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In the Lausanne Paper, you have a presentation of a strategy developed to address the complexities of cross cultural evangelism. Grouped together in one paper is a reflection of 17 papers that pinpoint some of the delicate areas of cross cultural evangelism. The committee that was assembled to tackle this area, intelligently and carefully, exposes some common characteristics that exist in this context. By engaging this context they assert,” As we address Scripture, Scripture addresses us. We find that our culturally conditioned presuppositions are being challenged and our questions corrected. In fact, we are compelled to reformulate our previous questions and to ask fresh ones. So the living interaction proceeds.”
The thoughts presented throughout this paper are thought provoking, insights but simplistic. You find that the committee takes the time to relax their own presumptions to better engage the context in which they are studying. Once again trying to stay “compelled to reformulate” their question in order to bring forth change. You see the constant battle with old traditional ways that have proven themselves to be outdated versus improvements upon new missionary’s tactics. By implementing the new tactics you thus see their approach to the dynamic equivalence being able to “convey to contemporary readers meanings equivalent to those conveyed to the original readers.”
The Lausanne Movement fosters a constant state of growing that will bring enlightenment to any culture. As they propose the different concepts to approach all people without trying to defame one’s culture you find a true sense of evangelism. They assert,
Sometimes people resist the gospel not because they think it false but because they perceive it as a threat to their culture, especially the fabric of their society, and their national or tribal solidarity. To some extent this cannot be avoided. Jesus Christ is a disturber as well as a peacemaker. He is Lord, and demands our total allegiance. Thus, some first-century Jews saw the gospel as undermining Judaism and accused Paul of “teaching men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place,” i.e., the temple (Acts 21:28). Similarly, some first-century Romans feared for the stability of the state, since in their view the Christian missionaries, by saying that “there is another King, Jesus,” were being disloyal to Caesar and advocating customs which it was not lawful for Romans to practice (Acts 16:21; 17:7). Still today Jesus challenges many of the cherished beliefs and customs of every culture and society.
The Lausanne Movement counteracts the myth that some come to the table with by emphasizing the features of culture that can be transposed with the message of Christ. The goal is to make sure that “Conversion does not unmake; it remakes.” This statement brings a sense of clarity that must be wrestled with by all missionaries.
I personally believe this may be one of the greatest tools for cross cultural or evangelism that I have read. The concepts introduced here placed high priority on the integrity of the Scripture without being extreme dogmatist. Due to the nature of conversion we must at times handle it with kid gloves but adult minds. Because of the radical nature of conversion, we see the need for a total change but at the end of the day we must be clear that it is up to Christ to work through the wiring of an individual. The insight that the Lausanne Movement developed through this paper provided ways to handle the delicate issues without disrespecting in the same tone.
I think the Lausanne Movement also profusely dealt with the culture of church not being so preoccupied with making clones but making indigenous churches and believers that served God in a familiar context. I believe this adds a valid reason why we must engage culture as we engage others with the gospel. Without properly adjusting to the culture we could possibly offend the very one we are going to evangelize with the gospel. We in turn would shoot ourselves in the foot before we even get started.
The Ambassador, a member of the Christian rap group Cross Movement laments, “Missionaries have been known to go to other countries to transmit Christianity only to transmit more than their theology, but also their cultural preferences. The church is in danger of doing the same thing with regards to Hip Hop. They are trying to give a new generation their Christian faith as well as their “church” culture. Even worse, this narrow-mindedness often leads to a failure to accept the hip hoppers who are in Christ and their ministry contributions. This is a sad commentary, but even sadder, it’s not new.” The Lausanne Movement brings to the forefront the need to present Christ to culture properly without taking away the power of the scriptures. Through this presentation they have defunct my own presuppositions and provided me with a Socratic mindset to find new ways to engage other cultures and ethnicities.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (English Standard Version)
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
My dear friends it has been a been a while since I posted anything or read a blog. I have been watching as things unfold in this world and in my life. 2009 has been a year that can easily be seen as monumental in everyone’s life especially in America. We have the first Black President and we are feeling the effects of the recession that my generation has never experienced. With that being said, I have seen the lives of the believers begin to flip upside down. Many along with myself have forgotten that we are not to far removed from the very same person we condemn or talk about.
All this started for me when I tried to look at myself in he mirror one night in the dark. I couldn’t see a thing but I know the mirror was there but due to the fact there was no light there was no image. This struck a nerve with me because I then began to understand that without the light my image was dark and tainted. I then read something that a sister in Christ wrote about herself. Though it was not sardonic in nature it was a tell tale sign that we have lost it. We have lost our way and we need too get back on the bus.
A friend of mine sent me a copy of a letter than Benjamin Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson. In the letter Banneker uses a statement from Job, ““Put your Souls in their Souls’ stead,” ( Job 16:4)thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them, and thus shall you need neither the direction of myself or others in what manner to proceed herein. ” Banneker is trying to convey the message to Franklin that he can’t understand the plight of the Black men unless he has been in his shoes. I am finding that to many believers forget where they came from and thus end up getting rocked by the enemy. He continued to let it be known that if he really understood then he would have more compassion toward others.
This is not to say that we must not share truth with one another but we must be clear on our reason for sharing the truth. Are we sharing the truth because we want to show them who is right or are we sharing the truth because we honestly care for the soul of the other. Paul is clear to the Corinthians when he shares the statement of 1 Cor. 9:27. Paul uses a the example of the Isthmian Games to show how serious he took walking pure before God. The athletes of the Isthmian Games prepared ten months in order to perform at their highest quality. Paul says how stupid would it look for himto coach others on sacrificing then forget to use the same criterion to mange myself. It is amazing how many times I see believers with a great confession of faith but refuse to be honest with others that they have struggles. I have seen for the past couple of months how quickly we can and will forget about our past, when we think we have arrived.
After the past few months, I have learned a lot about myself that has troubled me and needs to be readjusted. I saw where I placed the tag of sorriness upon a person because they did or said something that I would have never said. But I would have never said it because I had not been in their situation either. So I made a preconceived judgment upon them without knowing their circumstances. But lately, I have been on the other side of fence and being placed in situations that are new to me and now I am responding the same way that person I criticized responded. At the end of the day all I can tell you is that God’s grace is sufficient.
Big Ups to God
Just my thoughts
