Comparative Leadership Development The Cultural Variable of Self in Spiritual Transformation

How self is defined in relation to others is a product of culture and has sig­ nificant implications for evangelism, discipleship and spiritual transformation. By developing a greater understanding of the influence of individualism and collec­ tivism on how people perceive the invitation of Jesus to discipleship and how new believers will expect the community of faith to function, missionaries can ful­ fill the Great Commission cross-culturally with increased wisdom and sensitivity. Contrasting traditional Western and Indian concepts of self are compared using research from cross-cultural psychology and anthropology. Both are explored in light of the transformed "Christ-s elf" which is the biblical goal for all believers, whatever their cultural context.