The need for contextualization and the apparent differences that it highlights is an important thing to remember in conversations in the church both locally and more broadly. I don’t think that God intends for us to have once for all answers, I think He intends that we read his Word, pray, love our neighbour, have faith. Jesus did not deal with every situation in a cookie cutter way, always to the Father’s glory, always in love for people. Perhaps this is why we find Paul so difficult ( I have read your book about Paul), he was caught between contextualizations: Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, Israelites, Romans and Greeks, Jews and Jewish Christians, then there are all the geographic differences... hard to please anyone.
I am no scholar just a lay person who has gotten caught in the crossfire in the church and has spent much time thinking (praying) about what caused the difficulties. Your article really resonated, thank you.
Thanks so much for including the role of the global church in helping us discern what is contextually appropriate across a variety of situations. Watching new believers in traditionally non-Christian cultures figure out what to keep and what to change was a fascinating and humbling experience.
Thank you for this, Brandon! I appreciate your gifts of faithful discernment, engaging communication, and gentle admonition. The Lord has certainly called you to the right role in our strange land! God bless you and your family as you all continue to serve him.
Would you mind sharing some of your reading? Would be interested in pursuing this train of thought.
That's a great question. This reflection on Daniel (specifically) was a bit of a thought experiment. I looked around for some explanation of why Daniel prayed in this particular manner (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3169553/jewish/Why-Do-Jews-Pray-Three-Times-a-Day.htm, for example).
More broadly, the work of missiologist Andrew Walls has been formative for how I think about "contextualization" or "indigenization." The first four essays in this collection are excellent: https://www.amazon.com/Missionary-Movement-Christian-History-Transmission/dp/1570750599
Thank you, have not read his work.
The need for contextualization and the apparent differences that it highlights is an important thing to remember in conversations in the church both locally and more broadly. I don’t think that God intends for us to have once for all answers, I think He intends that we read his Word, pray, love our neighbour, have faith. Jesus did not deal with every situation in a cookie cutter way, always to the Father’s glory, always in love for people. Perhaps this is why we find Paul so difficult ( I have read your book about Paul), he was caught between contextualizations: Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, Israelites, Romans and Greeks, Jews and Jewish Christians, then there are all the geographic differences... hard to please anyone.
I am no scholar just a lay person who has gotten caught in the crossfire in the church and has spent much time thinking (praying) about what caused the difficulties. Your article really resonated, thank you.
Thanks so much for including the role of the global church in helping us discern what is contextually appropriate across a variety of situations. Watching new believers in traditionally non-Christian cultures figure out what to keep and what to change was a fascinating and humbling experience.
Thank you for this, Brandon! I appreciate your gifts of faithful discernment, engaging communication, and gentle admonition. The Lord has certainly called you to the right role in our strange land! God bless you and your family as you all continue to serve him.
Thank you, Bev! Very kind words.