WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

10 WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES
Later, Paul himself had to sharply rebuke Peter when cultural traditions
again became an issue. Peter, as a Jew, had wanted the Gentile believers to
adopt Jewish cultural traditions when they received the Gospel. As far as Paul
was concerned, Peter’s behaviour was clearly insensitive. The truth of the Gospel
was at stake (Galatians 2:11-14).
It is important to note that the Gospel spreads in context by the continued
witness of insiders as followers of Christ. Tension sometimes arises when
missionaries or other “outsiders” make judgements. Some even write negative
critiques about these movements of the Gospel, and wittingly or unwittingly
try to impose their views of how “church” ought to be carried out. They have
also criticised the purity of the faith of these believers.
As we saw in Galatians 2, Paul had to rebuke Peter when traditions like
circumcision became an issue. In trying to make the Gentiles practise Jewish
traditions, the truth of the Gospel was at stake. Just imagine what would have
happened if the Gentiles were forced to be circumcised. That would have
tarnished the purity of the Gospel and stopped its movement among the
Gentiles.
The Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 had to deal with this issue and
thankfully resolved the issue. Similarly, we must allow followers of Christ to
advance the Gospel in their context under the leading of the Holy Spirit without
bringing in alien forms that will communicate different meanings to the Gospel.
The Gospel grew at Colosse and beyond, because Epaphras, himself a Colossian,
brought the “word of truth” and the people “understood God’s grace in all its
truth” (Colossians 1:5-7; 4:12).
“The issue in contextualisation”, states Jim Petersen “is the truth and
mobility of the Gospel. It is making sure the Gospel is clear of cultural and
traditional accretions as it is carried into the host culture. It means taking care
that it remains undistorted by the culture of the hearer as it is being received.
The Gospel plus anything at all becomes a non-Gospel.”
These key principles in contextualisation are absolutely crucial for the
advance of the Gospel. Apostolic ministries, like that of Paul and his team, will
take the issue of contextualisation seriously. Their long-term perspective
envisions the growth of the Gospel in the receiver’s context. 9 New believers are
transformed by the Gospel as they meet in relevant faith communities. The
communities gradually grow in maturity with some, having the gifts of
leadership, becoming leaders. Such local followers of Christ are “insiders” living
in their own culture. Having received the Gospel without distortion for their
local context, the “insiders” can be effective messengers to advance the good
news through their local and regional witness of the Gospel.
9 For a long-term perspective, see Appendix B: Six Critical Factors for a Multiplying Ministry