2. Post it: Garden gnome versus pickup
What`s up now? I think there`s already a big bridge between the American and the German culture. Everybody knows a little bit about the other side. But also both ends have their own funny, interesting and sometimes paradoxical ways of thinking. There`s a lot to talk about. I get the chance to experience for the next 5 month a new environment here in Kennett Square (small town very close to Philadelphia). But I`m fairly interested in your opinion. We are a part of a world, which is getting closer and closer. What is your perspective about the role of church into an international Context of a postmodern world? What would you change if you got chance to do it?
Do you think that are to big issues to talk about? You are right. We also have to speak about very normal stuff like why the Americans don`t have good jogging paths in their beautiful forests, and why they drive big cars if they always drive slowly? Are Germans really narrow minded and do they like to have garden gnomes in the front of their house?
What would you change if you got the chance to do it - a big question Jan. I would love it if every American Christian could go on a missions outreach to a country in Asia, Africa or South America. Doing this not as a tourist, but as a servant would contribute to changing our global view of how God's Kingdom grows beyond the borders of the United States.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The experience of living in a foreign culture is very different from simply visiting as a tourist. It`s the DNA of christian faith: One god for all people - from the beginning, the christian view is a global view. Have you ever gone to another country to serve or stayed for a longer time?
ReplyDeleteI have had the opportunity to serve Christ outside the United States, twice in Belgium, once each in India and Brazil.
ReplyDeleteI do want to make a slight correction to my post of February 5...I did not mean to omit Europe from the list of continents that can impact the growth of one's personal faith.
In fact, the International Community Church in Gent, Belgium, is a good example of a vibrant church growing in the postmodern world.
The struggles that Christians face (and I am sure you can testify to this, Jan, of being a Christian in western Europe where so many people see so little need to have a faith in God) are every bit as challenging as they are for Christians in any other part of the world.
I look forward to hearing your heart for the Gospel, in more detail.