If you go...

If we go overseas on mission, how should we behave? How should we dress, act, share, spend etc? How will the locals feel about us? Will they think we are really helping, or will they think prosperous westerners are there again to make themselves feel good about "giving to the poor", after which they will go home and forget them?

Certainly dress is more of a sensitive point in some cultures. Ethiopia, which is largely Orthodox Christian, is one nation where a conservative approach is best. Why? Because showing flesh will offend the locals. Well meaning western Christians who are in a media and sexuality saturated culture, who go into a conservative culture like Ethiopia, can really stumble in their witness if  they take popular western dress. Who's right? Who's wrong? You'd have to look at the bible to understand what is godly and what's not. Standards set by Hebrew culture, which is clearly the closest we have to that set by God himself, certainly look more like conservative Ethiopia that modern U.S.A., Canada or Australia!

Behaviour is something we need to be sensitive about. In some countries, it is socially acceptable and even popular, for men to hold hands as they as they are in public as a sign of friendship; but it is not OK for male/female couples to do the same. Exactly the reverse of most western countries! It is good to research, get advice and then act with sensitivity, putting the credibility of your witness before your own wants.

What can we share? What will edify rather than offend the recipient? This is not just influenced by culture, but also social status, gender relationship and other factors. There are so many situations possible that consultation as interactions arise or "on the job learning" is a good approach.

Spending is another factor. Even buying a meal, a simple piece of clothing, soft drink or lollies may be minor expenditure to us, but how would we feel if someone visited from a really rich part of town for a few weeks and every day blew more than our days wage on luxuries? Putting our feet in their shoes will certainly make us more sensitive and less likely to cause offence.

The tendency tourists and even new or short-term missionaries have to land on a culture without enough preparedness to ensure their witness is not denigrated by insensitive behaviour is an unfortunate one. We hear much of the insensitivity of tourists; let's work to ensure we as Christians on mission have better track record.