Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Contextualizing the One Gospel in Any Culture––A Model from the Biblical Text for a Global Context

Contextualizing the One Gospel in Any Culture––A Model from the Biblical Text for a Global Context

Last updated on: April 2, 2013 at 8:51 am by Brad Vaughn

Contextualizing the One Gospel in Any Culture––A Model from the Biblical Text for a Global Context 2013-04-02T08:51:11-07:00 Brad Vaughn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Trying to figure out how to contextualize the gospel? Practically speaking, how do we assess whether a contextualization is faithful to Scripture and meaningful for a local culture?

Check out my article called “Contextualizing the One Gospel in Any Culture––A Model from the Biblical Text for a Global Context.”

In a single article, I jump head first into a few questions that are heavily debated among evangelicals.

On the question “What is the Gospel?” here are just a few of the people who have contributed to the debate––Scot McKnight, Greg Gilbert, Trevin Wax, N. T. Wright, Matt Chandler, Michael Goheen, J. D. Greear, Darrell Bock, John Dickson, D. A. Carson, Tim Keller. Others could be named, but this list in itself should raise eyebrows.

There is a strange irony that spurs the essay. Consider this question:

Although there is only one gospel, why do evangelicals find it difficult both to answer the question, “What is the gospel?” and thus to contextualize it?

This question is troubling. Now, interject cross-cultural context and the problem becomes down right alarming.

Fundamental to cross-cultural ministry (or any Christian ministry) is the problem of how we contextualize this one gospel in any cultural context. With respect to contextualization, evangelicals find agreement only at the broadest level––preserve Scriptural authority and avoid syncretizing Christianity and culture. With respect to the gospel, the central issue may not be about what is right or wrong, but rather what is primary and what is secondary.

It may be the case that we all are both right and wrong.

“Reconciling Friends”?

When Spurgeon was once asked about how he reconciles human responsibility and divine sovereignty, he replied, “I don’t try to reconcile friends.” Spurgeon’s words might well apply to these contemporary debates about contextualizing the gospel. Even so, it’s time to “define the relationship” between gospel and culture.

At one level, it may be a bit presumptuous to propose a model for contextualization that could work in any culture and yet also find a way weave together the multiple perspectives in the “gospel” debate. On the other hand, God gave us one book with many different authors who speak of one gospel using many expressions. There is hope.

We can’t simply surrender the point simply because it’s a hard problem. True humility demands we press on for the sake of the gospel among all nations.

I’d love to hear what you think. Have you read anything you’ve found particularly helpful on this topic? Any suggestions on moving these debates forward?

This article is part two in a four part series I’m writing for GlobalMissiology.org. Part one was called, “We Compromise the Gospel When We Settle for Truth: How ‘Right’ Interpretations Lead to ‘Wrong’ Contextualization.”

NOTE: I saw that the PDF version originally posted corrupted the Greek/Hebrew fonts within the article. I think this will be corrected soon.)

Contextualization

Gospel

Interpretation/Exegesis

Mission Methods

Theology

Contextualization Among Oral Peoples

contextualizing the gospel

Salvation (Soteriology)

Scot McKnight

Scripture

What is the Gospel

Previous Post

March 28, 2013

Why Did Adam Wear a Loincloth?––Uncovering the Truth about Context

Next Post

April 4, 2013 Contextualization Among Oral Peoples -- Part 1 of a New Series

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atonement Biblical Theology Book Reviews China Chinese Church Chinese Culture Chinese Language Collectivism Contextualization Culture (General) Ecclesiology Evangelism Gospel Honor & Shame (Face) Interpretation/Exegesis Justification/Righteousness Missiology Mission Methods One Gospel for All Nations Other Practical Contextualization Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes Resources Romans Salvation (General) Saving God's Face Seeking God's Face The Cross in Context Theological Contextualization Theological Education Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Timothy's mother?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Priscilla Lois Eunice Mary

Books by This Author Books by Brad Vaughn

See All Titles »

Contextualizing the One Gospel in Any Culture––A Model from the Biblical Text for a Global Context

“Reconciling Friends”?

Related articles

Who was Timothy's mother?