LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Book Application: Christian Intercultural Communication Assignment on Christian Intercultural
Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures By Dr. C. Tim Chang with Ashley
E. Chang
Submitted to Dr. Porfirio Rodriguez
.
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion
of
GLST 650
Intercultural Communication
by
James Boykin September 17th 2023
Introduction and Critical Review..................................................................................................1
Five Application Lessons……………………………............................................................................2
Leverage Verbal and Nonverbal Communication.......................................................................2
Manage Conflict on the Mission Field ......................................................................................3
Culture Shock…………………. ..........................................................................................................4
Value of Contextualization. ..........................................................................................................4
Putting God First...........................................................................................................................5
Conclusion
Bibliography............................................................................................................................... 6
Introduction
In the book Critical Review and Thesis In their book, “Christian Intercultural
Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures,” Dr. Tim and Ashely Chang,
delve into intercultural communication.
The thesis of this book is a best practice and a guide for those who look to share the
gospel with anyone outside of their community, or in a cross-cultural setting. Chang stated,
“One who would seek to communicate the Christian message cross-culturally would find the
tools of faith and biblical models are therefore equipping and emulating.”1 in reading this book
it was clear that the Chung’s wrote this book as a chronicle of their experiences. This book is
great and can be used not only from a spiritual perspective but also from a secular one, as I am
implementing perspectives of the book at work. The purpose of this paper is to state the usage
and application of lessons from this book. In looking at the five key lessons learned from this
book, we will see how the author intends us to apply them to ministry.
Critical Review
Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang give a wonderful take on how to share the gospel with
people from other cultures. According to Chang “Christians use verbal and no verbal
communication features to make the Gospel relevant to their host cultures.”2 The use of verbal
and non-verbal communication is so important when effectively communicating. These factors
in communication are what comprise intercultural communication. Tim and Ashley Chang make
it clear what Intercultural communication is and how it applies to ministry. Intercultural
1 C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
with People of Other Cultures (Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021),
2 Ibid.
communication as defined by Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung states: “The symbolic
exchange process whereby individuals from two or more different cultural communities attempt
to negotiate shared meanings in an inter-active situation within an embedded societal system.”3
In going further in dept Chang stated, “Christian intercultural communication also focuses on
the way we negotiate shared meanings as we cross cultures”4
Five Application Lessons
Out of the many lessons that Tim and Ashley Chang pass to the reader, I found the one
in Leverage Verbal and Nonverbal Communication to be the most applicable to my current and
future positions in ministry, followed by Manage Conflict on the Mission Field. Next to it is
culture shock. After, I would discuss the value of contextualization finally Putting God First.
Leverage Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
“The study of Christian intercultural communication focuses on how we use our words
and our actions to portray the Gospel message.”5 How do we give the gospel without using
words? While we are familiar with the relative exclusivity of verbal language, non-verbal
language is a little more complicated. Nonverbal communication is “the message exchange
process involving the use of nonlinguistic and paralinguistic cues that are expressed through
multiple communication channels in a particular sociocultural setting”6 Nonverbal actions are
3 Stella T. Toomey and Leeva C. Chung. Understanding Intercultural Communication. 2nd ed. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2012),
4 C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
with People of Other Cultures (Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021),
5 Ibid.
6 Stella T. Toomey and Leeva C. Chung. Understanding Intercultural Communication. 2nd ed. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2012)
categorized as everything outside of verbal, the way we look, facial expressions, body
movements etc., all of which can carry different meaning dependent on the culture. As
communicators of the gospel, we strive to present the gospel even without the use of words;
this involves ensuring our actions are a true representative of Christ. The way we live is to be a
light to the world. Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16 stated, “You are the light of[Christ the-world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor doesanyonelight a lamp and put it under
a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deedsandmoral
excellence, andrecognize and honor and]glorify your Father who is in heaven.”7
Manage Conflict on the Mission Field
The book takes on a natural flow, while at the same time being honest with the realities
of being in the mission field. In life, we will often fall short, not because of some measurable
level of success but because of the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves. Our job is
present to God, and ensure that we use all the tools given to us, to ensure that we are effective
in our efforts. The level of success we have is not based on how many people we convert. The
litmus test for success is obedience. Tim and Ashely Chang state “When we follow God, it does
not matter if we can point to success or failure—what matters is that we obey Him. We’re not
responsible for “fixing” everyone—the truth of God’s love already exists within every culture,
and we’re only vessels that are aiding those around us to discover this timeless truth.”8 We must
be realistic and know where our motives lie. We are to be truthful with who we are and with
7 Mat. 5:14-16 (ESV).
8 C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
with People of Other Cultures (Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2021),
the one who created us and should not be afraid to reexamine our lives and ask the Lord hard
questions9
Culture Shock
As a minister, my goal is to have an intercultural flock within a cross-cultural setting. It is
important as we prepare others to go out into the world that we stress that they be fully
equipped to put on the whole armor of God given that according to the Chung’s, it “is essential
in engaging in spiritual warfare as Satan does not want the kingdoms of the world to become
the kingdom of our Lord.” With this armor, we will be able to stand against the wilds of the devil
including the culture shock used by Satan to thwart us.10 We must embrace and appreciate the
differences in culture even the diverse cultures within our local congregations.
Value of Contextualization
Contextualization is not just for missionaries abroad but also those serving in the local
church. The word contextualization describes a practice where missionaries became one with
the local people by eating their food, wearing their clothes, and even identifying the Gospel
with the local history and culture. Contextualization should cover as many aspects of culture as
possible.”11 As a youth leader, my role is to teach students scripture and biblical principles; this
often includes appealing to the culture (to a certain extent) of the kids I lead. Whereas most of
the church congregation dresses formally, I dress a little more casually often wearing jeans and
gym shoes. The joy I get is allowing the youth to worship God in their culture, (as long as it's
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
respectful and reverent). As church leaders, it is important that we do not try to change them to
look like those sitting in the pews instead we help lead them to transform to the image of Christ.
Putting God First
With working for the church, we can get so bogged with the work that we can often put
the work of the church before God. Tim and Ashley Chang stated, “The truth is that from time
to time, we can lose sight of God and the work He has for us.”12 In the world we live in there are
so many things we can get distracted by, from work to, family even down to our cell phones. It is
important to understand that every culture has a form of distraction, and if we allow those
distractions to overwhelm us, regardless of how well-meaning they are our relations with God
will suffer and our presentation of the gospels to those God has placed in our care and charge
will also suffer.
Conclusion
As Christians, we are able to effectively communicate interculturally. is pivotal in the sharing of
the gospel. Having the correct perspective of who God is and keeping him first and allowing his
spirit to lead the conversation will alleviate the culture shock one can feel while at the same
time managing the conflict that we may encounter. As communicators of the Gospel, we must
contextualize the presentation of the Good News and provide this message in both our verbal
and noble language.
Bibliography
C. Tim Chang and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: How to Share God's Love
12 Ibid.
