Contextualization

    The term ‘contextualization’ is here used to mean the art and science of explaining and living the meanings of the gospel in a way that it is best understood by the audience with whom we wish to communicateJourney guidance on this fork needs to include significant attention to the contextualizing of the gospel (without losing its essential nature) for those with whom we have conversations.

    For example, let’s look at Paul’s visit to Athens in Acts. 17.  Look at verse 23 (below) where Paul says he “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship.....”  This raises the question why would he take the time to have “looked carefully” (emphasis mine)? We believe in part that he was doing his homework so could contextualize his methods and message--without diluting or misrepresenting the gospel.  Note in verse 28 he quotes one of their poets.  We believe that is not a compromise to do things like this in order to have our audience better relate to us and better understand the message we bring.

    Note that in verse 34 (below) that as a result of Paul’s contextualization at least some did eventually come to faith! Maybe not as many as Peter saw in Jerusalem at Pentecost, but that culture was “more prepared” for that message than this one apparently was, ceteris paribus. In short, it wasn’t a waste of time to contextualize his message.

Acts 17:16  ¶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 

Acts 17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 

Acts 17:18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 

Acts 17:19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 

Acts 17:20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 

Acts 17:21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

Acts 17:22  ¶ Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 

Acts 17:23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

Acts 17:24  ¶ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 

Acts 17:25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 

Acts 17:26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 

Acts 17:27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 

Acts 17:28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 

Acts 17:29  ¶ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 

Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 

Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 

Acts 17:32  ¶ When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 

Acts 17:33 At that, Paul left the Council. 

Acts 17:34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. 

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