Cultural Challenges

Satan has found clever ways to silence the gospel. Americans are consumed with materialism. Who needs God when you can have your own house, car, and plasma T.V. God, our “first love” (Rev. 2:4), has been replaced with empty infatuations, sexual immorality, and vain ambitions. Most Americans have lost any sense of need for God in their lives.

The same for Filipinos. But the silencers are different. Filipinos suffer from the same vices as Americans, but the biggest gospel-killer here is a fear of rejection. Filipinos have words that describe their chief cultural values:

Pakikisama – maintaining smooth, interpersonal relationships no matter what the cost. Hiya – fearing ‘loss-of-face’, or shame. Utang-na-laob – I will do you a favor so you will owe me a favor (I scratch your back; you scratch mine). In Philippine culture, lying and cheating are justified if it prevents ‘hiya’ and maintains ‘pakikisama’.

From an early age, Filipinos are taught dependence on their family, relatives, and ‘barkada’ (close friends) for their social and financial needs. Being independent and a ‘self-made man’ are not virtues here. A Filipino's greatest fear is being rejected by family and friends. Such rejection jeopardizes their future.

So what is a Filipino to do when he discovers the joy of having a personal, fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ, but the rest of his family and friends insist on following the same cultural religion, a religion that does not forgive dissension. His social and financial needs face a crisis. Persecution and loss of livelihood often become a reality.

But what keeps me here, after more than 20 years of service, is seeing the inward assurance and outward peace of so many Filipinos who have counted the cost, faced the rejection, endured the persecution, and still have a smile on their face because of a joy that no amount of money, power, or fame can provide.

People like Mary, who 3 years ago asked Jesus to forgive her sins and change her life. Despite poverty and adversity, she now eagerly shares the saving message of Jesus Christ to every relative and acquaintance who will listen. Danny, who has started several house churches and doesn’t tire in telling others of the One who is more faithful than a brother; more precious than the dearest friend.

One of our team members wrote an Ilonggo hymn, Sa Presensiya Mo, In Your Presence. It’s a simple, beautiful song that’s being sung in our churches. It says, Lord, in your presence I have joy, peace, and victory. I offer my life to you. Even though you may not understand the words, I think you can be blessed by the spirit of the song: Sa Presensiya Mo