CONTEXTUALIZATION

Each group list 3 things for each question: What in American churches are timeless truths? What is cultural?

Culture:
"We use the term 'culture' to refer to the common ideas, feelings, and values that guide community and personal behaviors, that organize and regulate what the group thinks, feels, and does about God, the world, and humanity."
(The Evangelical Dictionary of World Religions)

How are we influenced by our culture?

CONTEXTUALIZATION

• Center around communication.
• True biblical contextualization should have a goal of clearly presenting the gospel.

THE SPECTRUM OF CONTEXTUALIZATION

C-1:

• Traditional church structure
• Use local trade or national language
• Reflects Western church style & practices

C-2:

• Traditional church structure
• Use the people's daily language
• Only varies with language

C-3:

• Contextualized local church
• Local language & arts reflected in the worship

C-4:

• Contextualized congregation reflecting local language, arts, etc.
• Use of biblically acceptable lifestyle cultural practices

C-5:

• Congregations who follow Christ yet remain legally & culturally Muslim.
• They are perceived as Muslims who are spiritually different
• Continuance of Islamic practices

C-6:

• Clusters of secret believers or individuals within Islam
• Little if any contact with other believers
• They would accept much Muslim doctrine yet add to it Christianity

INSIDER MUSLIM CHRISTIAN

SON OF GOD

AMERICAN MISSIONARIES

AMERICAN NATIONALISM

THE AMISH

WHERE DO YOU FALL?