they forget why they are there or neglect their personal time with Christ. As one of the church’s first missionaries to be sent out, Paul understands that prioritizing your personal relationship with Christ is the key to being an effective witness. Tribulation is inevitable as a follower of Christ and can be especially daunting in a foreign context as a cross-cultural worker. Sadly, it is often the most important rhythms that take the back seat when chaos ensues. Remember to keep your hope in Christ at the forefront and tend to your relationship with Jesus through constant prayer.
*ESV translation used for all Scripture references