Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility: Book Review
Dr. Elmer earned his Ph.D. at Michigan State University he is presently the G. W. Aldeen Professor of International Scientific studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He had traveled over seventy-five nations teaching on the subject. He has also taught cross-cultural education to persons from Fortune 500 suppliers, relief and development agencies, mission organizations, churches, and educational institutions. His wife was born and raised in Zimbabwe and his wife's mother is from Canada.
Dr. Elmer makes the claims that those who serve usually have the tendency to serve other individuals from their personal structure or orientation. It can be defined or perceived by other people as superiority, cultural imperialism or neocolonialism which he defines in element 1 of his book and expand more thoroughly in chapters 1-two. Those who are called to serves ought to find their model in Christ who is the accurate servanthood and wonderful model in Scripture, but such model should certainly be followed in Christ's humble servant function, and not in his Lord and Christ roles, which he explained in chapter 3. He illustrate this point very nicely applying the illustration of Christ's servanthood rolls the towel and the robes, those who serve must applied the towel to be effective in their ministry.
In element two Elmer described the procedure of servanthood he gives six principles which constitute the procedure to adhere to. In chapter 4-ten, Elmer fundamentally explained that serving is impossible unless there is an understanding of that which is the object of service. In order for service to be helpful there have to be a mutual understanding.
Serving-a individual can not serve somebody they can't realize (Elmer's first principles). Understanding-in order to fully grasp one other person there is a needed ingredient and that is studying from them, and with them. Mastering-in order to understand from other people a trusting relationship should be developed. Trust-In order for a trusting relationship to be created a person needs to really feel accepted and worth as another human beings. Acceptance-to communicate value and esteem to other individuals the person needs to really feel welcome into their presence. Openness-in order for openness to occurs the individual will need to step out of their comfort zone to carry on a relationship in an atmosphere of cultural diversity.
The final part of his book deals with the implications of servanthood in the course of the implementation of leadership roles. He explains the scriptural teaching of the church, servanthood, humility, giftedness and priesthood of all believers. It deals with the suggestions, challenges and struggles that most leaders face throughout their missionaries experiences.
He concludes with Joseph's experience and the implementation of these principles in his life of servanthood as given in chapter four-10. His final words are in this quote "God calls all Christians to this life and assures us that we will never be alot more like Jesus than when we serve" (p. 198).
Elmer's gives in his book a profound definition of what the truth which means of being a servant implies. There are a great number of that attempts to turn into servant from their personal cultural view, but said Elmer "When we call ourselves a servant, the switch is triggered and we automatically think that every little thing we do from there on will epitomize servanthood" (p. 17). His book is nicely written and nicely illustrated with stories, scriptural reference, and anecdote in the area of servanthood. His vast know-how on the topic of mission and servanthood is clearly seems as he develop his thesis and combine his information in the area of investigation and practical expertise.
He clearly achieved his objective in the initially portion of his book, servanthood are to embrace the towel in order to be successful in the mission field of servanthood. Christ incorporated himself in the human race and became one of them in order to be a much better servant model to the church. Elmer observed that most missionaries have the tendency of taking their western concepts with as if it were component of the gospel. He is in a position to recognize the pride embedded in the human heart and the necessity to transform or revolutionize it in order to be successful in the embracing of a servanthood role. His techniques, stories and experience in the subject awaken the conscience and bring a question mark in the life of those who are serving or call to serves in the near future.
The second component is the most critical or what it could be known as the principal core of what the author is trying to communicate to his reader. The six principles given in his book are all part of what is logical and necessary it a relationship with human beings is to be established. Missionaries and servanthood are to be conscious that welcoming men and women into their presence is not all it takes to be powerful in ministry, those who method them need to really feel safe in that presence and open to the discussion, teaching, and life of the missionary. The other five principles acceptance, trust, mastering, understanding, and serving are all part of Christ's character, and what each Christians' call to be by Him and in Him.
It is element of the vine to abide in Him and as a result bring forth fruits it is what Christ intended for those who are calls to be his disciple to do as given in John 15:1-8. In the final portion of his book Elmer intended to do just that by asking the reader to comply with in the actions of Christ, it is what abiding in Him is all about following closely connected with him as the vines is to the branches. Elmer is down to earth teaching in servant leadership, he clearly offers assistance that if implemented in the life of the servanthood or missionary it would bring forth fruit for the glory of God.
Elmer calls his reader to a new way of thinking from the other side of the story or how others perceived the service render to them. His book is practical and it can be used in everyday relationship with others, not only in a missionary field but in everyday life. It is a call to make servanthood a portion of the everyday life of those who are calls in Christ (everyone is call to live a Christian life). Elmer style of servanthood must be understood and culturally applied from a biblical perspective it should be a required reading to everybody searching for to serve in a cross-culturally environment. It is how we honor others, that God is honor, "whatever you did for one particular of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me...whatever you did not do for one particular of the least of these, you did not do for me" (Matthew 25:40, 45). Elmer's book clearly demonstrates these principles and it ought to be completed by absolutely everyone who proclaims to follow Christ.
Today's globe is a missionary globe, Elmer's principles outline in this book will help implement Godly principles in the function they do otherwise the misrepresentation in the missionary field is dangerously at stake. God call us His witness to represent His glory in this world of chaos and disorder, misrepresenting Him can hindered His cause for the salvation of humanity, it is time to take seriously the operate once entrusted to the saint.
Missionary are also to master to suspend judgment, there is a tendency to swiftly judge a individual with no been in a position to see what's in the heart, for this reason suspending judgment should be one of the prerequisite of those going into the mission field. The suspension of judgment says Elmer, "is the initially skill in preserving an open attitude" (p. 51). This will give time to study and to get to know the person far better and what are their true intention are without having misjudging them, they ought to be innocent till proven otherwise. The usual initially impression should really not be a guideline in the textbook for servanthood or those preparing to be a missionary it can be misleading in the lengthy run.
Yet another principle that will need to be helpful to implement in the mission activities is to know that those who develop into missionary are not elected to transform the cultures and tradition of their mission field. They are not to give the impression of authoritarianism or that they have come to bring a reformation in the mission field culture. The misconception about humility also wants to be clarify, Elmer explains that some folks believes that humility is a mean to an end or a course of action that one particular need to go by means of prior to receiving exaltation, he pretty concludes that humility is a lifestyle it is to saturate the whole life of their possessor. In the thoughts of the missionary this need to be a clear concept, they are not to humble themselves in order to be exalted and them stop being humble, it is an attitude that need to be adopted in their way of living.
Elmer's book is of quite significance to any individual who desires to stick to in the footsteps of the man of Galilee. It has elevated my know-how and awareness of mission in a vast ground field, and it will be a great blessing who are presently serving or desire to serve in the future among men and women of unique ethnicity, language, and cultures. If those who read this book implement the lessons taught right here, they will be a excellent blessing to the operate of God in fulfilling the Good Commissions and at the finish they will hear the voice of Christ saying well done really good and faithful servant enter in the glory of thy master.
Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity, 2006.
