What is the right missionary attitude? How does a missionary move from a place of unintentional superiority to one of genuine, humble servanthood? In this episode, Mike and Matt are joined by Pastor Rob Siirila, who shares wisdom gathered from 36 years of missionary service in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Pastor Siirila delves into the essential posture of a cross-cultural witness, exploring how to overcome the pitfalls of ethnocentrism by developing a learner's mindset. Using memorable analogies like "the monkey and the fish" and the concept of "robe and towel ministry," he provides a framework for building trust and understanding in a new culture.
The conversation then shifts to a crucial theological topic: the "3D Gospel." Pastor Siirila explains the three major cultural worldviews—Guilt/Innocence, Shame/Honor, and Fear/Power—and illustrates how the one true Gospel speaks powerfully to each of them. This episode offers invaluable, practical insights for anyone seeking to share the good news of Jesus in a way that truly connects with the heart-level needs of people in any culture.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The Missionary Mindset: The challenge of a superiority complex, which can disguise itself as a virtue, and the importance of cultivating curiosity and a learner's heart.
Robe and Towel Ministry: Understanding the balance between the authority of a teacher (the robe) and the humility of a servant (the towel), following the example of Jesus.
The Monkey and the Fish: A powerful analogy illustrating the danger of offering well-meaning help based on one's own cultural assumptions rather than understanding the true needs of others.
A Model for Learning: A three-stage approach to cultural immersion: learning about a culture, learning from its people, and ultimately, learning with them as partners on a shared mission.
The Servanthood Process: Six key steps to building Christ-like relationships: openness, acceptance, trust, learning, understanding, and serving.
The 3D Gospel: An exploration of the three primary cultural worldviews and how they perceive sin and salvation:
Guilt-Innocence: Focused on law, transgression, and forgiveness.
Shame-Honor: Centered on community, dishonor, and the restoration of face.
Fear-Power: Concerned with spiritual forces, curses, and accessing divine power for protection and freedom.
The Prodigal Son in Asia: Hearing the famous parable through a shame-honor lens, which reveals deep cultural insights and highlights the Father's gracious restoration of honor.
Failing Forward: Encouragement for new missionaries to embrace the learning process, even if it means making mistakes—like accidentally calling Jesus a pig in another language!
Mentioned in this episode:
Book: The 3D Gospel by Jason Georges
Book: Leading Cross-Culturally by Sherwood G. Lingenfelter
Book: Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting In Around the World by Duane Elmer
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.
