Many Christians makes the assumption that the Bible has a culture all its own and is one that, in fact, supersedes all other cultures. Therefore, the challenge for the Christian minister is to recognize his own culture (which is like asking a fish to identify the water in which he swims), the culture to which he is being sent to minister, and the supracultural ideals that God is decreeing through His Word.
As has already been noted, discerning the culture of the missionary and his target group is a daunting task; but to require that the supracultural elements of Scripture be discerned, as well, is next to impossible. Let no one forget that not only is a people with a unique culture that is ever changing with both time and writer transcribing the Bible, but it is also being interpreted and reinterpreted by persons of changing culture. The assignment to discern the supraculture of the Bible is in many ways like asking the interpreter to chase the invisible, unceasing wind. (Good luck with that!) But, as many sociologists and anthropologists have confirmed, unless the missionary (or any foreign communicator) takes the time to not only assess both his language and his message, legitimate communication and understanding is impossible.
Therefore, let it be suggested from both the writings of so many on the subject and my assessment above that the most important task for the missionary is not compassion, fund-raising, and/or target audience obsession, but rather hermeneutics. A good missionary is not one who merely understands his audience, but he is one who, first and foremost, understands the Will and Message of His God. Agencies and denominations must reject the growing tendency to undermine the importance of Biblical scholarship or doctrinal integrity. If the Church is not careful, it will quickly become nothing more than another humanitarian group or antiquated cult unless it returns to its Biblical imperative and example as Divine ambassadors.
