Your last question is especially relevant. The challenge
I believe we have is a tension between Christians whose
basic and final authority on Truth is carefully sought for in
scripture and those who embrace truth shaped largely by
church teachings that try desperately to create inclusion and
embrace the culture.
I am not against inclusion or embracing elements of
culture. But I contend that any opinion or worldview that is
contrary to the whole of scripture or compromises the liber-
ating gospel of Jesus Christ from confronting the soul and
delivering it from sin, is not dependable. The mind clearly
has a strong influence on the soul.
DAVID - Melvin, I agree with you concerning the pertinence
of Robert’s questions. And, your last paragraph well exposes
the crucial juxtaposition all sincere believers wanting to
share the Good News face: the balancing act of keeping
the integrity of The Message intact while making it easily
understandable to the culture in which we find ourselves.
I am currently reading the book, Peace Child by Don
Richardson. He and his wife moved to New Guinea in 1962
to live among the Sawi people group who, at the time, prac-
ticed cannibalism. He is an engaging author, and it is a fast
read. What I am seeing is a great lesson for me, and perhaps,
Christians in America.
Richardson goes into great detail as to how he and Mrs.
Richardson painstakingly learned the Sawi language and
culture to take the never changing Gospel to this people
group so far removed from the peace of Jesus. The two
of them, obviously, did not let the Sawi culture influence
their Christian ethic. What Mr. and Mrs. Richardson did
do however, was totally immerse themselves with great,
detailed focus in the customs and language of the Sawi so
that they most effectively introduced Jesus in an amazingly
understandable way.
I want to remember the story of the Richardson family
and many others who so effectively presented the objective,
uncompromising truth of the Gospel in culturally under-
standable ways. It is a tough challenge to present the whole,
liberating Truth, but I believe it is a challenge worth taking.
Thank you so much for your post and for this whole
discussion. I find it challenging and stimulating. I am learn-
ing and for that I am grateful!
MELVIN - David, your introduction to the great story, Peace
Child by Richardson is very timely and certainly well applied
to the conversation. That is indeed the challenge we have of
making the gospel real in our culture and one cannot retract
from culture and reach it. The gospel, in its essence though,
must transform culture and not be transformed by it.
I have spent about half of my life living and working in
Africa, SE Asia and E. Europe. Cultures vary widely, but the
gospel was in many ways easier to share there than it is in
much of America today. The difference? There was and is a
belief in and certain fear of God ... whatever their concept
of Him.
But in W. Europe and now strong elements of the Ameri-
can culture, there is a strange absence of the belief in and
fear of God. I believe it is a result of aggressive teaching by
secular humanists who have gradually expunged the very
idea of God and the reliability of scripture from the mind. In
some sense, materialism has become the measurement and
man has become his own god. Too often now, the work of
sharing the gospel has to begin with the reality of God and
reliability of scripture. This is a long hill to climb (though it
can and must be) when the very foundation of one’s world-
view (truth claims) shouts that to be false.
That is why I am helping to lead a ministry called
Renewanation, where we are doing everything possible to
promote education (home, school, church, etc.) that helps to
promote a Christian worldview. Our primary focus is with
children K-12 as this is the time when their minds are filled
with truth claims upon which their worldview is formed.
Feel free to check us out: renewanation.org.
DAVID - Points well taken, Melvin. The cultural differences
you refer to regarding indigenous residents concept of God,
or god(s), in most parts of the world compared to the US
and Western Europe today is spot on. Thank you for your
thoughtful response to my post.
What do you think? Does education
impact discipleship? Send your
thoughts to [email protected].
They may be printed in the next issue of
The Renewanation Review.
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING ...
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