WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

AN EXAMPLE OF CONTEXTUALISATION AMONG JAPANESE
and Heaven. These subjects are of limited relevance to most Japanese.
Christian messengers need to be familiar with the interests of the
Japanese and be convinced themselves that the Scriptures have a message that
can attract the attention of the Japanese and speak to their needs. Here are
some suggested topics of conversation.
About GOD: Polytheism, Idolatry, Satan, Angels, Ancestor Worship
Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Heresy
About MAN: Worth and Purpose of the Individual, Growth of Man, Trials
and Difficulties, Man and Woman, Marriage and Home, Aging and Death,
After Death, Work, Gifts and Talents, Social System, Culture, Education,
Science, Art, Social Justice, Poverty
About NATURE: Worth and Purpose of Nature, Growth of Nature, Beauty of
Nature, Protection of Nature, Problems of the Environment, Development of
the Universe, Energy Problems, Coexistence of Man and Nature, Threat of
Nature, Evolution
2. Our attitude must be loving and accepting, not a critical one. A genuine
desire to understand the Japanese will often bring about a reciprocal response
on their part to understand and listen to us. We also need to realise that
God is at work in their hearts to seek the truth. We should avoid thinking
that what they do and think is all wrong. Our acceptance of their points of view
will encourage them to listen to our message.
3. We should avoid the individualism of the West where the focus of Gospel
presentations is on the individual. Japanese society is not individualistic. It is
based on harmony or “wa”. Therefore we too need to be conscious of our
harmony with others. It is natural to start with the whole, then to proceed to
the individual, and to go back to the whole. In other words, we begin with
God’s overall plan, then speak to the need of the individual and finally conclude
with God’s whole plan.
The Gospel should be conveyed in the following way:
• Talk about God’s plan and the Spirit of Harmony or Shalom in His
first Creation.
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