What about Our Families Cross-Cultural Case Study
Cross-cultural encounters require open-mindedness and sensitivity. Parties from diverse cultures should communicate openly, accept one another, and build positive relationships. The ‘What about Our Families’ case study represents how Christian beliefs and values differ significantly from African traditional customs on the issue of marriage. Incorporating the theological thinking of Christianity and traditional Western African customs will facilitate the attainment of a middle ground that aligns with African culture. Do your need help in a case study assignment?
Main Issues
Marc, Jim, Sarah, and the narrator face some resource and cultural constraints in rural West Africa. The four main assignments were setting up literacy programs, translating the Bible into local languages, and running a local medical clinic, which required much effort and resources. Therefore, the first issue they faced was convincing the local population that it was worth it to sacrifice time and effort to learn the Bible despite their constraints. Most were likely to shun this exercise since income generation required a lot of physical effort and time, and this would be hampered if they dedicated their time to learning about the ‘God of Marc and Jim.’
Also, Marc and Jim have to face varying cultural views on the issue of polygamy. Polygamy has been a longstanding tradition in West Africa and is viewed as a way of strengthening communal and family bonds[1]. Besides, a polygamous family is perceived to have economic and social benefits[2]. As shown in this case, when the elders visited Marc and Jim, they were concerned about their spouses’ welfare if they had to abandon them. In the same breath, the elders felt that their wives would be subjected to shame for being unmarried with the risk of rejection by their birth families.
Rationales
Polygamy is not acceptable from a Christian perspective, but there is no explicit rejection or approval. However, a few accounts from the Bible show why Christians are not receptive to the practice. One of the accounts when polygamy brought a lot of heartache and suffering is Genesis 29:30, which gives the story of Jacob and his marriage to two sisters. Jacob loved one of the sisters more than the other, leading to hatred between the sisters[3]. This applies to contemporary marriages where husbands may love one of their wives more than the other- a potential source of conflict [4]. Also, God’s initial intention of marriage was that it would be between one man and one woman. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Therefore, although polygamy is not explicitly called out in the Bible, it is clear that God’s initial plan for marriage is that it would be between one man and one woman[5].
On the other hand, one of the rationales for polygamy in West Africa is that it creates strong alliances. Marriage creates new kinship bonds, and such bonds are likely to be more extensive if there are polygamous marriages[6]. Also, the elders who hailed from traditional West African communities associated marriages with economic benefits. Having many children meant that one would get free labor in fields to produce more farm output [7].
Solution
The best solution to the controversy surrounding traditional African and Christian perspectives on polygamy can best be resolved by engaging in an open interpretation of religious texts. That should be done in comparison with the African cultural customs. By reviewing the Bible’s position on polygamy, Marc and Jim are likely to convince the elders about the advantages of having one wife relative to being polygamous. While trying to convince the elders, Marc and Jim should respect the customs of African culture and not despise them. A middle ground may be reached where African customs and religious practices are incorporated.
Bibliography
Baloyi, Elijah M. “Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context.” Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Mission Studies 41, no. 2 (2013): 164-181.
University of Virginia Library. “The Holy Bible Revised Standard Version Old Testament.” 2018. https://www.angelfire.com/pa5/afg/Files/OTRSV.pdf.
Vorster, J.M. “Christian Ethical Perspectives on Marriage and Family Life in Modern Western Culture.” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 64, no. 1 (January 23, 2008). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v64i1.37.
[1] Baloyi, Elijah M. “Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context.” Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Mission Studies 41, no. 2 (2013): 164-181.
[2] Baloyi, “Critical reflections on polygamy,” 164-181.
[3] University of Virginia Library, “The Holy Bible Revised Standard Version Old Testament,” 2018, https://www.angelfire.com/pa5/afg/Files/OTRSV.pdf
[4] J. M.Vorster, “Christian Ethical Perspectives on Marriage and Family Life in Modern Western Culture,” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 64, no. 1 (January 23, 2008), https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v64i1.37.
[5] University of Virginia Library, “The Holy Bible,” 2018.
[6] Baloyi, “Critical reflections on polygamy,” 164-181.
[7] Baloyi, “Critical reflections on polygamy,” 164-181.
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Question 
What about Our Families Cross-Cultural Case Study
A case study is a great way to analyze a scenario that shows the issues that can be found in a specific cross-cultural encounter, discuss the multiple rationales that inform the actions of the different parties, and think through possible solutions. You will write a 2-page analysis of the “What about our families?” Case Study using the course textbooks and the Bible as your sources.
INSTRUCTIONS
The analysis should include the following 3 sections:
1. Issues: Describe the main issues in the case study.
2. Rationales: Discuss the rationale (beliefs, values, and practices) that informs the actions of each party involved in the conflict. Use at least 2 citations from the course textbooks and the Bible to support your assertions about the elements that may impact the different rationales.
3. Solution: Present one possible solution to an issue presented in the case study and support the solution using at least 1 citation from the Bible or the course textbooks.
The assignment should be written as a formal paper and should include the following elements:
• Length of Assignment: 2 pages of content
o In addition to the 2 pages, the paper should include a title page and bibliography.
• Format of Assignment: Current Turabian formatting is required.
• Number of Citations: A minimum of 3 citations from the Bible and the course textbooks are required.
• Acceptable Sources: course textbooks and the Bible; additional sources are not required for this assignment.
CASE STUDY: WHAT ABOUT OUR FAMILIES?
Aura Donaldson
Dear Friends,
It’s good to know you are praying for us and that we can reach out when we need help processing various challenges. As you know, Mark and Sara, and Jim and I have been friends since our university days. Little did we know we would one day be teammates on this project that has changed our lives forever. After years of training and preparation, Marc and Jim trained as linguists and Sara and I trained as medical doctors, we moved to a village in rural West Africa. We were tasked with conducting literacy programs, translating the Bible into a Bibleless language, and running a regional medical clinic. The local language is spoken in several villages across the Sub-Saharan region, so the literacy and Bible translation had potential to spread into neighboring countries. The clinic also had potential for wide reach as we anticipated people would come to the clinic from many miles away for basic medical care.
The work has been hard and come at a cost to the locals and to our small team. The language learning and translation continue to be time-consuming. In a culture, where providing basic food and shelter requires much physical effort, sacrifices have to be made to create time for learning to read and write a language that up to this point was only a spoken language. After many years, we learned the local language and our new friends learned to read and write their language, and with their help, the work continues on the first translation of the Bible in their language. It’s amazing to see their reactions as they experience God’s story for the first time in their heart language. Many in the village are coming to believe God’s story and they are eager to share God’s story with their relatives in neighboring villages. What an exciting time this continues to be for us and our local friends, who are our family now!
Last week, the elders of a neighboring village, who are blood relatives to “our” village, came for a visit and asked to talk to Marc and Jim. The elders told Marc and Jim that they heard some God stories from their relatives, and want to follow their God and be baptized, like their relatives. They also want to learn to read the God stories for themselves…BUT they had some questions about the rules for following the God of Marc and Jim.
Marc and Jim were amazed by what they heard and curious to hear their questions. As they talked, they learned the neighboring village practices polygamy. Each man has 3 or 4 wives, and they are proud to be able to provide for their wives and children. Family is the most important relationship in this culture, and we see examples of the impact family has on every decision. The elders shared that they heard some similar God stories from other foreigners about 15 years ago, but they decided not to follow their God because they had been told that in order to follow that God, they would have to leave all of their wives. Such a practice did not seem right in the eyes of the elders. Why would God want them to abandon their families? How would their wives and children survive? The women would be forever shamed because their husband sent them away. The wives would be shunned by the community and would not be able to return to their birth families. How could they abandon their duties as husband and father when they had committed to care and provide for these women and their children? The elders wanted to know if they would have to abandon their families for the God of Marc and Jim.
Marc and Jim told the elders that they would need time to pray to God and search Scripture for answers to their questions. The elders said that they would gladly wait to hear from God, and they would return in a few weeks for an answer. Mark and Jim asked the elders to join them in praying to God for an answer that pleases God.
When Mark and Jim stopped by the clinic where Sara and I were working and shared about their conversation, we weren’t quite sure how to respond. We were certain that this decision would have significant implications for many families and for our work.
We are praying for God’s wisdom and have asked our regional leaders for insight and advice. Some Christian leaders in our neighboring countries have supported the baptism of new believers who are already in polygamist relationships, but others have been firmly against the practice. Our studies through the Bible have left us with many questions. The Bible speaks to many aspects of marriage relationships such as God’s original intent (Gen 1: 26-27, 2:24), adultery (Romans 7:2-3), divorce (Luke 16:18), one spouse becoming a believer (1 Cor 7:12-13), abandoning family (1 Tim 5:8), just to name a few, but how do we apply these concepts to the questions the village elders asked about polygamy? Scripture does not explicitly forbid polygamy, but it also does not recommend or approve it. What would you recommend Marc and Jim tell the elders? How do we resolve this issue which will have significant implications for our friends, our neighbors, and our ministry?
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
The Smiths and the Johnsons
Case Study Analysis Questions:
• What dilemmas can be found in the case study?
• What rationale could be used in support of baptizing new believers who are already in polygamist relationships?
• What rationale could be used against allowing the baptism of new believers who are already in polygamist relationships?
• Discuss one possible solution to the baptism dilemma. Present this as a response to the Smiths and Johnson’s letter.