"Every society has some form of governmental system, a social mechanism for social control." Grunlan & Mayers 1988:202 This "system" consists of a means of maintaining law and order as it is defined within that society, and a means of regulating and maintaining the integrity of the group in relation to outside groups they have contact with. Political organization "includes the legal institutions by which the legal rights of every member of the society are safeguarded and his obligations to society are enforced. It includes the organization of local (village) government and a system of tribal or national government. It embraces also the means by which offensive or defensive action is taken against enemies who threaten the society either from outside or from within." Notes and Queries 1967:132

In spite of tremendous diversity between the forms of political organization in tribal groups, there are certain repeated themes that seem to exist. Though rarely found on a map, tribal groups have territory defined. They share the benefits and loyalties that make them the in group and others the out group. There will be a means of maintaining internal order within their group and a means of maintaining external relationships with those outside their group or tribe. Here are some examples illustrating these repeated themes:

"Because culture is learned and shared attitudes, values, and behavior, we expect the members of a culture to behave in similar ways. Members of a culture learn the appropriate behavior for a given situation. Not only do they adhere to that behavior pattern, but they also expect others to adhere to the behavior pattern. For example, we not only drive on the right-hand side of the road, but we also expect others to drive on the right-hand side. These regular and expected patterns of behavior are called norms (or standards of conduct)." Cultural Anthropology, a Christian Perspective, Grunlan & Mayers, 1988:204. These norms and the behavior surrounding them, are regulated by a body of observances, traditions, rules and accepted religions and moral standards. Like relationships, standards of conduct fall into four major categories: economic, political, social, and biological. When culture dictates, these norms develop into more clear cut "laws" or taboos. They are taught both formally and by example. and They are also backed up by pressures and penalties to assure the integrity of that culture. Those who refuse to conform to the "norms" of that culture end up that societies' delinquents.

How does has social control developed in cultures? Grunlan and Mayers (1988:204) go on to explain four factors that produce this "normative" behavior.

1. Maximizing satisfaction - "When a pattern of behavior leads to the maximum satisfaction of the majority of the people, it becomes normative. When a society finds a pattern of behavior that meets the needs of most of its members, it will tend to reinforce that pattern. In our society we have found that the exchange of money for goods and services meets the needs of most of our members; so we reinforce this pattern."

2. Value of predictability - "A person is able to function better when he can predict the behavior of others." The loss of this predictability is a major contributor to cultural stress for new missionaries. It is much easier to drive a car when I can predict that others will follow the same "norms" of the road that I do.

3. Restraint of Power - Gergean explains: "If the stronger fully exercises his power, he may be forced into the undesirable activity of monitoring the behavior of the less powerful.. The less powerful, on the other hand, is likely to experience poorer outcomes (less satisfaction) should power be used to dictate all his actions. Norms thus become a way of insulating members of the relationship from unbridled use of power." (1969:74)

"An illustration of restraint of power in American society is the recent findings concerning assembly-line workers, management, and productivity. Recent research indicates that when assembly-line workers are allowed to participate in the decision-making process, productivity goes up. For assembly-line workers to participate in decision-making, restraint of power on the part of management is required." Thus restraint of power results in higher productivity and benefits both those with the power and those without. This practice has rapidly become a "norm" of factory work ethics.

4. Secondary gains - "Many times a pattern of behavior becomes rewarding in itself. A student will often read a certain type of literature because it is required. However, the student may find he enjoys that literature and continues to read it even when the class is completed. Norms that at one time may have been functional may now be merely continued as rituals because they are satisfying in themselves." In a sad sense this has happened in the local church. Believers in the early church came together for true "koinonia", but gatherings today are largely ritual. Churches that are beginning to thrive are those which have rekindled that original function.

So, a practical understanding of social control will benefit both our pre-evangelistic teaching and our planting of an indigenous church.

Within social control will lie the tribal definition of sin. Care should be taken by the missionary to understand it well. If anything happens to excite general interest... a quarrel between family members, trading partners;, a breach of some marriage regulation;, etc.;. Nnote what is said and done. What actions are praised, blamed or penalized;, and what does public opinion seems to require? What was the "crime?" What justice is demanded? There will always be a graduation of severity to both the crime and its punishment..... This could include those things that must be done, should be done, could be done, shouldn't be done, and are never done. There will always be a difference between the ideal and actual severity of the crime and punishment. Whenever possible note how rules come into being, whether they are customary rules of behavior which have grown up within the community, or are sometimes specifically declared by some influential individual or body and enforced by authority.

Ultimately a solid understanding of social control can lead to a means of planting those seeds of truth growing into a meaningful and truly indigenous lifestyle for believers.

As you read these illustrations of social control from other cultures, allow them to expand your understanding of this important universal. Consider how understanding social control could affect your ministry.