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A stroll through a Singapore shopping center several years ago took me past a familiar sight-a Pizza Hut-wearing a decidedly unfamiliar face-a large banner proudly advertising curried mutton pizza. As anyone who has traveled can attest, Pizza Hut is ubiquitous throughout the world-but never the same anywhere you find it.

Even McDonald’s, the symbol of globalization, and certainly a primary target of globalization’s foes, is not as uniform as many people seem to think. Sure, the Big Mac in Vienna tastes pretty much the same as the Big Mac in Farmington, Michigan, but would the Farmington McDonald’s consider offering fried cheese sticks and beer, both standard menu items in Vienna? Or, if you want to find out whether McDonald’s is really the same all over the world, try asking for a free Coke refill in Baden, Austria. Even McDonald’s adapts.

The globalization of the gospel began 2,000 years ago with Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Yet, though the truth of the gospel stays the same, its face has often varied. In his eagerness to preach the gospel and to make disciples Paul said he was willing to be all things to all people. His ministry in Philippi began among praying women on the banks of the local river, while in Athens he joined the orators at the Aeropagus to proclaim the “unknown God.”

Even today, when globalization has spread values from one culture to another, the issues that matter vary from one region to another and from one people group to another. On the same visit to Singapore several years ago when I swiftly bypassed the curried mutton pizza, I found myself the following Sunday in a class for new, primarily young, believers in a large church. The issue under heated discussion was one to which I, a seasoned believer of more than 20 years, had never given a moment’s thought.

How does the Bible’s command of obedience to parents fit with Paul’s admonition not to knowingly eat food offered to idols? In other words, how does a young believer handle the situation when a pious mother following Chinese tradition offers lunch to the household idol before setting it before the family?

It’s a question I haven’t had to consider as a missionary in Austria, where a larger concern is whether a new believer must leave the Roman Catholic church before joining an independent church. Although hardly any Austrian actually joins the Roman Catholic church (being born to a Roman Catholic family automatically results in church membership), formally leaving the church is a significant step requiring a visit to a government office to sign papers renouncing membership. The result is often a painful visit from an offended local priest and the disapproval of or even rejection by family members, none of whom may actually be faithful church goers.

The gospel may have gone global, but everywhere it has a local face, local dress and local concerns. And that is part of what makes being a world Christian so interesting, sometimes frustrating, but yes, even fun!

When Christ comes for his bride, I suppose the wedding dress will be colorful, made up of the hues and textures represented by his multi-national bride. And when we join the biggest worship gathering of all time at the end of the age we’ll sing praise to the Lamb with worshippers from every nation, tribe and tongue.

We were never meant to be uniform, cookie-cutter Christians. We don’t all have to eat curried mutton pizza or engage in theological discussion regarding food offered to idols. But, we can admire the multi-colored gown of Christ’s bride, respect those whose hue is different from ours and proudly reflect the unique texture that we contribute. After all, it was God himself who at Babel first said, “Viva la Difference!”

Sharon Mumper directs the Magazine Training Institute, Baden, Austria. Formerly she was managing editor of World Pulse and associate director of Evangelical Missions Information Service, Wheaton, Ill.

February 8, 2002