Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Critical Review...............................................................................................................................1
The Five..........................................................................................................................................3
Technology..........................................................................................................................3
Flexibility.............................................................................................................................4
Identity.................................................................................................................................4
Silent Words........................................................................................................................5
Ethics...................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................6
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................7
1
Introduction
In a society where borders are becoming inappreciable and cultural diversity is shaping
the ways of the world, the study of intercultural communication will be a key focus for future
shepherds leading the flock. The book by Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, titled
Understanding Intercultural Communication, provides these fundamental building blocks for
those whose ministry will focus on mission with other cultures. No one says it will be an easy
task, but the rewards for doing so can have eternal consequences (Jas. 5:20).1 Yet, Ting-Toomey
and Chung through this book have made this task a little easier. This paper will aim to provide a
short review and provide five thoughts that can only enhance engagement in intercultural
communication in future ministry.
Critical Review
Learning how to adapt and understand other cultures meanings, values, norms, and styles
will increase one’s skills to spread the Gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission.2 Ting-
Toomey and Chung are consistent throughout the book building from one block to the next
showing that effective communications in today’s world must incorporate the necessary
knowledge and dynamic skills to manage such differences in culture both appropriately and
effectively.3
Consisting of three sections, this book is 12 chapters that are built like blocks on top of
each other. The first section is why, what, how to understand, and what to recognize in other
cultures, or the Fundamental Concepts. Without a basic knowledge of these concepts, it would
1 All Scripture unless otherwise noted comes from the Complete Jewish Bible.
2 Ibid., 66.
3 Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, Understanding Intercultural Communication (New York, NY:
Oxford University Press, 2012), 5.
2
be a task to walk into another culture and adapt quickly. For example, taking a step back to
understand what is titled, the Identity Meaning Function in chapter three explained as the
ultimate question that everyone asks themselves at least once in their life; “who am I?”4 Broken
down it’s the cultural beliefs and values that provide the anchoring points to which we attach
meanings and significance to our complex identities.5
Section two begins with what to expect when entering an intercultural setting. Culture
shock can sometimes take place which can throw one off track. With culture shock, one should
understand speaking both verbally through sound and non-verbally through appearance, gesture,
and other forms people may not understand, can make or break communication. And finally, the
third section is about managing all the above while ending on a vital subject, ethics. What will
we allow after learning about other cultures?
Throughout the book, Ting-Toomey and Chung provide several pieces of advice that all
future students and teachers of ministry to the nations can take and apply in practice. Another
edition with updates of the book may be needed due to culture changing so quickly. However,
understanding intercultural communication in today’s world is vital for fulfilling the Great
Commission and pressing forward in the job of saving souls.
The Five
Technology
With the future of many things moving to the internet or becoming technology based, it
would be beneficial for some (myself included) within the body of Messiah to use technology to
4 Ibid., 27.
5 Ibid., 40.
3
its fullest due to it’s unfortunate powerful influence on the younger and even older generations.6
As bad as it may be, the internet can be used for great potential for reaching out to those who
may not attend an Assembly, because it actually does allow for the chance to develop
relationships across barriers of time, space, geography, and cultural-ethnic boundaries.7
Using the internet (doesn’t matter what method) would allow myself and the Assembly to
reach an audience never thought of before. And now that many of the programs and applications
have a translation switch, global connection is a possibility. Many of the Assemblies that use
Youtube do not even put face on video, they simply post pictures, Scripture, and their voice over
on top.
Unlike 20 years ago, a person on the fence about any subject or even belief can find that
subject or belief, and that is where the Assembly needs to strengthen its hold of the Word. With
nearly one-third of the human population having some access to the internet, it is prime time for
the Assembly to look into using technology as one of it’s greatest tools for the Great
Commission.8
Flexibility
One place I know I need to work on is the subject of communication flexibility. Learning
to emphasize the true importance of integrating knowledge and an open-minded attitude is
something that can be enhanced within intercultural communication.9 Some Assemblies within
the United States have that ethnocentric mindset, and I can understand it. However, to be more
6 Ibid., 9.
7 Ibid.
8 1.9 billion individuals have access to the internet according to World Stats in 2011. Imagine what those
numbers are today with the likes of Elon Musk and others trying to give free internet and making it cheaper it across
the globe. Data taken from Internet World Stats: Usage and Population Statistics, (2011, April), retrieved from
http://www. internetworldstats.com/, in Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung.
9 Ibid., 28.
4
Messiah and even Shaul like, we need to have more of an ethnorelative mindset meaning we
need to understand the others cultural frame of reference (1 Cor. 11:1).10
And this all begins with an attitude readjustment into that open mindset. Shepherding a
flock in the future will require any pastor to have this mindset in order to be effective.
Identity
Social identity is something I never really thought about due to my upbringing in we are
all the same as people, the only difference was those who believed and those who did not. Yet as
I read this book, I was reminded of the fact that other people do not think as I do, they were not
raised as I was. The military beats us over the head with this subject constantly. This is probably
one topic I dislike but makes me think about how to reach others. The fact is this subject
separates people from each other and causes group membership and tribal affiliations.
Yet this may all be a good thing; not having social identity in the sense Ting-Toomey and
Chung put it. Obviously understanding who we are and where we came from allows us to gain
insight in how to possibly speak with other cultures, but at the same time we are simply as
believers, children of Hashem and our identity is sinner in need of a savior (Rom. 3:10, 23).
Silent Words
The saying goes, “they say a picture is worth a thousand words,” but in this case it’s not
an image, but many facets of the image. So many in the Assembly take for granted the
importance of our facial expressions, body language, and gestures when speaking with people.11
We do not do it on purpose, it’s just how we are used to acting and being, it is who we are. But
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid., 132.
5
the good thing about that is we can help to fix these non-verbal’s by taking into account what and
how we communicate that which we do not say.
As a future military chaplain, stereotyping will be a bit difficult since we all wear one
uniform. However, learning peoples gestures and off duty actions would be beneficial to how I
see the speak without saying a word. In the Assembly in the civilian world, I could only imagine
how this would be a task to learn and adapt to other cultures other than ones own to speak the
Gospel in a manner that relates to them.
Ethics
This is a subject that is always on my mind. In many cultures, the laws and regulations
are not according to Hashems ways and regulations. As the Assembly, we should obviously
follow what Hashem has commanded and His Son has come to show us how to guard and do
properly (Lk. 6:46-48; Jn. 6:38). The world obviously thinks in terms of who’s culture is right
and wrong. If the Assembly is doing what Hashem says, then we have nothing to worry about
whether it be private or public.12
Taking into account the above, technology, flexibility, identity, and what we do not say,
our ethics in everything we do should be according to the Word of Hashem. I can understand
why in the business world as mentioned in chapter 12, how pros and cons are as struggle for
interculturalists, the Scripture are not the center, simple facts. Yeshua never compromised the
Scriptures (1 Pet. 2:22; 1 Jn. 3:5), Shaul tried to do the same (Ro. 3:31; 7:12-14; 2 Tim; 3:16),
we should imitate that and in my future ministry I would try to do the same.
12 Ibid., 254.
6
Conclusion
In conclusion, this book is a recommended read for the beginner in the work of ministry
as it teaches the basic concepts of intercultural communication. Ting-Toomey and Chung have
provided a fairly thorough book on how to adapt and effectively begin to put book knowledge to
the test through applicational use. There are several more topics that can be spoken of, but the
above five are a great start for any one involved in the ministry to begin to delve into to learn
how to become better intercultural communicators within the Assembly.
