Lesson 11: Building bridges of love – Paul Biswas (“Faith” in Bengali) (4/7/14)
Contextualizing the Messenger
· Incarnational lifestyle evangelism
· The message is important the messenger is more important to communicate the message
· Missionaries can only make their message effective if they are recognized as credible messengers
· The gospel is more than a message
· It is an introduction to life under Christ’s lordship
· As missionaries or cross cultural servant we need to contextualize ourselves (1 Corinthians 9:20-23 - 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. 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. 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. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings)
· Gospel = introduction to life under Christ’s lordship
· There are 5 gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John & your life!
Recommended book: Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally by David J. Hesselgrave
How can missionaries contextualize themselves?
1. Following the Biblical model of Incarnation / Style
· Incarnation from a Hindu’s perspective: John 3:4 - Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered that he must be born again
· No other religions require a change of the inner heart; most measure by external / physical changes
· Jesus is our model
· Philippians 2:6-9 - who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name
· His renunciation & identification
· Other religions aim to “reach upwards to God”; but God “incarnated & came down to us / identified with us”
· We are on His mission
· John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth; 20:21 - Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
· He was giving His disciples the authority – with the same credentials as what His Father gave Him
2. Practicing humility
Different aspects of humility
· Challenged by the importance & difficulty – requires special effort to see beyond the limits of our cultures
· Need to understand the culture & we need to appreciate the culture that we are going to
· By immersing ourselves in the new social environment
· Missionaries need to go & start where people are – we need to see the needs & issues of the local people that we are reaching out to
· Recognize locals by leaving your own superiority complex
· Trust the spirit – humility relies on the Holy Spirit
· Sacrifice & service – follow the example of missionaries like William Carey, Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, Henry Martin, Jim Eliot, Adonirum Judson, David Brainerd, Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, Amy Carmichael, Mother Teresa & others – Models of Incarnational Ministry
· It starts with passion & commitment
· Identification without loss of identity
· Credibility
· Integrity
Having a sense of belonging in a new culture (1 Corinthians (9: 20-23)
· Relationship – “Building the bi-cultural bridge” (Paul Hiebert)
· Forming special bridging relationship
· Finding effective roles both in the culture & church (1 Thess 2:8-12)
· Present the relational God by relating with the people of the culture where missionary serves
· Attitudes
Missionary’s Entry Roles: Becoming a Learner
· Culture shock (> for short term missionaries) & culture stress (> for long term missionaries) (Hiebert)
· Initial role: Becoming learner (Donald Larson) – role of a learner serves well
· The Hindus: “Jesus is A way, Atruth & A life” – because they believe in many gods, but Jesus says “He is THE way, THE truth & THE life”
· Jesus is exclusive but the gospel is inclusive – He is the way, the truth & the life, but his message is for everyone!
Bonding & Relationships with locals
· Bonding as early attachment
· Language & culture learning – Language learning as a social, rather than academic activity; “learners” rather than “students”
Identity with Integrity
· Serving in Terrorized, Globalized & Pluralized world – Do missionary destroy culture?
Triple Audience & a 3 Dimensional Identity
· Unreached community – to whom we present the gospel
· The on looking secular world – to defend the gospel
· The church-to recruit co-labor
Communication in Social Settings
· Tribal societies – elders dominated
· Peasant societies – social grouping & people movement
· Urban societies – individual decision
Basic Principles to Communicate Effectively
· Knowing social structure & dynamics of communications
· Knowing face-to-face or homogenous societies
· Making personal friendship
Missions & Money – the Complex Issue
· Contextualize lifestyle
· Missionary has to leave the “compound” mentality
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