Episode Summary:
In this bonus episode of Jesus and Jet Lag, Matthew Doebler and Mike Hartman tackle the theme of “Culture Clash” through the lens of Acts 15. They explore the pivotal Council of Jerusalem, where the early church faced a “sharp dispute” over circumcision and the inclusion of Gentiles. The hosts discuss how these ancient tensions mirror modern missionary challenges—from navigating direct vs. indirect communication styles to the unexpected surprises of cross-cultural worship (like pink communion wafers!).
Key Topics Discussed:
The “Stasis” of Acts 15: Understanding the “no little dissension” that threatened to divide the early church and why this chapter is the theological heart of the book of Acts.
The Yoke of the Law: Peter’s defense of grace and the realization that the Gentile believers should not be burdened by a yoke they cannot bear.
Luke’s Narrative Style: How Luke “walks quietly” through the text, offering a model of unassuming observation for cross-cultural workers.
Modern Culture Clashes: Real-life examples of friction in the mission field, including:
Worship Styles: How tradition often gets confused with biblical mandates (e.g., using specific hymnals vs. local expressions).
Communication: The frustration of “direct” Western communicators encountering “indirect” high-context cultures.
Organizational Structure: Navigating flat vs. hierarchical leadership structures in different cultures.
Conflict Resolution: A four-step model derived from Acts 15 for handling disagreement in the church: discernment of God’s activity, interpretation of Scripture, necessary debate, and church-wide consent.
Resources & People Mentioned:
Ben Witherington: The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary
Richard Balge: Commentary on Acts
Jean Johnson: We Are Not the Hero: A Missionary’s Guide to Sharing Christ, Not a Culture of Dependency.
Ashish Varma: Paper titled Jews and Gentiles Together in Christ: The Jerusalem Council on Racial Reconciliation.
Dr. John Brug: Commentary on the Psalms
Common Terms and Links on Jesus and Jetlag
WELS = Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (wels.net)
WLS = Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon Wisconsin (wisluthsem.org)
BWM = WELS Board for World Missions
CICR = Commission on Inter-Church Relations of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Vicar = a pastoral intern in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran system
Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly (WLQ) - A theological journal, published by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, that aims to serve pastors and theologians with scholarly articles, book reviews, and reflections on contemporary theological and pastoral concerns.
Pastoral Studies Institute of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
All commentary, statements, and discussion on this podcast reflect the knowledge, insight, and experience solely of the individuals presenting and featured on the podcast.
