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Chapter 2-THEO-201- Contextualizing-THE-
Christian- Message
Theology Survey I (Liberty University)
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CHAPTER 2
Contextualizing the Christian Message
THEO-201
Contextualizing = Making Timeless Truth, Timely! …contend for the truth once-for-all
delivered:
-
God9s Ancient Word <> Our Contemporary world
- #1 Task to contextualize the Gospel of Christ
- 2 Dangers for the contextualizing process…
- 3 Approaches to contextualize the Gospel
- 4 Theories to find the permanent elements
- 5 Criteria to determine the truths that endure
Memorize: Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common
salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for
all delivered to the saints.
From The Biblical Text To Our Contemporary Context:
- Challenge of…. - Making divinely revealed, unchanging Word of truth (text)
applicable to the world's constantly changing complex contexts
1. Length – lifespans of thoughts; St. Augustine to Rob Bell
2. Breadth – relevance of Truth to global, cultural settings
3. Depth – absolute truth to sentimental, situational ethics
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4. Height – the Gospel9s exclusivity in diversity and plurality
#1: Task
- to retain the content and meaning of the Biblical message….
- While applying it to today9s many life-setting/situations!
- Contextualizing is… …. Communicating the Gospel which implies:
1. Crossing boundaries (socio-economic, cultural)
2. Cutting through barriers (e.g. language, race…)
3. Constructing Bridges (being a missionary today)
#2: Dangers
- in making context as… King!
- Need for speed, but lost in translation?
- You need to think in three directions
- Crossing cultural… context, context, contexts
1. Biblical Times – many ways of life; span of 1600 years
2. Personal – worldview, heritage, bias or persuasion
3. Global Target audience9s indigenous mindset
- 2 Dangers
- Mind the Gap! Our contemporary ethos of… (will be on the exam)
1. Syncretism – conforming so culturally; no difference!
2. Eclecticism – combining uncritically; mix and match?
Avoid autonomy, creating new independent viewpoints!
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#3: Approaches
- toward a proper hermeneutic
- 3 Methods to contextualize God9s 1 Message: The 3 T9s
1. Transplanters – cut paste the Word to do all the work
2. Transformers – change everything to make new sense
3. Translators – ensuring nothing is lost in strategic com!
Be Biblically faithful yet culturally sensitive and relevant
- Goal to retain meaning of message with whatever method
- Do not… dilute, distort or disengage… God9s Truth!
#4: Theories
- carefully discern the permanent elements!
-
is 8foot-washing9 a command?
1. Institutional tradition makes truth explicit (RC Church)
2. Personal experience confirms the reality (H.E. Fosdick)
3.
Ethical-moral living of Jesus9 teaching (Rauschenbusch)
4. Biblical doctrine the indispensable ground (G. Machen)
- God said it, I/Church believe it, and… that settles it?!
- God primarily speaks through what he has spoken which is
written!
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#5: Criteria
- for the message9s permanence… e.g. is the Great Commission binding?
1.
Length – is it constant across all cultures? 8Sacrifice9 then, now?
2. Breadth – has it universal scope? Global settings and application
3. Height – has its basic values, moral norm for all people, all times!
4. Essential – experience links to fact not principle, e.g. Jesus arose!
5. Full/Final – in progressive revelation?
- The substance does not shadow
- Key: finding the abiding essence although varied expressions
