Zoe McLaughlin
June 6, 2024
Book Application: Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of
Other Cultures by Tim Chang and Ashley Chang
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Contents
Introduction 3
Critical Review 4
Thesis 4
The Five ‘Rules’ 5
Putting God First 6
Embrace culture shock 7
Don’t be an Ugly Foreigner 8
Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication 9
Understanding Kingdom Values and Cultural Values 10
Conclusion 11
Bibliography 13
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Introduction
The purpose of the Great Commission is to fulfill spreading God’s scripture through
nations, in the way Jesus once did. Sharing the Gospel however has its own sets of challenges
and differences when transcribing from one culture to the other. In the Gospel, God stated that
his Scripture was to be shared with every nation regardless of boarders and differences. Due to
this there are many unfamiliar territories that missionaries find themselves in due to their
commitment to the Great Commission. To make unfamiliarity more comfortable however there
has been expansion on one’s intercultural communication and behavioral skills (better known as
intercultural intelligence) to help aid individuals learn to navigate these territories with more
ease. These materials have been able to help improve the intercultural intelligence within
missionaries thus helping the achievement of the Great Commission. Appropriate intercultural
intelligence creates the ability to properly spread the Scripture through diverse and different
cultures. Overall, this concept of intercultural communication helps create effective
communication of the Gospel, allowing those in foreign land to receive God’s message. This is
why Chang stresses this point in the writing by stating “as Christ followers, we are all called to
live filled with the Gospel and spread God’s love and truth with the people of all nations.” 1
Being able to achieve this understanding of intercultural intelligence is more complex
than anticipated when it comes to spreading the Scripture. This is why there is existing material
like the book on Christian Intercultural Communication by Tim Chang and Ashley Chang.
Through Chang’s book the authors are able to identify the common misconceptions of
communicating interculturally along with demonstrating how to share the Gospel appropriately
1
Chang (2020). Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781524986568
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in other cultures. Chang is able to identify five common lessons within this book that is
applicable to every missionary. By showing relevance to current and future ministries, Chang is
able to show the reader how relatable and relevant these five points are, further demonstrating
accendibility.
Critical Review
In the book Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of
Other Cultures, the author is able to identify the common ‘roadblocks’ of communicating the
Gospel interculturally. The Chang’s are able to express several complications with intercultural
intelligence while also adding models for individual to use as tools. Chang uses personal
references of their encounters with these complications creating similarities and relevance to the
reader. The stand point that Chang’s take is one of an educator on the complexities of
intercultural communication. Through this book the reader will feel uplifted, inspired, reformed,
hopeful, confident and many other uplifting emotions. This book allows there room to be
‘human’ yet still create betterment for oneself by Chang using personal mistakes when
communicating interculturally to further show empathy and compassion towards struggles.
Through the struggles Chang is able to focus on the ‘lessons’ of communicating the Gospel
interculturally. Through development of five rules Chang is able to help create the dedication to
missionary for Christ that much stronger.
Thesis
Chang identifies in the book Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s
Love with People of Other Cultures to “remember that we are not on the mission field to convert
people, as God alone can led people to salvation.”2 Chang argues that we are instead to be in
2
Chang (2020). Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781524986568
iv
these situations as God’s ‘vessel’ to communicate God’s love and truth. To do this effectively
Chang carefully navigates the errors with intercultural communication. Correcting the errors,
Chang uses personal references and common relevance to further show the prominence of
intercultural communication. Through the significance of intercultural communication Chang is
able to use her book as a tool for missionaries along with anyone else who wants to learn about
intercultural communication. Thus, Chang was able to create an educational point of reference
for tools on intercultural communication along with spreading the Gospel simultaneously
through their book Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of
Other Cultures.
The Five ‘Rules’
With these five rules that Chang has instilled in the writings begin with embracing the
culture shock. Chang described missionaries that had been in the field for the career describing
culture shock as an “ocean wave” verses those who are new to it as a shock wave. 3 Putting God
first allows us to understand that in these culture shock situations there is always an end goal
behind these situations and we must stay true to the overall mission; the Great Commission.
Through Putting God First which is the second rule of Chang’s, one will not be distracted by any
of the other variables of the mission but the overall mission which is to spread the Scripture
through nations; creating a way for those in these diverse cultures to understand and become
God’s ‘vessel’. The third rule of not becoming an Ugly Foreigner ensures there is a level of
openminded within the missionaries to achieve the work of the Great Commission. Through the
fourth rule of verbal and nonverbal communication skills ensure there is a level of complicacy of
3
Chang (2020). Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781524986568
v
a culture and their norms before and individual enters that situation. Leading to the final rule of
knowing how to manage conflict in the mission field. Even with effort communicating
interculturally may backfire without one knowing it, understanding how to respond is important
to the mission to continue to the mission. Through these five rules Chang is able to lay the
ground work on how to improve on one’s missionary effort and skills, thus creating a stronger
drive to achieve the Great Commission.
Putting God First
‘Putting God First’ only make sense to being the first lesson critique of this paper. Chang
did stress this lesson however Chang did not list the ‘Put God First” as the first chapter in the
book Christian Intercultural Communication. In many daily situations there is a lot of situations
where we just need to take a break and remember why we are going through what we are going
through. This is what it means to put God first. Putting God first is key to being able to improve
or even see the importance of the other lessons within this book. Embracing culture shock for
example is able to be as effective as necessary if we continue to put God first through all of the
phases like the honeymoon, anxiety, adjustment and acceptance through all hardships. Putting
God first is something I personally have had to remind myself of in moments of uncertainty
within my career. There are many times I have to reflect to God after a hardship and remember
why I started in this career in the first place, what my purpose as God’s child is. When we forget
to put God first through all of the hardships and to call on him, we forget the purpose of our
mission. Chang ends this chapter with stating “remembering the foundation of the Gospel
message is what is important to focus on, and this what it really means to put God first.”4
Remembering it is not for us, it is for God.
4
Chang (2020). Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781524986568
vi
In times where I am frustrated that I am not feeling able to communicate what I want for
the Lord, I will remember what my mission truly is. I believe heavily in “self-reflections” with
God and figuring out how to navigate a hardship with God. Through this I believe I will have a
better understanding of my purpose and continue to have the motivation to finish my mission to
its truth.
Embracing Culture Shock
While the first step to successful missionary work is to always put God first, the close
second is to embrace culture shock. Culture Shock is the constant process of getting comfortable
with the uncomfortable when communicating interculturally. When communicating the goal of
communicating is to understand and learn more. When this is done through different cultures
interculturally it can lead to exposure of differences. When these differences are not embraced,
yet the short-term feelings of discomfort due to unfamiliarly cause there to be
miscommunications; culture shock can be complete destruction of rapport. “Satan uses Culture
Shock to thwart us.”5
Culture Shock has been something I have also experienced in my career and it made me
realize that I was too worried on what to say rather than listening due to me being frustrated I
could not offer any of the resident’s advice because I have never lived through these things. It is
not about advice; it is about listening to listen not listening to respond. This is something that I
have learned throughout these lessons however Culture shock was the first sections I realized I
was too worried on me not having any advice for situations at work due to me never being
involved in the livelihoods these residents have.
5
Chang (2020). Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781524986568
vii
Don’t Be an Ugly Foreigner
When referring to the Ugly Foreigner a lot of readers can already make an assumption in
their heads on who this individual would be. Close minded, prejudice, preconceptions,
argumentative, unaccepting are all characteristics of an Ugly Foreigner as defined by Chang.
Preventing becoming an Ugly Foreigner is to either continue or to become openminded to
individuals and cultures different than one’s own. Through arguments that some Christians have,
Chang explains that “being open-minded does not mean there is a compromise of Christian
principles, there however is just a let go of preconceptions and prejudices.” 6 Being opened
minded is vital to the characteristics of a missionary, due to those who do not possess this
characteristic having a very difficult time being able to communicate God’s gospel to other
diverse cultures.
This concept is not one I have personally experienced however I have noticed Ugly
Foreigners before and it is really embarrassing when there is an interaction with another culture
and the Ugly Foreigner is so close-minded, they offend the individual from the diverse culture. It
is hard to watch and unfortunately, I have witnessed this before in work I have done with my
missionary group in Texas. It is very limiting when the individual has been labeled as an ‘ugly
foreigner’ due to those within the diverse cultures not wanting any part of what that ‘ugly
foreigner’ has to say or do. Making the narrative of the Gospel illegitimate which defeats the
entire purpose of the Great Commission. This lesson is very important, that is why it is important
to remember that all humans off all differences are still children of God. Meaning do not treat
6
Chang (2020). Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781524986568
viii
anyone different based on differences and to continue to establish an open-mind set when
interacting with individual interculturally.
Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
One of the key concepts I reviewed in Chang’s book Christian Intercultural
Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures was the section devoted to
communication norms. In the CQ assessment I scored a 61 in the Knowledge section overall with
the lowest score being the sub-dimension section: socio-linguistic scoring a 46. According to the
Cultural Intelligence Center which proctors the CQ assessment “socio-linguistic is the
knowledge about language and communication norms.”7 When it comes to verbal and nonverbal
communication this is the language and communication norms within the cultures interculturally.
I do have difficultly in this section due to the previously stated point of me coming to the
realization that I listen to respond in situations I have no similarities on. This was founded
through my career working in a Juvenile Detention Home. When my residents would come to me
with issues that they have gone through, instead of listening to them talk about their problems, I
instead listened to respond and would give unwarranted and unusual advice. I want to be able to
be that individual my residents go to when they need to work through a situation due to me
listening to listen and not close off rapport due to me feeling like I need to respond. Too many
times individuals are caught up on thinking the importance is what is said rather than listening,
like speaking is the most important thing. Chang states that “listening is not just an act of
nonverbal communication but also verbal.” 8
7
Cultural Intelligence Center, LLC. “CQ Report: CQ Pro Feedback Report”, accessed June 6,2024 www.culturalQ.com Zoe
McLaughlin
8
Chang (2020). Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love with People of Other Cultures. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781524986568
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Understanding Kingdom Values and Cultural Values
Finally, the final lesson highlighted, ensuring knowing values of what is you are working
for is exactly what Chang defines in this section of his book. If missionaries understand the
values of God to their truth and the values of the culture, they are communicating the Gospel
with there is of no reason why there cannot be a understanding within intercultural
communication. Ensuring the relationship with God and those participating in his work is
purposeful and meaningful is vital to understanding God’s Kingdom Values. Knowing other
Cultural Values allows the missionary to share and gain a connection with others with the values
shared in God’s word. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus stated “but seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Understanding God and looking
for God allows you to experience his truths and love.
Conclusion
Through the entirety of Chang’s book Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing
God’s Love with People of Other Cultures Chang is able to communicate and identify the ways
missionaries are able to continue to spread God’s gospel interculturally through intercultural
communication intelligence. By taking components that lead to miscommunications of the
Gospel interculturally, Chang is able to show retainment from these miscommunications with
advice and personal relevance. Chang was able to effectively navigate the errors within cultural
communicating by calling into account the lessons of communicating the Gospel interculturally
along with added personal experiences and tutorials on how to improve on these lessons. Chang
is able to offer both a tool for missionaries along with anyone else who wants to learn about
intercultural communication but also an educational point of reference on the misconceptions of
intercultural communication, expanding the readers intercultural communication intelligence
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overall. Through reading this course along with taking the CQ assessment I have been able to
use Chang’s book as a tool and educational reference when engaging interculturally. Even if I am
not spreading the Gospel interculturally there are tools I can use when it comes to my
communication interculturally. I have already been able to identify what I need to work on and
execute the ideologies on how to improve my intercultural communication intelligence. Through
understanding the communication norms and the importance of listening I have mad e a
difference in my responses when my residents are talking with me. Instead of listening to
response I am listening to listen and have been able to learn far more from just listening. This
also allows me to stop giving unwarranted advice that did not make sense in the first place.
Through open-mildness I have been able to self-reflect on how I want to communicate
interculturally using Chang’s book Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God’s Love
with People of Other Cultures as the key point of reference not only to improve on my
intercultural communication intelligence but to be reminded why I am working on the
improvement in the first place. For him.
Bibliography
Chang, C. Tim and Ashley E. Chang. Christian Intercultural Communication: Sharing God's
Love with People of Other Cultures. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2021.
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Cultural Intelligence Center, LLC. CQ Report: CQ Pro Feedback Report. CQ Feedback Report,
Cultural Intelligence Center, 2024.
Livermore, David. Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The Real Secret to Success 2nd ed. New
York: AMACOM, 2015.
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible
Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769)
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