Discernment in cross-cultural ministry

• Discernment -- seeing things as they really are -- is a vital gift for cross-cultural missionary
• "All that glitters is not gold" is an aphorism about discernment. That proverb from William Shakespeare means that not everything that looks valuable or true turns out to be so.
• Jesus exercised discernment with regard to people's motives, attitudes, and even depth of commitment without them thinking he was suspicious by nature.
• Discernment modeled after Jesus is essential in building relationships, encouraging new leaders, fostering sustainability, and facilitating church-planting movements.

Missionary work that reflects Christ

When I was about eight or nine years old, someone gave me an autograph book. I went around badgering people to sign it. Some just signed their name on those small multi-colored pages. Others wrote personal notes. A few wrote a scripture verse before signing their names.

During one of our family's annual visits to Missouri, where many of our relatives lived, I asked an elderly great-aunt for her autograph. Before signing her name, she wrote, "All is not gold that glitters."

That saying didn't mean a lot to me then. For one thing, I had no idea it was from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. And, I didn't really comprehend all that it meant. Now, with the passage of time, I've learned that not only is that phrase from a piece of classic literature, but I have also come to understand that the principle "all that glitters is not gold" expresses the need for discernment (Deuteronomy 32:28-29¹ and 2 Chronicles 2:12²).

Discernment was, of course, something very evident in Jesus' earthly life. That gift of discernment, that ability to see things as they really are, is something not only helpful but also necessary in cross-cultural missionary ministry.

Jesus, of course, knew very well that all that glitters is not gold. So, even though He acted kindly and lovingly, no one could fool Him. No one could "pull the wool" over Jesus' discerning eyes.

Being discerning does not mean Jesus was suspicious by nature. However, He could see through the fog that often obscures motives, attitudes, capabilities, and even depth of commitment. Jesus understood that personal sin hinders people from being what they were created to be. Thus, people who encountered Jesus were sometimes startled when He brought up issues in their lives.

Of course, Jesus not only saw things in all their ugliness. He also discerned what could be. So, while Jesus knew that all that glitters is not gold, He saw possibilities in people.

Global missionaries need an abundance of discernment. In cross-cultural living, discerning what is really going on and reading between the lines is not easy. For obvious reasons, no missionary will ever reach the level of discernment that Jesus possessed. Still, people in cross-cultural evangelism must pray for and use discernment as they seek to:

• Build relationships with responsive groups of people
• Encourage new believers to step forward as leaders
• Foster sustainability rather than dependency
• Facilitate church-planting movements as opposed to starting isolated congregations

While we can see discernment modeled in Jesus' life, it is significant that the concept also shows up in the First Corinthians 12 discussion of spiritual gifts and in Hebrews 5:14 in a paragraph about distinguishing between good and evil.

Today, as you pray for missionaries, ask God to give them a huge helping of the kind of discernment that Jesus possessed!

"I am your servant; give me discernment." -- Psalm 119:125

Discussion questions

1. How does discernment fit into the broader context of spiritual gifts and the Christian faith as a whole?
2. How does the proverb "all that glitters is not gold" relate to the need for discernment in cross-cultural missionary ministry?
3. How was discernment evident in Jesus' earthly life? How can it be possible for missionaries to exercise similar discernment?
4. What might be some of the challenges missionaries face in cross-cultural living where discernment is needed?
5. What are some ways that discernment would help missionaries in their efforts to build relationships with responsive groups of people and foster sustainability in church-planting movements?

    -- Howard Culbertson,

¹"They are a nation without sense,
   there is no discernment in them.
If only they were wise and would understand this    and discern what their end will be!"

²"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and discernment."

This mini-essay on Christlike attitudes and actions that need to be present in cross-cultural missionary service is one of a dozen articles in the "missionary ministry that reflects Christ" series published in Engage, a monthly online magazine.

Afterword

Discernment in the life of a cross-cultural missionary can be said to reflect Jesus Christ for several reasons:

• Spiritual Sensitivity: Jesus demonstrated profound spiritual sensitivity throughout his ministry. Cross-cultural missionaries must also discern the needs, beliefs, and cultural nuances of the people they are ministering to in order to effectively communicate the message of Christ.
• Wisdom and Guidance: Jesus exemplified wisdom in his interactions with various people and groups. Similarly, cross-cultural missionaries must rely on discernment as they navigate complex cultural landscapes, seek to understand local customs, and decide how best to share the Gospel in culturally relevant ways.
• Adaptability: Jesus demonstrated adaptability in his ministry. He reached out to people from diverse backgrounds, meeting them where they were. Cross-cultural missionaries likewise need discernment to adapt their approaches and methods to effectively engage with people of different cultures.
• Empathy and Compassion: Jesus showed empathy and compassion toward those he encountered whoile on Earth. Cross-cultural missionaries must do the same. They must discern how to respond with love and compassion in culturally appropriate ways.
• Servant Leadership: Jesus modeled servant leadership throughout his life, often prioritizing the needs of others above his own. Cross-cultural missionaries must also humbly serve the communities they work with as they try to raise up and empower local leaders.

In short, discernment in the life of a cross-cultural missionary means that Jesus Christ will be reflected in the way the missionary shows spiritual sensitivity, wisdom, adaptability, empathy, compassion, and servant leadership.

Some Bible Verses about Discernment

• Deuteronomy 1:13, New Revised Standard Version -- "Choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable, and I will make them your leaders" (Moses speaking to the Israelites).
• 1 Kings 3:9 -- "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (Prayer of King Solomon).
• Ezra 8:16, New Living Translation -- "I also sent for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of discernment" (Words of Ezra on arriving back in Jerusalem).
• Job 6:30, The Message -- "Don't you trust me to discern good from evil?" (Job's reply to Eliphaz the Temanite)
• Psalm 119:66, Holman Christian Standard Bible -- "Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on Your commands."
• Psalm 119:125 -- "I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes."
• Proverbs 1:5 -- "Let the discerning get guidance."
• Proverbs 15:14 -- "The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly."
• Proverbs 16:21 -- "The wise in heart are called discerning."
• Proverbs 17:10 -- "A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool."
• Proverbs 17:24 -- "A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth."
• Proverbs 28:11, New Living Translation -- "Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them."
• Daniel 2:21 -- "He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning" (Daniel's praise of God).
• Hosea 4:14, Holman Christian Standard Bible -- "People without discernment are doomed" (Hosea's charge against Israel).
• Hosea 14:9, New Revised Standard Version, "Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them" (Hosea's words to Israel).
• Malachi 3:18, New King James Version -- "Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him" (Malachi's words to the "faithful remnant").
• 1 Corinthians , New Revised Standard Version -- "Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
• 1 Corinthians 12:10, New Living Translation -- "He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit."
• Philippians 1:9-10 -- "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best."

Note: Different English translations were not used merely to find an exact word we were looking for (in this case, "discern"). Rather, consulting multiple English translations of the Bible can help us understand the richness, complexity, and enduring relevance of God's Word.