The Cutting Edge of Cultural Intelligence
Though David Livermore suggests that in the increasingly global existence we lead, in this ‘flat earth’ that no longer permits genuine isolationism leaders will require Cultural Intelligence. He defines this innovative form of measuring intelligence as; “The capability to function effectively across national, ethnic, and organizational cultures.”[1]There is some truth in the argument that the world has changed drastically since the “emergence of ‘place choice’, which generally corresponds to the timing of the US Declaration of Independence 250 years ago.”[2]The interaction of people across cultures which has only been exacerbated by the coming of the technological age.
It seems to me though that this might not be as new as Livermore would suggest. We have multiple Biblical examples of cross-cultural awareness and a seemingly counterintuitive approach to understanding and acceptance of others. Throughout the Old Testament, even though the Hebrew people understood themselves to possess some form of ‘Special Election’ as God’s chosen people, they occasionally perceived the bigger picture and demonstrated a broader understanding of God’s love and mercy for all people. Psalm 22:27-28 states;
All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.[3]
An entire book of the Old Testament isdedicated to sharing God’s redemptive love with people the Hebrews hated. The book of Jonah tells the story of a man chosen by God to speak to the city of Ninevah calling them to repentance. Jonah runs because he is concerned that God will actually redeem those nasty people.
The New Testament too is rife with examples of the understanding that God’s love was broad. The book of John is written throughout with consistent explanations of Jewish terms that may be 
unfamiliar to non-Hebrew readers. This demonstrates a willingness to ‘flatten out’ the Gospel in order to make it accessible to others with a different heritage. We also have strong examples of cross-cultural communication such as that found in Acts 8:26-40 where Philip shares the Gospel with the Ethiopian Eunuch. That interaction crosses both ethnic barriers and potentially ones having to do with sexual identity too. (But let’s leave that alone for now.) Even the Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee and maintainer of religious purity, blasts open the door to full inclusion when he states on several occasions similar sentiments as that found in Colossians 3:11; “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”[4]
It seems to me that the Hebrew people, and to an even greater extent the Christians prior to the age of Christendom, were leading the way with a powerful form of cultural intelligence. They perceived in some way that cultural fluidity and communication across cultures was God’s idea from the beginning and they were not to stand in the way of God’s broad demonstration of love. When and
where did the Church lose its dynamic edge in this regard? Why did it become a place that forced The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., to declare “It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning”?[5]The church lost its Cultural Intelligence when it became more concerned with maintaining its power and influence than it did about communicating the full breadth of the love of God demonstrated in Jesus.
Though the Christian Church is still the most diverse religion in the world it has maintained a form of ethnic isolationism as there is minimal diversity present within the various communities. David Livermore’s text is necessary today because the Church lost its way and failed to maintain the intercultural savvy it had early on and was occasionally present in communities and individuals after that. The insights found in this text should be liberally applied throughout the Church as it seeks to demonstrate the Cultural Intelligence that was way ahead of its time and propelled the Gospel to the uttermost reaches of the planet.
[1]Livermore, David A. Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The Real Secret to Success Ed. 2. Amacom, 2015. P. 4.
[2]Roulac, Stephen. “Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The New Secret to Success.” A Book Review by Stephen Roulac, Viking, www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/leading-cultural-intelligence-new-secret-success. P. 2
[3]The Holy Bible, New International Version: Containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. International Bible Society, 1997.
[4]The Holy Bible, New International Version: Containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. International Bible Society, 1997.
[5]“Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes About Church.” A-Z Quotes, www.azquotes.com/author/8044-Martin_Luther_King_Jr/tag/church.
About the Author
Dan Kreiss
Former director of the Youth Ministry program at King University in Bristol, TN and Dean of the School of Missions. I have worked in youth ministry my entire life most of that time in New Zealand before becoming faculty at King. I love helping people recognize themselves as children of God and helping them engage with the world in all its diversity. I am particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in their surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education, economic status, etc. I am a husband, father of 4, graduate of Emmanuel Christian Seminary, an avid cyclist and fly-fisherman still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.5 responses to “The Cutting Edge of Cultural Intelligence”
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Hi Dan,
How was the Appalachian Trail? Did you require any cultural intelligence on your journey? (grin)
This statement of yours made me think the most, “Though the Christian Church is still the most diverse religion in the world…” because I had never thought of this before. The more I think about it, the more I think you are spot on. I always concentrated on us NOT reflecting the racial diversity of our culture, then your comment made me realize no “religion” does! Islam and Buddism certainly don’t!!
Perhaps the most racially diverse religious group in America is the Mormon Church. Probably because of the required missionary service for two years of all members, who then go to all corners of the world. Though I certainly do not agree with their doctrine, perhaps we can learn something from their effectiveness of bridging cultures…
Your thoughts?
Dan, thank you for this brilliant post! Thank you for speaking truth and calling out the modern church. “The church lost its Cultural Intelligence when it became more concerned with maintaining its power and influence than it did about communicating the full breadth of the love of God demonstrated in Jesus.”
So how are you, as a dean and professor, creating culturally intelligent students in your department? Do you feel that your university is claiming cultural competence but really behaving ethnocentrically?
Dan,
I really appreciated your overview of how God’s heart is for people of all places. I’ve heard the Tower of Babel contrasted with Pentecost. At Babel, humans banded together without God leading to the fragmentation into diverse linguistic groups, which result in wars and enmity. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit unites the church despite diverse languages reversing the curse of Babel.
Great first blog of the summer quarter Dan! I couldn’t agree more with your statement: “David Livermore’s text is necessary today because the Church lost its way and failed to maintain the intercultural savvy it had early on and was occasionally present in communities and individuals after that.” The church should be the most culturally savvy place in town, but it tends to be the opposite in many cities around the country. Wondering what you think would change this so the church can increase its CQ?
Dan, I recently preached on the inclusivity of Paul. Thanks for bringing in the other biblical references. I agree, the church should have the edge on this but we don’t. Your statement, “The church lost its Cultural Intelligence when it became more concerned with maintaining its power and influence than it did about communicating the full breadth of the love of God demonstrated in Jesus.” I would like to see how we navigate through ethnic isolation in the coming years. As Dave wrote, I think it will take more wooing than forced curriculum in our churches.