Lausanne World Pulse – Reaching Families from Different Religious Traditions
By Tuvya Zaretsky
These five challenges give us a better appreciation for the cultural experience of Jewish-Gentile couples and their families. They are most likely cultural universals at least for couples in the United States. With this knowledge, we are better prepared to think about appropriate evangelistic ministry to couples and families from different religious traditions.
Some Practical Approaches
In spite of Jewish reaction against the gospel, salvation in Jesus is the only hope of reconciliation with God and eternal life. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life for everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike (John 14:6). If Jesus is not the Messiah for the Jewish people then neither is he the Christ for the nations. The only hope for genuine spiritual harmony for Jewish-Gentile couples is when each partner comes to repentance and finds salvation in the Messiah Jesus. Below are some things to consider when being a good witness for Christ with couples and families of different religious traditions:
1. Be a good listener. Missiologist Donald K. Smith has said that all communication is cross-cultural. Many of the challenges between Jewish-Gentile couples are the result of different cultural expectations, missed signals and misperceptions. Therefore, Christians who care to minister the gospel among Jewish-Gentile couples should train to become good listeners and to serve as cross-cultural translators.
Before we earn the right to speak, we need to listen and to learn the cultures of the partners from two different religious traditions. This holistic approach to evangelism allows us to fulfill the Great Commission while engaged in the greatest commandment, expressing the love of Christ. We love people by listening to them and learning their culture. In that process, we can effectively apply gospel truth in language that matters to them.
2. Include a strong spiritual mentor. Other Jewish-Gentile couples who have become Christians are suited to do this. They understand the dual culture environment and the possibility for spiritual harmony. Gentile Christians have a wonderful capacity to learn the cultural differences of intermarriage partners.
Community is important to this process. Partners feel isolated from respective communities. Therefore, churches and Messianic congregations of Jewish believers should be intentional about reaching Jewish-Gentile couples. They should train cross-cultural spiritual mentors to help create understanding between partners from different traditions. Congregational mentors can help couples comprehend spiritual truth in the midst of a welcoming community.
3. Have workers trained in family unit ministry. Missions, like congregations, should be training workers specialized in ministry to family units for reaching couples from different religious traditions and their children. This can be done in small groups or by couple-to-couple mentor relationships. I recommend three areas in focusing on ministry to family units.
a. Establish definitions for the cross-cultural conversation. Help partners from different religious traditions comprehend the cultural terminology of their partner. For example, Gentiles often miss that their Jewish partner uses the word “Christian” as a synonym for “Gentile.” And many Christians assume that the term “Jewish” is synonymous with the religion known as “Judaism.” So, start by establishing meanings for unique cultural terms for communication.
b. Provide biblical answers for the challenges that the partners experience. Describe God’s design for marriage and the family (Genesis 1:27; 2:22-24). Reinforce God’s intent in the covenant of marriage (Matthew 19:4-6). Help marriage partners see their responsibilities to one another (Ephesians 5:21-33). A discussion about God’s expectations should include the impact of sin on each person’s relationship with God. The hope of reconciliation with God follows in Christ’s atonement. Repentance and reconciliation with God can lead to interpersonal changes that resolve many cross-cultural tensions between marriage partners.
c. Extend gospel ministry specifically for their children. Mature couples who have raised children of their own can provide spiritual advice about child rearing. We need to help parents nurture spiritual formation in their children. Kids’ Bible clubs can communicate spiritual content along with rich ethnic traditions and spiritual heritage. Ancient Israelite parents were told to tell the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done in each generation (Psalm 78:4). The intent was to lead children to put their trust in God.
Pages: ALL Prev 1 2 3 4 Next