Lecture 21-The Problem & Solution
Download as PPSX, PDF0 likes150 views
This document discusses various challenges and approaches to communicating the gospel to Indian communities. It outlines theological, historical, social, and spiritual difficulties that some Indian people have with Christianity. These include issues with concepts of eternity, reincarnation, and the deity of Christ. It also describes sociological barriers like name changes, dress, and cultural practices that make conversion difficult. The document evaluates different missiological methods and advocates for culturally relevant approaches like inculturation that critically engage rather than reject local cultures. It emphasizes the need to present an Indian, not Western, version of Christ to make the gospel more accessible.
![“English Christ”
“It is true that the people of India have been satisfied,
in some measure, with what they have heard and read
about Jesus, but they have been disappointed in a
much greater measure. For England has sent us, after
all, a Western Christ. This is indeed to be regretted.
Our countrymen find that in this Christ, sent by
England, there is
something that is not quite congenial to the native
mind, not quite acceptable to the genius of the
nation. It seems that the Christ that has come to us is
an
Englishman, with English manners and customs
about him, and with the temper and spirit of an
Englishman about
him.” [K.C. Sen]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lecture-21-theproblemsolution-200819111317/85/Lecture-21-The-Problem-Solution-13-320.jpg)
![“Jesus, the Bread of Life”
“Before the bread of life (the Christian
faith) came to our part of Africa, it
stayed in Europe for over a thousand
years. There the Europeans added a
plastic bag (their own customs) to the
bread. And when they came to
southern Africa, they fed us the bag
along with the bread. Now, the plastic
bag is making us sick! The plastic is
theirs. We know that God planned for
us to receive the bread just as he
planned for them to receive it. We can
remove the plastic and enjoy the
bread.” [Professor B. Makhathini of the
University of Swaziland]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lecture-21-theproblemsolution-200819111317/85/Lecture-21-The-Problem-Solution-14-320.jpg)
![Need for Culturally Relevant Ministry
1. The translatability and transculturality of
the gospel
2. Cultural and contextual embeddedness of
the people and communities
3. The cultural diversity and plural ethos of
India
4. The anti Christian negative propaganda
5. The changing missiological scenario in
India
6. The alarming attrition among many new
believers
The incarnational model and mandate of Jesus Christ
[JohnD
1r.P
:ra
1bh
4uS
,ing
2h
0:21]
Indian version: Jesus @ the well](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lecture-21-theproblemsolution-200819111317/85/Lecture-21-The-Problem-Solution-15-320.jpg)
![What is Culture?
• Culture as “way of life of a group of people”
• Culture as “mental map” and “software of the mind”
Biblical view of Culture
• God has created Humans with the capacity to create culture
• Humans create culture, which in turn shapes them.
• Humans are both good [created in the image of God] and bad
[fallen].
• Therefore all cultures have both good and bad elements.
• No single culture is fundamentally good or fundamentally bad.
Gospel’s Engagement with Culture
• Therefore, the gospel affirms what is good, condemns
what is bad and transforms the whole culture.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lecture-21-theproblemsolution-200819111317/85/Lecture-21-The-Problem-Solution-16-320.jpg)
Lecture 21-The Problem & Solution
- 1. COACH Institute of Intercultural Studies, Hyderabad Gospel & Culture Dr. Pothana
- 2. The Problem & Possible Solution
- 3. The Main Difficulties that Friends have with the Christian faith B. Historical difficulties •The Christian testimony •The Conquering mindset •The Colonial Period •The modern and post modern culture of the “West” C. Social difficulties •Changing religion •Group consensus – family decision •Marriage etc. D. Spiritual difficulties A. Theological difficulties •The Eternity – Many Friends want to escape from eternity. •Concept of re-incarnation •The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ – He is a good holy man One among other gods.
- 4. Obstacles to the communication of the Gospel to Hethne Indian Inquirers External Barriers Allegiance to Jesus Christ and Conversion Name change Foreign dress Worship style Western outlook Festival celebrations Marriage ceremonies Birth and funeral ceremonies Church architecture Foreign language Prayer forms Family bond Music Eating beef
- 5. People would like to become followers of Christ without changing their name and culture. The main barrier is not the Christ but the sociological factor.
- 8. Different Approaches to Witness to Friends Confrontational Method: World-view Confrontation Traditional Evangelical Method: Bible says… Institutional Approach: Schools and hospitals The Simple Gospel Approach: 4 spiritual laws Pentecostal Power & Pragmatic Approaches: Miracles Fulfillment Theory: Christ in Vedas Inculturation Method: Catholics method Homogenous Unit Principle: Community based Churches
- 9. Critical contextualization neither denies the people’s old cultural practices nor accepts them uncritically; rather it deals with the old by studying and critically evaluating it in the light of Biblical norms
- 10. Balance
- 11. Gospel, Culture and Seva among Indian Communities
- 12. Mahatma Gandhi’s critique of Christian conversion in his autobiography, An Autobiography or The Story of my Experiments with Truth (1956). “In those days Christian missionaries used to stand in a corner near the high school and hold forth, pouring abuse on Friends and their gods. I could not endure this. I must have stood there to hear them once only, but that was enough to dissuade me from repeating the experiment. About the same time, I heard of a well known Hindu having been converted to Christianity. It was the talk of the town that, when he was baptized, he had to eat beef and drink liquor, that he also had to change his clothes, and hence forth he began to go about in European costume including a hat. These things got on my nerves. Surely, thought I, a religion that compelled one to eat beef, drink liquor and change one’s own clothes did not deserve the name. I also heard that the new convert had already begun abusing the religion of his ancestors, their customs and their country. All these things created in me a dislike for Christianity.” Gandhi’s Critique – Conversion as Anti - ‐ Hindu religion, culture & nation Is it true?
- 13. “English Christ” “It is true that the people of India have been satisfied, in some measure, with what they have heard and read about Jesus, but they have been disappointed in a much greater measure. For England has sent us, after all, a Western Christ. This is indeed to be regretted. Our countrymen find that in this Christ, sent by England, there is something that is not quite congenial to the native mind, not quite acceptable to the genius of the nation. It seems that the Christ that has come to us is an Englishman, with English manners and customs about him, and with the temper and spirit of an Englishman about him.” [K.C. Sen]
- 14. “Jesus, the Bread of Life” “Before the bread of life (the Christian faith) came to our part of Africa, it stayed in Europe for over a thousand years. There the Europeans added a plastic bag (their own customs) to the bread. And when they came to southern Africa, they fed us the bag along with the bread. Now, the plastic bag is making us sick! The plastic is theirs. We know that God planned for us to receive the bread just as he planned for them to receive it. We can remove the plastic and enjoy the bread.” [Professor B. Makhathini of the University of Swaziland]
- 15. Need for Culturally Relevant Ministry 1. The translatability and transculturality of the gospel 2. Cultural and contextual embeddedness of the people and communities 3. The cultural diversity and plural ethos of India 4. The anti Christian negative propaganda 5. The changing missiological scenario in India 6. The alarming attrition among many new believers The incarnational model and mandate of Jesus Christ [JohnD 1r.P :ra 1bh 4uS ,ing 2h 0:21] Indian version: Jesus @ the well
- 16. What is Culture? • Culture as “way of life of a group of people” • Culture as “mental map” and “software of the mind” Biblical view of Culture • God has created Humans with the capacity to create culture • Humans create culture, which in turn shapes them. • Humans are both good [created in the image of God] and bad [fallen]. • Therefore all cultures have both good and bad elements. • No single culture is fundamentally good or fundamentally bad. Gospel’s Engagement with Culture • Therefore, the gospel affirms what is good, condemns what is bad and transforms the whole culture.
- 17. Four Flawed Views of Culture 1. The Elitist View (The Other has no culture) 2. The Ethnocentric View (The Other has culture but is not developed as mine) 3. The Exorcist View (The Others’ culture is demonic and evil) 4. The Exotic View (The Others’culture is divine and good)
- 18. Paul’s Attitude towards Culture 2. Relativizing Culture 4. Transforming Culture 3. Confronting Culture 1. Affirming Culture 1 CORINTHIANS 9 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
- 20. Two Models of Missions: Sowing Seed: Effective contextualization Transplanting: Ethnocentric Attitudes, Easy Methodology
- 21. Some practical ways… Prayer : Effective key to open the doors Reaching Hethne through Hethne Intentional friendship with Hethne: Nishkama Karma Engaging in social life of Hethne Engage in religious life of Hethne Home based prayer groups Share your Spiritual experiences Offer help in their struggles Let them see your spiritual strength