Skip to main content

Culture Meets Scripture (Contextualisation in Practice)

In the field of missiology much has been written on the topic of contextualisation. Paul Hiebert has used the phrase 'critical contextualisation' for the kind of contextualisation that works. He also criticises lack of contextualisation and uncritical contextualisation for causing syncretism. The reason for the latter is obvious. The reason for the former less so: if people are carrying out a practice that they have done since they were young, and been told is essential for their well being, they will continue to carry it out until they have been convinced that the teaching of Scripture has something which replaces the effect of that practice (in terms of their well being). It takes time for people to change their worldview, and they need much support from other members of their community as they do so.

One good powerful question to ask is, 'What would happen if you didn't (do such and such a ritual)?'

Also, what people believe is often reinforced by community stories, so investigate those stories to find out what they are teaching.

For example: in Turkmen there is a story about a young man who behaves very badly at a meal. He ignores the elders, behaves how he wants to, and throws a knife across the table cloth. This is shocking behaviour in Turkmenistan (but in the West would be fairly acceptable, or perhaps wrong at a comic level). He ends up at the end of a rope until rescued at the last minute by one of the offended elders. What does this story teach? That we should always show respect to our elders and betters. If we don't, woe betide us.

In the 'Culture meets Scripture' courses taught by some of my colleagues, they have the following mantra:

'We always thought... but now we know'

i.e. we always thought (that such and such a practice was good) but now we know (from Scripture) a better way of thinking and doing things. 

As I wrote above, it all takes time, but remember that:

  • God is in control by his Spirit
  • There is a body of believers around each person, helping to support them
  • Scripture is foundational
  • You cannot persuade people to change, they need to decide this for themselves
  • Change is slow - let people change at their own pace
An example might be the swings young people make at Gurban Bayram 'Sacrifice Festival' in Turkmenistan to swing away their sins. (Older people wash their sins away in the bathroom). Later a lamb or goat is sacrificed, just as Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) sacrificed a ram. It might take time for someone to believe that instead of being to swing away their sins, or sacrifice an animal, they can find forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. The story that the Sacrifice Festival celebrates is about Abraham and his son. This story is illustrative of the biblical belief in forgiveness: Abraham is told to sacrifice his son, but instead a ram is provided. The ram dies instead of Abraham's son, and both father and son go home happy, knowing that God has provided an animal to sacrifice instead of Isaac* having to be sacrificed.** In our case Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53), and we were set free. Our sins are therefore forgiven.

The question is, can this practice be adapted for use by followers of Jesus the Messiah? Yes, why not. Instead of making swings, or washing, believers can gather together and eat some lamb or goat's meat, and remember that Jesus died in our place. God provided a 'lamb' to be sacrificed (cf. Messianic Jews' practice of the Passover).

This change is going to be slow to take place. Some believers will reject the practice outright, as they have had to leave their Islamic background in the midst of persecution. Others, who remain within their communities, will be happy that they can adapt the practice and make it their own, a new Messianic version of Gurban Bayram.

*Ishmael, as some Muslims believe

**You can read about the story of Abraham and his son in Genesis 22.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Reasons to Make Scripture Impact a Priority

This is a response to some recent posts about the importance of Bible translation in fulfilling the Great Commission. Yes, there is much truth in that, but more is needed. It really helps to have Scripture impact (or 'engagement') the top priority, the 'car' as it were, with translation the engine that sits beneath the bonnet. Not all drivers need to know all the details of the engine, but they need to be able to control the vehicle. The most important thing is to be able to get from A to B (see point 2), rather than knowing how the engine works. These are the ten reasons to make Scripture impact a priority: To help people flourish in their communities. There are all kinds of needs that need to be met for people to flourish. One is clean water. Another is good sanitation. Peace (lack of war), and freedom of religion. Access to education etc. etc. For a community to truly flourish they also need access to the Scriptures in a language (or languages) that they understand a...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Flow Chart for Bible Translation (a Relevance Theory Approach)

One of the current theories behind modern translation work is Relevance Theory. [1] Here is a flow chart that explains the process often used to produce a draft when using such an approach: *Make sure your translation committee makes the decision as to what kind of translation they want. A domesticated translation is one that submits to dominant values in the target language [2] whereas a foreignized translation is one that is happy to import foreign terms and ideas from Hebrew, Greek, or the language of wider communication such as the Greek term baptizo . The chart looks something like this: Text                                   Communicated Ideas                  Context A sower went out to sow  A farmer went out to sow grain   People scattered/threw seed etc. The text has very little information, but behind i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Asking the Right Questions in Bible Translation and Scripture Engagement Planning

If you want to get useful answers you have to ask the right questions. Do you agree? Yes, of course you do. In the Bible translation world we often ask a very narrow question when planning for the next stage of work: 'What would you like to see translated next?' Now, if you simply want to translate, and that's it, that question is fine, but what if you want to see some kind of result from your translation work? What if, for instance, you want to see transformation occur? Then a more powerful question to ask the community and positive stakeholders in the project would be: 'What kingdom goals would you like to see reached?' These kingdom goals should meet felt needs of the community - they should solve problems that are apparent to most or all in the community. See below on how those can be met. If that's too abstract, then try, 'What kinds of things, in your extended family, do you tend to worry about?' This will help establish some felt needs, from which...
7 comments
Read more