In an earlier post, I introduced the biblical practice of contextualization. We all contextualize; the question is whether or not we will contextualize well. What are some ways we get it wrong?
Under-Contextualization: an unwillingness to contextualize because of . . .
Fear – Some Christians are unwilling to identify with particular aspects of people’s culture because they are genuinely seeking to preserve the gospel. They may be motivated by passages that instruct us not to associate with this world (e.g., Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15-17); therefore, they fear that identifying with unbelievers will compromise the gospel.
Legalism – Some Christians begin with the gospel but want to add other requirements which merely represent personal preferences or traditions. We see this in the Galatian heresy where the Galatians began with the gospel but wanted to add circumcision as a requirement. We may do the same thing when we see someone come to faith in Christ then expect that they should look a certain way, asking them to get a hair cut, change their clothes and remove their piercings. Think of a missionary who travels to reach a tribe somewhere in the world, and he introduces Western clothing as the only appropriate dress for Christians and the King James Bible as the only authorized version of Scripture. Of course it works the other way around as well.
Pride – Sometimes we are tempted to identify a particular culture as THE Christian culture. Pride is evidenced in an unwillingness to forsake our “cultural” rights for the sake of the unchurched. Our particular music, for example, is THE only acceptable biblical expression. At a grotesquely sinful level, we identify with a particular culture, people or nation to the point of discrimination.
Laziness – Unfortunately, perhaps many of us are simply too lazy to be concerned about the hard work of contextualization. We don’t want to learn about others and their culture; we don’t want to be uncomfortable; or we’re just simply to busy with our own lives that we don’t have time to concern ourselves with others.
Ignorance – Perhaps for too many Christians, they are just ignorant. I pray this is the case. Their hearts are not closed; they simply don’t know what to do. In this case I would encourage us to begin by asking questions and being open to learning about the people whom we are trying to reach with the gospel.
Over-Contextualization: a willingness to embrace worldliness through . . .
Marketing – In my mind this represents a superficial attempt to “look” like the people you are trying to reach without any real effort to know the people you are trying to reach. As an example take a church that wants to reach younger generations. They may start a contemporary service where the preacher takes off his tie, and they think they are contextualizing when they are only marketing: marketing a particular service or a particular “brand” in order to attract a certain market niche.
Syncretism – In this case biblical parameters (1 Corinthians 9:21) are re-interpreted, relativized or completely set aside in an effort to reach people. The result is that we become like the world, losing all distinction, and the gospel is devoid of power.
Contextualization requires continuous self-control and discipline (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
It requires the self-control and discipline to learn about those who live in your mission field, to pray for them and to serve them in order to bring the gospel to them in an understandable manner. Therefore, let us embrace the fact that we all contextualize, while asking ourselves whether or not we are contextualizing well.
Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels?
In an age of faith deconstruction and skepticism about the Bible’s authority, it’s common to hear claims that the Gospels are unreliable propaganda. And if the Gospels are shown to be historically unreliable, the whole foundation of Christianity begins to crumble.
