The Aussie House

Culture means many things to different people. Most simply, its about how we live our lives. Everything from the homes we live in to the way we work and play is a matter of culture. Even the way we think about the world and even express our emotions are shaped by culture.

So when Aussie Christians seek to express the eternal word and truthfulness of Jesus in contemporary Australia should we work with these cultures or against them?

Let's consider the house. For the most part in anglo Aussie culture houses are like castles - well protected with entry by invitation only. People tend not to 'drop in' but will call beforehand. They're often set back from the road and behind a fence so you can't see if anyone's home. No one really feels comfortable visiting the house of someone they don't know. When we enter a house there are the rooms we sit in but also rooms we'd never think of visiting without an invitation. Houses are private space, often very private space.

So how does this affect mission? Well, although littering through the letter box is safe most Anglicans are allergic to door knocking, even when it is made easy (see Stuart's article). Having a home group can be tricky especially when houses are small and hospitality to large groups of strangers is an uncertain thing.

What kind of challenges does housing pose to mission in contemporary Australia and what means have you found to bridge the gap?