Towards a Theology of Relational Mission Training - An Application of the Relational Paradigm Enoch Wan and Tin V. Nguyen

Abstract

In the famous "Batman begins" Hollywood film, when asked about his name, Bruce Wayne, the actor who played the Batman character, answered, "It's not who I am underneath [the mask], but what I do that defines me."  This statement succinctly defines the American culture - a function-oriented culture in which people are defined by merely what they do and not who they are. In such a culture, family background does not matter much; Ethical standards are considered a private preference and therefore not an appropriate topic for public discussion. Many people hang on to their jobs even though they are already eligible for retirement with more than enough money to enjoy for the rest of their lives. They continue to work because their job defines who they are. Without it, they are nobody.