The Role of Compassion and Cultural Intelligence in Ministry
by Carmelo Mercado
“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. -- Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus came to this region for one reason, and that was to break down the barriers that existed between Jews and Gentiles. He knew the prejudices and biases that His disciples had towards those who were not Jewish. Through this miracle story, our Savior showed them how they should see, feel, and treat people from different cultures. If we look at this story from a cultural intelligence perspective, we can get a clearer picture of what is happening.
Here we see a woman pleading for help from Jesus, whom she knows from his reputation can help her. He ignored her pleas and said nothing. The disciples did reply by asking Jesus to send her away, and so He says He only helps people of his own culture. She pleads again and his initial reply is somewhat insulting. In her desperation, she acknowledges her unworthiness and yet continues to plead. Jesus finally answers by acknowledging her faith and so her daughter was healed.
Here we see how bias can prove to be a stumbling block in ministry. Having a high level of cultural intelligence can however greatly assist in diminishing this. Cultural Intelligence (also known as CQ) is defined as the ability to relate to others and interact effectively across cultures. Individuals with high Cultural Intelligence (CQ) display four critical competencies which are known as CQ Drive, CQ Knowledge, CQ Strategy, and CQ Action. CQ Drive is particularly important in ministry, as it measures your willingness to work with people from different cultures.
CQ Drive is an important part of the cultural intelligence dynamic because it addresses the biases that people tend to have toward people who are different. There are three main threats that can inhibit our ability to minister cross-culturally. Those threats are stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.
Stereotypes refer to beliefs that certain attributes, characteristics, and behaviors are typical of members of a particular group of people.
Prejudice refers to feelings and attitudes towards a group and its members.
Discrimination involves differential treatment of members of a particular group.
Jesus addressed these threats by first acting out the way the disciples felt towards her. In initially ignoring her plea he demonstrates their lack of concern. When the disciples urged Jesus to dismiss her it demonstrated their prejudice to the point of discriminating against her by denying the miracle that others had received. What they felt and did was commonly acceptable behavior until Jesus demonstrated that in God’s eyes, she was also one of the lost sheep God was seeking to rescue.
This story taught them a valuable lesson about the need to have compassion for everyone. To have compassion means to empathize with someone who is suffering and to feel compelled to reduce the suffering. Jesus felt her pain and performed a miracle to reduce that pain. In a world where both explicit and unconscious bias exists, followers of Christ are called to be different and to show compassion to those who need physical, mental, and spiritual healing, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background.
God calls on us to minister to everyone, regardless of their cultural background, which means we must look to see If threats such as stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination are limiting our ability to rescue God’s lost sheep. My prayer is that God will help us to truly minister to everyone in a compassionate and non-discriminatory way.
Carmelo Mercado serves as General Vice President for the Lake Union Conference of SDA.