Acculturation

As we previously discussed, enculturation is the process of learning our own culture beginning at birth, and this indoctrination is done both formally and by our own observation. In order to effectively communicate with people that are light-years apart culturally, we must become acculturated, or learn their culture as an outsider. This involves living among the receptor people, building relationships, and becoming entirely reoriented in our thoughts, words, and actions. We naturally feel that our culture, whatever that may be and whoever we are, is superior to other cultures. We must die to this pride, and become very willing learners in the host culture in order that we may communicate to others and get them saved.

In a great sense, we must become one of the people with whom we wish to communicate. Jesus Christ himself became a human being “and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He went through the human experience, beginning with birth, “yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Being God, he knew all things, but with his life on earth he greatly communicated deep truths to us that he would not have been able to do otherwise. With his life and death, he showed us what love looks like. His Passion was very much atoning in nature, but it also speaks volumes to this love he has for us.