[REVIEW] Inside Out - A Cross Cultural Perspective on Holiness by Daniel Templeman Twells

The battle between church and culture is an ongoing debate among Christians, but Australian Salvation Army officer Captain Daniel Templeman Twells, in his debut book, clearly articulates why holiness and culture go hand-in-hand.

Based on his experiences after being appointed to the Japan Territory for six years, he contrasts an Anglo-Christian Australian perspective besides the thousands of years of tradition found in Japanese culture.

Steeped in biblical teaching and utilising language, proverb and story to unwrap what holiness is, Daniel beautifully navigates the tension between the non-negotiables of our faith and what it means to live them out in a foreign culture.

I was particularly drawn to his credibility in questioning the ‘white saviour complex’, where he shows that we are not called to rescue but to walk beside others different to ourselves.

Daniel’s focus on compassion and empathy, while highlighting the culture of Christianity in Japan (where only one per cent of the population is Christian) is also eye-opening, and challenges the reader to live out holiness in the same manner as Jesus – even when this means moving past religious concepts or cultural ideas of what is appropriate.

This is essential reading for anyone living or travelling in foreign countries, or facilitating relationships between different people groups. Knowing how broad and diverse The Salvation Army in Australia is, the sound teaching in this book is imperative as we seek to understand, empathise and walk alongside each other.

The book is available at Sydney Trade (1800 634 209) or thetrade.salvos.org.au, and Melbourne Salvation Army Supplies (1800 100 018) or commerce.salvationarmy.org.au.