Discipleship and Christianity
Since its earliest expression, followers of Christ in the church distinguished themselves among other regional religions as a faith that meets the listener in their cultural milieu and seeks to explain Jesus in a historically accurate, culturally sensitive way. Unlike many global religions, Christianity translates and accommodates the limitations of the audience to make Christ known. Today, pastors make this plain as they explain the Bible and its meaning. Missionaries seek to understand the receptor culture as they go to reach them.
Christians follow Christ in this example, as He revealed himself through ancient near eastern categories of thought among the exiting Israelites all the way to the post-exilic Jews who longed for the Anointed One to come and save.
As followers, how do we appropriately accommodate the cultural and linguistic dynamics of an unreached, unengaged people group?
What limitations should we embrace as we carry the message of hope?
Can cultural accommodation cross the line?
Can linguistic translation cross the same line?
1Suzanne
wrote on 25 July 2010 at 17:06
As long as the gospel is shared in truth I don’t think it matters the delivery mechanism. That is always my litmus test, what are people sharing? not how they say it or what music accompanies them or what they wear.
I went to a very contemporary service with rock and rap music, it was not my preference but the gospel, Jesus Christ, crucified, and risen to save us from our sins was preached. I was fine with that church. A few weeks later I went to a very traditional church in hymns and structure but they preached that Jesus was just one of the ways to get to heaven. I was very upset with that church.
Don’t water down the gospel, its about getting God’s word out we don’t have to convince anyone. the Holy Spirit will work with those that hear.