WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

210 WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES
(5) Finally, we see “Mature Colabourship” in the advance of the Gospel. The
apostolic team has assumed its role and the receivers spread the Gospel in
context undistorted by cultural traditions. As Jim Petersen states: “The issue in
contextualization is the truth and mobility of the Gospel…It means taking care
that it remains undistorted by the culture of the hearer as it is being received.
The Gospel plus anything…becomes a non-Gospel”. 18
In practice, this process can be complex and even messy. One obvious
problem comes from one’s own traditions. The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15)
had to convene to deal with this problem and Galatians was written because
“the truth of the Gospel” was being threatened. We see Paul in heated battle
with Peter on this issue. James’ words in Acts 15:19 are a reminder “that we
should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God”.
I was helped reading Paul Hiebert’s book, Anthropological Reflections on
Missiological Issues where he writes about “ Bounded sets” and “Centered sets”. 19
Western culture and churches often think and operate as bounded sets with a
Greek worldview of reality. Hiebert examines Hebrew culture as a “centered
set”. This helped me to see the dangers of “Churchianity” (promoting the
traditions and forms of church), of promoting Christianity (as a religion) and
not focusing on the Person of Christ.
In the 1980s, more Asians were responding to the challenge of crosscultural
missions, many going as bi-vocational tentmakers to restricted access
countries. The lack of missionary preparation and pre-field orientation became
evident. In Singapore, mission leaders from eight mission societies met, and
under the leadership of Dr James Taylor of Overseas Missionary Fellowship,
formed the Asia Cross-Cultural Training Institute (ACTI). We developed a
curriculum which included Cross-Cultural Living and Ministry,
Contextualization and Cultural Anthropology. ACTI continues to function well.
Its September 2007 publication, Asian Mission, has its focus on
“Contextualization and the Church”. 20
Churches are growing in Africa, Asia and in Latin America. When
evangelical statesman, John Stott was asked about this enormous growth, his
response was that the growth was a fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham.
When asked how he evaluated this growth, he said, “The answer is, ‘growth
without depth’”. 21 This speaks again of the importance of laying the foundations
of the Gospel well. It also emphasizes the importance of establishing our
churches, ensuring that true spiritual transformation is taking place. In doing
so, I have learned the importance of concepts such as function, form and
meaning. Are the functions and forms relevant as we see the work of God in
the growth of faith communities?
18 Ibid, pages 10-11.
19 Paul G Hiebert, Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues, (Grand Rapids:Baker Books, 1994), pages 110-136
20 ACTI website (look under “PRESS”)
21 Christianity Today, October 2006