Sep

9

Contextualization called Confusion

September 9, 2008 |



 


Dear Reader

 

Download:

E-book on Biblical Contextualization

 

Thanks for downloading this e-book. There are two articles (combined together and made it as an e-book) written by two different writers on the subject of Contextualization from the Bible perspective. Second article dealing with some of the critical issues involved in Contextualization approach to Muslims and their Conversation.

 

 

We often hear the word contextualization and many get confuse with it and want to know.

 

What is all about Contextualization?  

Is Contextualization approach biblical? 

Are Contextualized believers genuine or half? 

 

Sometime it is hard for many Christians to understand this approach to non-Christian when non-Christian background believers do not seem appeared to be like other Christians.  


Someone has defined this contextual approach very beautifully probably will help us to understand the term.

“Contextualization approach is an attempt to communicate the Gospel in word and deed and to establish the church in ways that make sense to people within their local cultural context, presenting Christianity in such a way that it meets people’s deepest needs and penetrates their worldview, thus allowing them to follow Christ and remain within their own culture.”

 

I happen to be in the Christian Mission for couple of years, visiting various Organizational Church planting conferences and their Contextualized Worship meeting of Muslims in many parts of India.

 

It is very sad to say that most of these so called Worship meetings or Zamath of Muslim gathering is baseless and unscriptural. 

 

After 9/11 there has been a tremendous concern in the Western World for Muslim Evangelism and Indian Muslims are the prime focus to be reached out. Many small and big Missions and Organizations here in India and even seminaries some way or other engaged in giving training people to reach out Muslims. Many of them are involved just because there is a full package of Western Money Support to carry out the Visions of Western Missions and Agencies.

 

Today there are some Muslim group meet with these following names Masihi Zamath “Chrisitian Assembly” , Khudai Zamat “Assembly Of God” Braderane Zamath “Assembly of Brethren” or Kitabi Zamath “ People Of Book Assembly”.

 

Many of these leaders have been successful in forming a group among Muslims with this contextualized approach.

 

On what ground i say it is baseless and Unscriptural. Here are some of the observations i noticed and seen and still prevalent.

v       Meeting place will be furnished with carpet or ordinary mates and Islamic pictures are hung on the wall.

 

v       Preacher either will be founder of the Zamath or mostly a Muslim convert will be placed on to lead.

 

v       Messages are often from either Old Testaments or only Miracle of Jesus.

 

 

v       Mostly spoken from the Old Testament Characters and portion will be read from both the Bible and sometime from the Quran.

 

v       In some places during meeting there will be Healing Ministry. (It is not a new thing when Muslim Women from villages come for such meeting for healing or deliverance from demonic power.  When they are healed or delivered in the name of Jesus do not make any difference to many Muslim unless they are clearly taught Jesus is the more than Prophet and healer.  It is a common practice and beliefs of Muslims in former Saints  or something like prophets who have mystical power therefore  they often wonder from one shrine to another for such blessing and healing.  Bur for Christian leaders it is a big things and a matter of reports to share hundred times to hundred different Westerner Money Donors. This is the way they ease their consciences that they have preached the Gospel to their Zamath Assembly)

 

v       After the meeting a nice meal will be served to them that is one of the factors drive many of them to such meetings.

 

v       While meeting there will be someone capturing every moment in camera or Video for reporting to their support partners to show them that their goal to plant the church among Muslim is achieved.

 

v       Among them some of the Muslims will be very observance seeing the posh life of leader (Having good cars and living in a posh area or an apartment and working noting except meeting on Friday). They would be very keen to know their source of Income.

 

v       Most Muslims feel it is an easy life and easy way to get prosper. With this deception they show their interest in Christ more genuinely but that does not last for a long. If the expectation is not met they become rebel or create problem to the leader or separate themselves and openly start wondering from one church to another. It causes lots of damages to themselves and many churches find difficult to handle them and often suspected their motive too.

 

v       In Indian context all through my thirteen years of Service in the Lord. I have not met any Muslim converts who have been discipled scripturally. Some of them who have understood the gospel and saving Work of Christ. They often have come out from all obstacles and joined a local Church.

 

I am not talking such kind of Contextual Ministry or Game plan  but contextual approach to non-Christians in our day today dealing with our Non-Christian Friends.

 

Contextualization is not confusion or deceiving approach but a biblical approach to any other community as long as the message of the Gospel has not been corrupted or mixed with other messages. In my dealing with Muslim  either by face or online chatting i am  very contextual in terms of  words and some of the culture values but the principle always remain unchanged.. 

Principles are..

1.      The messages of Repentance and Confession should be strongly emphasized

2.      Sound Word of God categorically taught.

3.      Holiness has to be emphasized

4.      And all in all Our Lord Jesus the Christ ( Isa- Al- Masiha)  should be exalted among.


                    I hope these two articles will help you a lot to develop a right perspective and sensitivity as you approach to non-Christian with the saving Gospel our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In His Grace

Sabir Ali

Webstie Article contextualized church planting among Hindu 


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