We're back to the drinking fountain...

We’ve been able to sit in on a class (Acts, the Church, and Culture) back at the seminary this fall. It’s been so nice to be able to listen to our favorite professor (Mark Young) without the pressure of class requirements, and without the stress of three other classes alongside the one! As usual for his classes, we are challenged every single week in one way, or ten!
This past Thursday as we discussed the actions of Peter and John in Acts 3, and the reaction of the leaders in Acts 4, I was enabled to understand both my own and first century Palestinian culture better, and I was a little embarrased to realize how much I had been reading Americanism into that and other New Testament stories.
We reflected on how Peter and John challenged the existing social, political, and economic structures that were in place in a way I had never imagined – and yet they did so not to be anti-establishment, not just to rock the boat, but for the benefit of the reputation of Jesus Christ!
In any culture, the Gospel challenges the existing social, political, and economic structures at certain points. Yet if I don't understand and evaluate them and my own culture carefully, I won't know if it is actually the Gospel or only my Americanism that knocks against a particular thing. As I sat in class on Thursday, I was humbled by my lack of ability to present the gospel in a relevant way, my inadequate understanding of the culture we desire to serve in, my clumsiness in communicating clearly. As we expect to make a significant cross-cultural move, I am realizing how much I will need to lay aside my expectations for "how things work," how social interactions ought to go, my responsibility to those in authority, understanding the difference between an insult and a compliment. All of these things and thousands more will require "re-learning" and I must admit, I'm a bit daunted by the task. Yet I have learned (as the mother of twins!) that God gives you the grace for what He gives you! He has given us a passion and desire to return overseas to love and serve the people there, I mustn't doubt that He will provide the grace to follow that call.
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me!