Gospel in Culture Indigenization and Contexutalization

Gospel in Culture

Indigenization and ContexutalizationIndigenization and Contexutalization

Gospel in Culture

Etic analysis of cultureEtic analysis of culture In anthropology the “etic” model, or construct, is In anthropology the “etic” model, or construct, is

the means of describing people and cultural the means of describing people and cultural phenomenon from “the analyst’s conceptual phenomenon from “the analyst’s conceptual categories and basic assumptions” rather than categories and basic assumptions” rather than from the categories and assumptions of the people from the categories and assumptions of the people with whom the anthropologist interacts (Hiebert with whom the anthropologist interacts (Hiebert 1983, 50). 1983, 50).

Gospel in Culture

Emic analysis of cultureEmic analysis of culture The emic model which describes people The emic model which describes people

and their cultural phenomenon from their and their cultural phenomenon from their perspective using their conceptual perspective using their conceptual categories and words. categories and words.

Gospel in Culture

EthnographyEthnography Methodology that looks for significant Methodology that looks for significant

patterns of behavior in social contexts and patterns of behavior in social contexts and seeks to interpret them according to the seeks to interpret them according to the insiders perspective.insiders perspective.

Studying a way of lifeStudying a way of life

Gospel in CultureFive Missiological Implications of Ethnographic Five Missiological Implications of Ethnographic

ResearchResearch Missionaries need to be competent in ethnographic Missionaries need to be competent in ethnographic

researchresearch Ethnographies are helpful in mission preparationEthnographies are helpful in mission preparation Crucial in ongoing contextualization and problem of Crucial in ongoing contextualization and problem of

nominalism nominalism Used to provide comparative data to help with strategiesUsed to provide comparative data to help with strategies Should be use by mission leaders to better understand Should be use by mission leaders to better understand

internationalization and globalizationinternationalization and globalization

Four Models Missions

ReplicationReplicationIndigenous (~1861)Indigenous (~1861)Contextualization (1971)Contextualization (1971)Self-Theologizing (Hiebert, 1985) Self-Theologizing (Hiebert, 1985)

Four Models MissionsReplication

Replication – A strictly etic model would coincide Replication – A strictly etic model would coincide with Shenk’s “replication model” or the “structural with Shenk’s “replication model” or the “structural model” in Lamin Sanneh’s words (Sanneh 1999, 66). model” in Lamin Sanneh’s words (Sanneh 1999, 66). Shenk describes the “replication model” as one that Shenk describes the “replication model” as one that “seeks to replicate or reproduce a church in another “seeks to replicate or reproduce a church in another culture patterned carefully after that of the church culture patterned carefully after that of the church from which the missionary originated.” The from which the missionary originated.” The missionary retains control and responsibility for the missionary retains control and responsibility for the church (1999, 51). The missionary also becomes the church (1999, 51). The missionary also becomes the final authority for theological reflection, application, final authority for theological reflection, application, and defining theological and cultural constructs. and defining theological and cultural constructs.

Four Models MissionsReplication Model

Cultural Grid

FormMeaning: Scripture: Exegesis/interpretation/application

Missionaries Missionaries CultureCulture

HostHostCultureCulture

Gospel TransmissionGospel TransmissionMeaning

Four Models MissionsIndigenization

Indigenization – the translatability of the Christian Indigenization – the translatability of the Christian faith into the forms and symbols of the particular faith into the forms and symbols of the particular cultures throughout the world. In other words, make cultures throughout the world. In other words, make the gospel intelligible and relevant in word and deed the gospel intelligible and relevant in word and deed to the eyes and ears of the people being taught.to the eyes and ears of the people being taught.

Rufus Anderson is considered the founder of the “indigenous Rufus Anderson is considered the founder of the “indigenous church principle” (Beaver 1967, 31). At the core of the church principle” (Beaver 1967, 31). At the core of the indigenous model is Anderson’s concept of the “three-selfs” indigenous model is Anderson’s concept of the “three-selfs” which is also associated with Henry Venn and John Nevius. which is also associated with Henry Venn and John Nevius.

John Nevius and Henry Venn Three-selfsJohn Nevius and Henry Venn Three-selfs

(1) Self-governing(1) Self-governing

(2) Self-propagating(2) Self-propagating

(3) Self-supporting(3) Self-supporting


Positive contributionsPositive contributions

(1) Churches were not as financially dependent on missionaries(1) Churches were not as financially dependent on missionaries

(2) In reacting to the “Old System” where “native churches” depend (2) In reacting to the “Old System” where “native churches” depend on foreign funds to support and stimulate growth, John Nevius places on foreign funds to support and stimulate growth, John Nevius places emphasis on “applying principles of independence and self-reliance” emphasis on “applying principles of independence and self-reliance” from the initiation of the new churches (1958, 8).from the initiation of the new churches (1958, 8).

(3) Provided a model for missionaries to assist in maturing (3) Provided a model for missionaries to assist in maturing independent churches.independent churches.

(4) Moved away from a total replication model.(4) Moved away from a total replication model.


Limitations and problemsLimitations and problems

(1) Control still in hands of missionary or mission(1) Control still in hands of missionary or mission

““This opening for paternalism is provided by giving the missionary This opening for paternalism is provided by giving the missionary responsibility to decide when a church is to be organized, to responsibility to decide when a church is to be organized, to determine how it shall be organized…” (Beaver 1967, 34)determine how it shall be organized…” (Beaver 1967, 34)

(2) Leadership controlled by missionary(2) Leadership controlled by missionary

The reduction of dependence on the mission funds did not reflect an The reduction of dependence on the mission funds did not reflect an equal independence from the control of the missionary. “The leader equal independence from the control of the missionary. “The leader constantly superintends, directs, and examines those under him; the constantly superintends, directs, and examines those under him; the helper directs and examines the leaders and their stations; and the helper directs and examines the leaders and their stations; and the missionary in charge has a general supervision and control of the missionary in charge has a general supervision and control of the whole” (Allen 1958, 32-33).whole” (Allen 1958, 32-33).

(3) Focus mainly on structural aspects and finances(3) Focus mainly on structural aspects and finances


Indigenous church conceptIndigenous church concept

(1)(1) Associated with Sidney J. W. ClarkAssociated with Sidney J. W. Clark

(2)(2) Clark published a pamphlet entitled Clark published a pamphlet entitled ““The Country Church The Country Church and Indigenous Christianityand Indigenous Christianity””, later published and given , later published and given worldwide circulation through the World Dominion Press under worldwide circulation through the World Dominion Press under the tile of the tile of ““The Indigenous Church.The Indigenous Church.””

(3)(3) By 1924 a movement was founded under the name of By 1924 a movement was founded under the name of ““World DominionWorld Dominion”” to propagate the to propagate the ““indigenous churchindigenous church”” theory. theory.


Indigenous church conceptIndigenous church concept

(4)(4) Two primary principles were added to the Two primary principles were added to the ““three-selfsthree-selfs””. .

First, First, ““the foreign missionary should devote himself to pioneer the foreign missionary should devote himself to pioneer evangelismevangelism”” and not take on and not take on ““pastoral duties for a pastoral duties for a congregationcongregation””. .

Second, Second, ““nothing should be instituted on the mission field by nothing should be instituted on the mission field by the mission which could not be taken over, maintained, and the mission which could not be taken over, maintained, and conducted by the native churchconducted by the native church”” (Ritchie 1946, 13-18). (Ritchie 1946, 13-18).


Four Models MissionsIndigenous Model

Form of Christianity to Form of Christianity to fit in cultural contextfit in cultural contextForm

Meaning

Four Models MissionsContextualization

Origin of concept: The term “contextualization” Origin of concept: The term “contextualization” came upon the missiological scene in 1972 with the came upon the missiological scene in 1972 with the publication of the Theological Education Fund’spublication of the Theological Education Fund’s (TEF)(TEF) Ministry in Context: The Third Mandate Ministry in Context: The Third Mandate. .

TEF observes that contextualization conveys “all that TEF observes that contextualization conveys “all that is implied in the familiar term ‘indigenization’ and is implied in the familiar term ‘indigenization’ and yet seeks to press beyond for a more dynamic concept yet seeks to press beyond for a more dynamic concept which is open to change and which is future-oriented” which is open to change and which is future-oriented” (Coe 1976, 21). (Coe 1976, 21).


Definition: Stephen Bevans defines contextual Definition: Stephen Bevans defines contextual theology as “a way of doing theology in which one theology as “a way of doing theology in which one takes into account: the spirit and message of the takes into account: the spirit and message of the gospel; the tradition of the Christian people; the gospel; the tradition of the Christian people; the culture in which one is theologizing; and social culture in which one is theologizing; and social change in that culture, whether brought about by change in that culture, whether brought about by western technological process or the grass-roots western technological process or the grass-roots struggle for equality, justice and liberation” (1992, struggle for equality, justice and liberation” (1992, 1). 1).


Definition: Victor Cole defines contextualization as “a Definition: Victor Cole defines contextualization as “a theological formulation from exegesis of biblical texts theological formulation from exegesis of biblical texts within a socio-cultural context, and a living out of that within a socio-cultural context, and a living out of that theology within the given cultural context, utilizing the theology within the given cultural context, utilizing the Bible as the only authority while recognizing the Bible as the only authority while recognizing the progress of biblical revelation” (1998, 12). progress of biblical revelation” (1998, 12).


Four arenas of contextualization according to Four arenas of contextualization according to the Theological Education Fund’s Report.the Theological Education Fund’s Report.

•Missiological – focus on renewal & reform issues for human Missiological – focus on renewal & reform issues for human development and justicedevelopment and justice

•Structural – develop structures socio-economic and Structural – develop structures socio-economic and political contextspolitical contexts

•Pedagogical – training in servant ministry, not elitism and Pedagogical – training in servant ministry, not elitism and authoritarianismauthoritarianism

•Theological – finding appropriate ways of doing theology in Theological – finding appropriate ways of doing theology in various contexts related to ministry issues within and various contexts related to ministry issues within and without the ministry contextswithout the ministry contexts Lienemann-Perrin 1981, 175Lienemann-Perrin 1981, 175


Fourth self Fourth self –– moving beyond indigenization moving beyond indigenization

Self-theologizing – Christians and church leaders do Self-theologizing – Christians and church leaders do their own theology through studying scripture and make their own theology through studying scripture and make application to their own cultural situation.application to their own cultural situation.

Four Models MissionsContextualization Model

Form

Meaning

Four Models MissionsEmic-Contextualization

(a) “Emic contextualization” is intended to convey the (a) “Emic contextualization” is intended to convey the idea that the host culture Christians are taking the idea that the host culture Christians are taking the leading role in contextualizing the gospel message in leading role in contextualizing the gospel message in their cultural context by increasingly providing the their cultural context by increasingly providing the theological categories for doing theology. theological categories for doing theology.

(b) Emic-contextualization progresses from a relatively (b) Emic-contextualization progresses from a relatively unconscious self-contextualization to a conscious unconscious self-contextualization to a conscious grappling with the application of biblical teaching to the grappling with the application of biblical teaching to the cultural context. cultural context.

(c) Thus for an African context, there would be (c) Thus for an African context, there would be particular African Christian theologies emerging from particular African Christian theologies emerging from their own contexts which address their daily concerns. their own contexts which address their daily concerns.

Four Models MissionsEmic-Contextualization Model

Form

Meaning

The six dimensions for evaluating emic-theologizing:The six dimensions for evaluating emic-theologizing:

• CognitiveCognitive• AffectiveAffective• EvaluativeEvaluative• MissiologicalMissiological• StructuralStructural• Ministerial Ministerial

Facilitating Emic-theologizing

Facilitating Emic-theologizingCognitiveCognitive - The “cognitive” dimension refers to “knowledge,” - The “cognitive” dimension refers to “knowledge,” but specifically, the ability to conceptualize biblical knowledge but specifically, the ability to conceptualize biblical knowledge from the educational process, from personal study, and from from the educational process, from personal study, and from experience to make application in various cultural contexts.experience to make application in various cultural contexts.

AffectiveAffective - The “affective” dimension involves the feelings the - The “affective” dimension involves the feelings the ministers have toward their theological education experience ministers have toward their theological education experience both positive and negative. both positive and negative.

EvaluativeEvaluative - “Evaluative” refers to the ability to interact with - “Evaluative” refers to the ability to interact with one’s own cultural heritage, current socio-cultural context, one’s own cultural heritage, current socio-cultural context, and the church context to apply the biblical message to make and the church context to apply the biblical message to make decisions in determining right and wrong within a ministry decisions in determining right and wrong within a ministry contextcontext

Facilitating Emic-theologizingMissiologicalMissiological - The “missiological” dimension focuses on - The “missiological” dimension focuses on developing training that addresses renewal and reform issues developing training that addresses renewal and reform issues in the church dealing with human development and justice in in the church dealing with human development and justice in its particular context.its particular context.

StructuralStructural - The “structural” category refers to the - The “structural” category refers to the administrative and infrastructure of the church and its various administrative and infrastructure of the church and its various institutions for carrying on ministry and providing training institutions for carrying on ministry and providing training sensitive to the socio-economic and political contexts.sensitive to the socio-economic and political contexts.

MinisterialMinisterial - The “ministerial” dimension carries the idea - The “ministerial” dimension carries the idea that the ministers and other church leaders see themselves as that the ministers and other church leaders see themselves as developing in their ministry skills and personally developing in their ministry skills and personally experiencing a dynamic relationship with God in their experiencing a dynamic relationship with God in their churches and communities.churches and communities.

Critical ContextualizationThe Process

• Exegesis of cultureExegesis of culture

• Exegesis of scripture & hermeneutical bridgeExegesis of scripture & hermeneutical bridge

• Critical responseCritical response

• New contextualized practicesNew contextualized practices

Critical ContextualizationExegesis of Culture

““The first step calls for a phenomenological The first step calls for a phenomenological analysis of the culture. This involves analysis of the culture. This involves studying the culture to understand “the studying the culture to understand “the categories, assumptions and logic the people categories, assumptions and logic the people use to construct their world.” use to construct their world.”

Critical ContextualizationExegesis of Scripture & Hermeneutical Bridge

In the second step, there is a need for an In the second step, there is a need for an “ontological critique” that tests “the truth claims “ontological critique” that tests “the truth claims of different beliefs and values.” of different beliefs and values.”

The two criteria for testing truth are: The two criteria for testing truth are:

(1) Scripture(1) Scripture

(2) “Reality testing” to avoid an ethnocentric (2) “Reality testing” to avoid an ethnocentric understanding of reality. “Reality testing” calls understanding of reality. “Reality testing” calls for an examination of one’s own understanding for an examination of one’s own understanding of reality and that of the host culture. of reality and that of the host culture.

Critical ContextualizationCritical Response

The third step calls for an “evaluative The third step calls for an “evaluative response” which means one critically response” which means one critically evaluates his/her own beliefs, customs, and evaluates his/her own beliefs, customs, and cultural norms in light of the improved cultural norms in light of the improved understanding of the other culture and one’s understanding of the other culture and one’s own previous biblical understanding and own previous biblical understanding and cultural assumptions. cultural assumptions.

Critical ContextualizationNew Contextualized Practices

The fourth step envisions “transformative The fourth step envisions “transformative ministries” that assist people to “move from ministries” that assist people to “move from where they are to where God wants them to where they are to where God wants them to be” (1994, 88-90; 1999, 21-29). be” (1994, 88-90; 1999, 21-29).

Critical ContextualizationTheology

Millard J. Erickson defines theology as “that Millard J. Erickson defines theology as “that discipline which strives to give a discipline which strives to give a coherent coherent statement of the doctrinesstatement of the doctrines of the Christian of the Christian faith, based primarily upon Scripture, placed faith, based primarily upon Scripture, placed within the context of culture in general, within the context of culture in general, worded in a contemporary idiom, and related worded in a contemporary idiom, and related to issues of life” (1985, 21). to issues of life” (1985, 21).


Theology may originally only been the Theology may originally only been the cultivation of a spiritual reflective habit or cultivation of a spiritual reflective habit or disposition in the believer.disposition in the believer.

Enlightenment: The science of systematically, Enlightenment: The science of systematically, rationally, and without necessity of any rationally, and without necessity of any accompanying faith in the supernatural accompanying faith in the supernatural character of its object of study.character of its object of study.


Reformation: Emphasized sola scritura and Reformation: Emphasized sola scritura and sola gratia turning theology from a mere sola gratia turning theology from a mere metaphysical science of ontological metaphysical science of ontological speculation to a systematic search for God’s speculation to a systematic search for God’s wisdom. (Systematic Theology)wisdom. (Systematic Theology)


Meta-theology – is “a set of procedures by Meta-theology – is “a set of procedures by which different theologies, each a partial which different theologies, each a partial understanding of the truth in a certain understanding of the truth in a certain context, could be constructed” which are context, could be constructed” which are rooted in the scripture and person of Jesus rooted in the scripture and person of Jesus Christ (Hiebert 1994, 101)Christ (Hiebert 1994, 101)


Theology is the process by which a person Theology is the process by which a person interacts with God’s revelation given within interacts with God’s revelation given within its own contexts and from which a person its own contexts and from which a person discovers the original meaning of scripture discovers the original meaning of scripture and makes application to his/her own context, and makes application to his/her own context, expressed in the language and idioms of the expressed in the language and idioms of the culture.culture.

Theology: Understanding Scripture in a Cultural Context

Hiebert – Anthropological Reflections (47)God’s Self Revelation

Bible

Culture

Theology

BibleBible

TheologyTheology

CultureCulture

Contextualization/MetatheologyThe Process

• Bible Translated into the new languageBible Translated into the new language

• Old customs must be evaluated in light of Old customs must be evaluated in light of scripturescripture

• The church needs to become a new The church needs to become a new sociocultural order in light of scripturesociocultural order in light of scripture

• The church in sociocultural settings must The church in sociocultural settings must develop it own theology by applying develop it own theology by applying biblical truth to their context – “Self-biblical truth to their context – “Self-theologizing”theologizing”

1.1. Biblical revelation is the standard by which Biblical revelation is the standard by which all practices and beliefs are measuredall practices and beliefs are measured

2.2. Holy Spirit works in all the believersHoly Spirit works in all the believers

3.3. Church acts as a hermeneutical Church acts as a hermeneutical communitycommunity

4.4. Worldwide hermeneutical communityWorldwide hermeneutical community

Contextualization/MetatheologyChecks on Syncretism

Documents

Gospel in Culture Indigenization and Contexutalization