Contextualizing the gospel

© 2013 Mission ONE. Created by Werner Mischke / werner@mission1.org
What does it
mean to
contextualize
the gospel?
Wednesday, May 22, 13

A classic
Bible text on
contextualization…

(19) For though I am free from all, I have made myself
a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
(20) To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win
Jews. To those under the law I became as one
under the law (though not being myself under the
law) that I might win those under the law.
(21) To those outside the law I became as one outside
the law (not being outside the law of God but
under the law of Christ) that I might win those
outside the law.
(22) To the weak I became weak, that I might win the
weak. I have become all things to all people, that
by all means I might save some.
(23) I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may
share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ESV

How can the gospel “come alive”
in all these different cultural
contexts, and still be the same
authentic gospel? That is the
problem of contextualization.
–Lesslie Newbigin,
The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society, p.144

Here’s a way of thinking about
contextualization based on ideas from
Jackson Wu’s book:
Saving God’s Face: A Chinese
Contextualization of Salvation
through Honor and Shame

Biblical Truth
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1
From Jackson Wu: Saving God’s Face: A Chinese Contextualization of Salvation through Honor and
Shame (EMS Dissertation Series, William Carey International University Press: Pasadena, 2013) 52-53.

Biblical Truth
Theology
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Biblical Truth
Theology
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1
Note: The totality of Biblical truth is
always greater than our theology.

Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
Area 1: One’s theology is biblical and
correct but a culture rejects the truth.
1
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Area 2: The culture has accepted biblical
categories and values (perhaps
unknowingly), but which are outside of
one’s theology.
Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Area 3: Values and beliefs are consistent
with biblical truth, one’s theology and the
cultural context.
Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Area 4: One’s theology is accepted by the
cultural context, but is outside of biblical
truth.
Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
4
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Area 5: Beliefs are part of one’s theology,
but are neither biblical nor overlap with
the cultural context.
Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
45
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Area 6: Beliefs and values in the cultural
context are neither biblical nor a part of
one’s theology.
Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
45 6
Jackson Wu’s
Figure 1

Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
45 6
one’s theology.

Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
45 6
one’s theology.
What are some values
from other cultures
which might fit into
Area 2 ?

Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
45 6
one’s theology.
What are some values
from other cultures
which might fit into
Area 2 ?
• honor/shame
• respect for
ancestors
• narrative
• ?

Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural
Context
1 2
3
45 6
one’s theology.
Area 2 is
where
“blind spots”
occur

Example of a
blind spot

Timothy Tennent, President, Asbury Theological Seminary
Theology in the Context of World Christianity, p.93
Since Western systematic theology has been
almost exclusively written by theologians from
cultures framed primarily by the values of guilt and
innocence, there has been a corresponding failure to
fully appreciate the importance of the pivotal values
of honor and shame in understanding Scripture and
the doctrine of sin.
Bruce Nichols, the founder of the “Evangelical
Review of Theology,” has acknowledged this problem,
noting that Christian theologians have “rarely if ever
stressed salvation as honoring God, exposure of sin as
shame, and the need for acceptance as the restoration
of honor.”*
‘‘
*Bruce Nicholls: “The Role of Shame and Guilt in a Theology of Cross-Cultural Mission,” Evangelical Review of Theology 25, no. 3, (2001): 232.

In fact, a survey of all of the leading textbooks used
in teaching systematic theology across the major
theological traditions reveals that although the
indexes are filled with references to guilt, the word
“shame” appears in the index of only one of these
textbooks. This omission continues to persist despite
the fact that the term guilt and its various derivatives
occur 145 times in the Old Testament and 10 times in
the New Testament, whereas the term shame and its
derivatives occur nearly 300 times in the Old
Testament and 45 times in the New Testament.”
‘‘

This is clearly an area where systematic theology
must be challenged to reflect more adequately the
testimony of Scripture. I am confident that a more
biblical understanding of human identity outside of
Christ that is framed by guilt, fear, and shame will, in
turn, stimulate a more profound and comprehensive
appreciation for the work of Christ on the cross. This
approach will also greatly help peoples in the
Majority World to understand the significance and
power of Christ’s work, which has heretofore been
told primarily from only one perspective.
‘‘
’’

0
100
200
300
400
Guilt-based words Shame-based words
Old Testament
New Testament
Guilt
Shame
References to Guilt
vs. Shame in the Bible

0
100
200
300
400
Guilt-based words Shame-based words
Old Testament
New Testament
Guilt
Shame
References to Guilt
vs. Shame in the Bible
Could it be
we have a
blind
spot?

narrative / oral propositional / written
honor / shame guilt / innocence
kingdom / regal democratic / legal
familial / ancestral individual / present-future
obedience / concrete knowledge / abstract
mystery / both-and logical / either-or
poverty / vulnerability wealth / stability
Canopy of Biblical Truth
Spectrums of Biblical-Cultural values, Set 1

suffering / vulnerability wealth / stability

Western

Are there other “spectrums
of biblical/cultural values”?
Yes. For example…

glory to God glory for humanity
justice for oppressed
justice for oppressor acceptance of injustice
subjective / emotional objective / intellectual
everyday / local cosmic / universal
Israel relativized Israel prioritized
romantic / desire militant / duty

Could it be we have
multiple
blind spots
?

“We must start with the basic fact
that there is no such thing as a pure
gospel if by that is meant something
which is not embodied in a culture.
… Every interpretation of the
gospel is embodied in some
cultural form.”

Let’s look at an example of
a gospel presentation which
is embodied in the cultural
form of Western American
evangelicalism:

The Four Spiritual Laws
© CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ).
Taken from http://www.campuscrusade.com/fourlawseng.htm
Let’s look at an example of
a gospel presentation which
is embodied in the cultural
form of Western American
evangelicalism:

Four Spiritual Laws

“Every interpretation
of the gospel
is embodied in some
cultural form.”
Again…

Western
?

?

?
Are there ways to
present the gospel of
Jesus Christ using
cultural forms and
values which
resonate more
deeply with Majority
World cultures?

YES.
Here’s an example of the
gospel which is designed to
resonate more deeply with
many Majority World
cultures.

YES.
Here’s an example of the
gospel which is designed to
resonate more deeply with
many Majority World
cultures.
It emphasizes story, family,
and the cultural value of
honor and shame.

Who will have their honor restored?
TheFather’sLove
A story told
by Jesus Christ
Luke 15:11–32

There was a man
who had two sons.
The younger son said
to his father,
“Give me now the part
of your property that
I am supposed to
receive someday.”
Jesus Christ told many beautiful stories and parables.
Perhaps this is the most famous:
Whatmadetheyoungerson’sdemand
soinsultingandhurtful?
Scripture quotations are fromThe Holy Bible, Easy-To-ReadVersion (ERV), Copyright © 2006 byWorldTranslation Center. Drawings Copyright © Robert H. Flores. www.bibleartbooks.com

So the father divided
his wealth between
his two sons.
Not long after that,
the younger son sold
his share of the property
and left home
with the money.
He traveled far away
to another country.
Whatwillthesondointhefarcountry?
Whydidthefatheragree
tohisrequest?

There he wasted his
money living like a fool.
After he spent
everything he had,
there was a terrible
famine [lack of food]
throughout the country.
He was hungry and
needed money.
Whywerehisactionssobad?

So he went and got a job
with one of the people
who lived there.
The man sent him into
the fields to feed pigs.
He was so hungry that
he wanted to eat the food
the pigs were eating.
But no one gave him
anything.
Whatwillthesondonow?
Howishetryingtostayalive?

The son realized that he
had been very foolish.
He thought,
“All my father’s hired
workers have
plenty of food.
But here I am,
almost dead because
I have nothing to eat.”
Whydidhefinallygainhumility?

“I will leave and go to my
father. I will say to him:
‘Father, I have sinned
against God and have
done wrong to you.
I am no longer worthy
to be called your son.
But let me be like one of
your hired workers.’”
Whenhegetshome,whatshouldhisfatherdo?
Isthereawayout?
Stay
here?
Go home and
be a slave?
Steal the
pigs?
?

So he left and
went to his father.
But while the son
was still a
long
way
off,
Whatdoesthesonthinkthat
hisfatherwilldotohim?

his father saw
him coming and felt
sorry for him. So he ran
to him and hugged
and kissed him.
Whataretheneighborsthinking?
Astheneighborswerewatching,
howdidthefatherprotecthis
sonfrombeingshamed?
Itwasabigshameonthefather
toruntohisson!

The son said,
“Father, I have sinned
against God and have
done wrong to you.
I am no longer worthy to
be called your son.”
Whatdoestheyoungersonneed?

But the father called
to his servants,“Hurry!
Bring the best clothes
and put them on him.
Also, put a ring on his
finger and good
sandals on his feet.
And bring our best calf
and kill it so that we
can celebrate with
plenty to eat.” Thefathercalledforabigpartyto
honorhisyoungerson.Why?

“My son was dead,
but now he is alive again!
He was lost,
but now he is found!”
So they began to
have a party.
The older son had
been out in the field.
When he came near the
house, he heard the sound
of music and dancing.Thefather’spartyforhissonwouldhave
surprisedthepeopleinthevillage.Why?

He would not go in
to the party.
So his father went out and
begged him to come in.
But he said to his father,
“Look, for all these years
I have worked like a slave
for you. I have always done
what you told me to do,
and you never gave me
even a young goat for a
party with my friends.Howdidtheoldersoninsulthisfather?

“But then this son of yours
comes home after wasting
your money on prostitutes,
and you kill the best
calf for him!”
His father said to him,
“Oh, my son, you are
always with me, and
everything I have is yours.
But this was a day to be
happy and celebrate.Your
brother was dead, but now
he is alive. He was lost,
but now he is found.”
Howdidbothsonsdishonorthefather?
Itwasabigshameonthefather
tohavetoleavetheparty.
Buthetalked
inagentleway
withhisson.
Whatkindoffatherishe?

Howdidthefathershowsufferinglove
tobothhisyoungersonandolderson?
v
YOUNGER SON
Rebellious Sinner
OLDER SON
Religious Sinner
He insulted his father by rejection, He insulted his father by hating the
greed, and foolish actions. forgiveness given to his brother.
He was lost in a far-away land. Later, He was lost at home. He never left his
he returned in humility and sorrow. father, but he was full of ugly pride.
Turning from his dirty sin and shame, Thinking he had no sin and shame,
he humbled himself before his father. he argued, and accused his father.
He received the father’s love; his He never knew the greatness of the
shame was covered, his honor restored. father’s love and mercy.
He entered into the father’s house He stayed outside the father’s house
for the great party. during the great party.
Jesus said, “I tell you, it will be the same in heaven.There will be great joy when
one sinner turns away from sin.Yes, there will be more joy than for 99 godly people
who do not need to turn away from their sins.” (Luke 15:7 NIRV)

Rebellious
Sinner
Religious
Sinner
Thefatherwasdishonoredandhurtbybothsons.Butbecauseoflovefor
bothsons,thefathersufferedshametohealhisrelationshipwiththem.
Jesusisteaching: God is like a father willing to suffer shame for us.
As humans, we ALL have sinned,
insulting our glorious Creator God. And,
“When people sin, they earn what sin pays–
death…”(Romans 6:23). Still, He loves us
somuch,thatHesufferstocoverourshameandgiveusHishonor!
Howcanitbe,that because of love, Almighty God would suffer
to coveroursinandshameand give us His righteousnessandhonor?
Isthereaway,today,to have the honor of joining God’s great family–
and know for sure the honor of entering heaven’s great party?

“Jesus answered,
‘I am the way,
and the truth,
and the life.
Theonlywaytothe
Fatheristhroughme.’”
(John14:6)
JESUS CHRIST was perfect, pure, holy. But
He died in public at the hands of sinful men.
The Bible says that Jesus was shamed, nailed
to a wooden cross. After He died, His body
was put in a tomb. Butthreedayslater,God
raisedHimfromdeathinhighesthonor!
JESUS DEFEATED SIN, SHAME, DEATH.
He died on the cross, suffering shame for
all peoples. But in rising from death, Jesus
defeatedsinandshameforus. And when we
believeinJesus,followingHimdaybyday,we
can truly live in victory over sin and shame!
GLORIOUS LOVE. “But Christ died for us
while we were still sinners, and
by this God showed how
much He loves us.”
(Romans5:8)

Do you want victory over sin and shame? The honor of being a child of God?
To have eternal life? Turn from your sin and follow Jesus. Prayhonestly:
“Jesus,You know all the ways I have insulted the honor, love, and holiness of God. I am sorry.
I deeply desire an honor that never goes away—the honor of being one of God’s children.
Jesus, I believe that because of love,You suffered to bear our sin and shame, so we could bear
God’s honor and join God’s family.You invite us to joinYou in heaven’s great party. Oh yes,
I want to be there. I believe you rose from deathto defeat sin, shame, and death.Please save
me from all my sin and shame, withYour eternal life. Lord Jesus, I believe inYou. Amen.”
“The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much He loved us:We are called
children of God.”(1John3:1) “Some people did accept Him [Jesus].They believed in Him,
and He gave them the right [honor] to become children of God.”(John1:12)
Jesus said,“Anyone who hears what I say and believes in the one who sent Me has
eternal life.They will not be judged guilty … and have entered into life.”(John5:24)
“If you openly say,‘Jesus is Lord,’and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from death, you will be saved. …Yes, the Scriptures say,
‘Everyone who trusts in Him will not be put to shame.’” (Romans10:9-11)

WasJesusChristrewardedforHissufferinglove—
bearingtheshameofhumanityandconqueringdeath? YES!
“So God raised Him up to the most important place and gave Him the name
that is greater than any other name. God did this so that every person
will bow down to honor the name of Jesus. Everyone in heaven, on earth,
and under the earth will bow.They will all confess,‘Jesus Christ is Lord,’
and this will bring glory to God the Father.” (Philippians2:9–11)
Do you have questions? Do you want to grow with others
in the honor of following Jesus? Please contact:
thefatherslovebooklet.org Design:Werner Mischke © Copyright 2012 Mission ONE.

WasJesusChristrewardedforHissufferinglove—
bearingtheshameofhumanityandconqueringdeath? YES!
“So God raised Him up to the most important place and gave Him the name
that is greater than any other name. God did this so that every person
will bow down to honor the name of Jesus. Everyone in heaven, on earth,
and under the earth will bow.They will all confess,‘Jesus Christ is Lord,’
and this will bring glory to God the Father.” (Philippians2:9–11)
Do you have questions? Do you want to grow with others
in the honor of following Jesus? Please contact:
thefatherslovebooklet.org Design:Werner Mischke © Copyright 2012 Mission ONE.
This booklet is available for purchase at
thefatherslovebooklet.org

Who will have their honor restored?
TheFather’sLove
A story told
by Jesus Christ
Luke 15:11–32
Is this “a gospel” which
better overlaps biblical
truth with Majority World
values—and thus has more
relevance?
GOSPEL

The Seed of the Gospel
The concept of seed, kernel and husk—and “assuming the gospel”—as applied to contextualizing the gospel
is taken from Jackson Wu: Saving God’s Face: A Chinese Contextualization of Salvation through Honor and
Shame (EMS Dissertation Series, William Carey International University Press: Pasadena, 2013), 21–29.
Let’s further explore
what it means to
contextualize the gospel

Kernel
Husk
The Seed of the Gospel
Concepts taken from Jackson Wu:
Saving God’s Face:
A Chinese Contextualization
of Salvation through
Honor and Shame

Gospel
Husk embodies
the gospel
Traditional view of
contextualization
focuses on the husk,
not on the gospel itself.

Gospel
Husk embodies
the gospel
Traditional
contextualization
“assumes the
gospel”

Husk embodies
the gospel
{
Gospel
Traditional
contextualization

Husk embodies
the gospel
{
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e.
hospitality
• etc.
Gospel

Husk embodies
the gospel
{
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e.
hospitality
• etc.
• Contextualize the husk
Gospel

Husk embodies
the gospel
{
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e.
hospitality
• etc.
• But the gospel is “assumed”
Gospel

Gospel
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e.
hospitality
• etc.

Gospel
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e.
hospitality
• etc.
EXPANDED
VIEW of
contextualization

Gospel
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e.
hospitality
• etc.
EXPANDED
VIEW of
contextualization
• PLUS: Contextualize the kernel!

Gospel
Let us also learn to
contextualize
the gospel itself.

WesternGOSPEL

Western
GOSPEL
GOSPEL

Western
?
GOSPEL
GOSPEL
Let us ﬁnd ways to better
contextualize the gospel!
C O N C L U S I O N

Considerations
1. Can we see that the kernel of
the gospel (not just the “husk”)
is adaptable to cultures without
compromising biblical truth?
2. What are some practical
ramifications of acknowledging
our tendency to “assume the
gospel”?

Considerations
3. Can we appreciate that the
adaptability of the kernel of the
gospel is a powerful distinctive
of Christianity over and against
Islam, which mandates that the
Quran is not translatable?
Contextualizing the gospel is
not a threat. It is a strategic
advantage.

Considerations
4. If contextualizing the gospel
itself a major strategic issue—
for reaching the remaining
Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist,
tribal unreached/unengaged
peoples of the world—what are
some possible next steps?

Considerations
5. What are some biblical themes
which may be considered relevant to
Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, tribal
other Majority-World peoples?
• meta-narrative / mystery
• family / progeny / respect for ancestors
• honor+shame / blessing+cursing /
honor-status reversal
• kingdom power / regal authority /
justice to oppressors and oppressed

Finally…
(7) Know then that it is those of faith who are
the sons of Abraham.
(8) And the Scripture, foreseeing that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel beforehand to
Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the
nations be blessed.”
(9) So then, those who are of faith are blessed
along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:7–9 ESV

Considerations
6. Does the gospel which God preached
to Abraham (Gal 3:7–9) represent
some or all of these elements?
• meta-narrative / mystery / humor
• family / respect for ancestors / progeny
• blessing+cursing: honor+shame
• global purpose / all peoples
• honor-status reversal
• kingdom power / regal authority
• justice to oppressors
• justice for the oppressed

Under
development:
“The Abrahamic
Gospel”

Want to discuss it?
You may contact Werner Mischke at
werner@mission1.org
Blog: wernermischke.org
Resource on honor and shame:
wernermischke.org/resources
The Father’s Love Booklet is available for
purchase at thefatherslovebooklet.org
Werner Mischke is Executive Vice President at Mission ONE
and Director of Training Ministries.
mission1.org/equip

Contextualizing the gospel

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