Monthly Archives: January 2011

connecting without compromise

Posted by chriswilliamsde on

Missiologists have long wrestled with how best to share the message of Gospel in foreign lands.  The decision of what and how much of the message to adapt to the native culture relates to the issue of contextualization.  As part of an online discussion on missiology, being hosted by Ed Stetzer at edstetzer.com, we’ve been reading and responding to the grand essays and responses shared in the book MissionShift: Global Mission Issues in the Third Millennium.  This week’s essay, The Gospel in Human Contexts: Changing Perceptions of Contextualization, was written by Paul G. Hiebert, and outlines four distinct views on contextualization in the mission endeavor.  You can read a summary of this essay and some additional thoughts from David Hesslegrave, co-editor of the book, HERE.

As I reflected on this issue of contextualization, it occurred to me that the core issue at hand, at least as I see it, is where the line falls between connecting and compromising.  This line of demarcation is not only relevant in foreign fields, but also here at home.  Here are a few of my thoughts related connecting without compromising.

Christ.

The central message of the Christian faith is the historical reality of Jesus Christ.  The saving act of God in the person of Jesus Christ is the redemptive, life changing truth that missiology is focused on sharing.  And the Christian life is one that makes a decision to accept the gift offered by Christ and to re-orient every aspect of existence around the person of Jesus Christ, following him and seeking to become like him.  Though the way the story may be shared or the way it might be illustrated will vary in different cultures or generations, the story remains unchanged and the essence of Christianity endures.  Therefore, the Church, at home and abroad must stay centered on the person, work, message, and calling of Jesus Christ, believing that Christ is timeless and eternally relevant in every time and place.

Core.

Beyond the person, work, and call of Jesus Christ, there is a solid core that forms the central belief system of Christianity.  I am referring here to early creedal statements like the one found in Philippians 2:5-11 and 1 Corinthians 15:3-11.  This would also incorporate other key creeds that developed a bit later, like The Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed.  These creeds capture the basic understandings of the Church on what the faith community determined (and has continued to affirm) are the key issues that define Christian faith.  Again, the teaching of this core doctrine will have to be done in relevant and understandable ways, but the goal must be to help Christians in every time and place understand, grasp, affirm, and live according to these core truths.

Community.

The Church is a community, a body of believers.  In every time and place, as people respond to Christ, decide to follow him, and live out the core truths of Christianity, they should be gathered in communities of faith.  To be honest, I am not quite sure all of the implications that this idea of community has for contextualization, but I have a sense that a group of believers together centered on Christ and grounded in the core doctrines are likely to find it easier to express Christianity in a culturally relevant way without compromise.  The Christ-centered, grounded community offers accountability, guidance, creativity, and wisdom that a lone Christian or outside missionary cannot experience or offer.

Counselor.

At the risk of sounding too simplistic and perhaps too spiritual, I must say that I believe one of the keys to connecting without compromise is learning to trust the leadership and direction of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will guide believers into all truth.  And in the book of 1 John we are told that it is the anointing that teaches.  If a community of Christ-followers in a given context are truly centered on Christ, grounded in doctrine, and surrendered to the Holy Spirit, then they are on solid ground and in good hands.  They can, under the leadership and direction of the Spirit, determine what to contextualize and how far to go before the line of compromise has been crossed.  This kind of dependence on God’s Spirit in the mission enterprise is a reminder that it is not the mission of our church or denomination; rather this is the mission of God, and he is capable of ordering his own affairs.

Calling.

The Church is a missional entity.  That is part of its very nature.  Jesus’ call to people is to follow him and be made into mission participants (i.e. – fishers of people).  A community of Christ-followers, centered on Christ and grounded in core doctrine, fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit must realize that its mission is not to blend in with or to look like the culture.  Rather, that community is called by Jesus to make disciples, to call people to follow him.  The Church is not meant to mirror culture, but to transform it.  Understanding this calling reminds the Church that is must stay close to its Leader, true to its message, and focused on its mission.  The Church that does those things will find little time for compromise.

Christ.  Core.  Community.  Counselor.  Calling.  These are some key ideas that form some guardrails to keep the Church connecting without compromise.  Join the discussion.  I look forward to your questions, thoughts, and responses.

 

productivity tip#5: take a digital sabbath?

Posted by chriswilliamsde on

I was intrigued by the thoughts shared in this piece done on PBS Newshour related to overload from living in a wired world.  The suggestion offered here is not to avoid technology altogether, but rather to set appropriate boundaries.  One idea is to take a digital sabbath.  What do you think?  Could a seemingly counterintuitive idea like this help make us more productive?

productivity tip #4…when in doubt, clean something out

Posted by chriswilliamsde on

Ever feel a bit overwhelmed?  Not sure what to do next?  Wondering where to focus your energy?  I have found myself in that boat many times.  In fact, feeling that way is a normal part of life.  It is not IF you ever experience these feelings; It is WHAT will you do WHEN you experience them.  Here’s my productivity tip for the week…

When in doubt, clean something out.

This is a simple little adage that holds remarkable power to recalibrate you psyche, re-energize your productivity, refocus your efforts, and renew your spirit.

In the last two weeks I have used this little tip to help get me moving when I was stuck due to a lack of energy, desire, and creativity.  In both instances I did a menial task of cleaning something out.   In one case, it was my wallet.  In the other instance it was file folders that had worn out their usefulness.  Just the 10 minutes spent in cleaning out and reorganizing my wallet or updated a file cabinet seemed to change my whole perspective on life.  It unleashed a whole new wave of personal power to get things done.

Cleaning out that desk drawer.  Changing the air filters in our house.  Emptying the trash from the ash trays and cup holders in your car.  Purging your briefcase or purse.  All of these menial tasks hold great promise for higher levels of productivity.  So when you are in doubt about what to do next, clean something out.  Then hold on because your engines of creativity and accomplishment are likely to get revved up.