Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead To Lasting Connections Across Cultures

by Michelle Reyes, Thabiti Anyabwile (Foreword by)

Overview

WINNER OF THE 2022 ECPA CHRISTIAN BOOK AWARD FOR NEW AUTHOR

Healthy relationships across cultures are possible. Dr. Michelle Reyes takes a close look at the concept of cultural accommodation found in Scripture—and especially in the letter of 1 Corinthians—to redefine how Christians interact with cultural narratives that are different from their own.

Christians—whose standard of living is oneness in Christ, whose gospel is radically nonexclusive—should be at the frontlines of justice and of cross-cultural unity. But many of us struggle to reach outside of our own cultural bubbles and form real relationships that move beyond stereotypes and lead to understanding, healing, and solidarity across cultural lines.

Why is that?

• Why is it so difficult to reconcile our call to be united in Christ with a celebration of different cultural expressions?
• What are the reasons for cultural differences and how do they so often lead to stereotyping, appropriation, gentrification, racism, and other forms of injustice?
• What does the Bible say about human beings as cultural image bearers?
• How do we reevaluate our awareness of culture identity in a healthy and constructive way?

These are just some of the questions that Dr. Reyes explores as she faces the challenges surrounding cross-cultural relationships in America today and her thoughts on the way forward.

Spoiler Alert! The way forward does require willingness to change. It requires embracing cultural discomfort. But by engaging with this book, you will be empowered to learn how to become all things to all people—that is: how to reflect Jesus' love in a multicultural, multiracial body of Christ and to share that love with a hurting world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310108924
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	04/27/2021
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	977 KB

About the Author

Michelle Ami Reyes, PhD, is an Indian American writer, speaker, and activist whose work on faith and culture has been featured in Christianity Today, Faithfully Magazine, Patheos, and more. She is also the Vice President of the Asian American Christian Collaborative and Editorial Director at Pax. Michelle lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Aaron, and two kids.

Table of Contents

Foreword Thabiti Anyabwile xi

Introduction: Commit to Change xv

1 Develop Your Cultural Identity 1

2 Move beyond Stereotypes 23

3 Embrace Cultural Discomfort 47

4 Rethink Code Switching, Privileges, and Rights 69

5 Avoid Cultural Appropriation 87

6 Don't Expect People to Come to You 107

7 Redefine Fluency 125

8 Change Your Perspective on Justice 145

Conclusion: Don't Give Up 163

Acknowledgments 167

Notes 170