Lausanne World Pulse – WORLD PERSPECTIVES – Contextualization in the Islamic Context
By Roy Oksnevad
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Cultural, theological and social barriers need to be |
Contextualization in ministry to Muslims is highly contested and has caused great confusion. Some see contextualization as a universal remedy to the obstacles in Muslim ministry. Others feel that contextualization is deceptive manipulation to get converts.
The task of Muslim evangelism is difficult because there are cultural, theological and social barriers that are believed to be the reason why Muslims historically are resistant to the message of the good news of Jesus Christ. Western missionaries make claims that the single greatest hindrance to seeing Muslims come to faith in Christ is not a theological one (i.e., accepting Jesus as Lord), but rather one of culture and religious identity (i.e., having to leave the community of Islam). They argue that for the sake of God’s kingdom much of our missiological energy should be devoted to seeking a path whereby Muslims can remain Muslims, yet live as true followers of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, Western missionaries believe that if the barriers are removed, there will be more conversions.
Western Christians are looking for ways to minimize the isolation and persecution former Muslims (MBBs, Muslim Background Believers) face from their community and family so they can be effective witnesses within their context. It is believed that contextualization will minimize the isolation and persecution so MBBs can remain in the community and be effective witnesses. Contextualization is also applied to the Western missionaries who are often misunderstood. They seek to minimize the cultural, theological and social distance between Western Christians and the host culture through contextualization.
Definition of “Contextualization”
There is much confusion over the word “contextualization.” Contextualization is “taking the unchanging truth of the gospel and making it understandable in a given context.” The goal is not to make scripture as Islamic as possible; rather, it is to communicate the unchanging truth in the particular Islamic context so it makes sense. We must allow for a biblical theology to develop from the culture rooted in scripture without Western forms constricting the worldview of the target group. Contextualization is to assist in the process of transformation (Hebrews 5:11-14) of the individual, community and society, while avoiding syncretism (an overlay of Christianity on a non-Christian core).
Historically, missionaries went to Islamic countries and built churches that replicated the form and content of the church the missionary was familiar with. Therefore, the church was foreign in structure, worship songs, style of worship and even language. Moves such as simple structures, using language of the people and respecting cultural taboos were made to make the church more contextual. The process of contextualization has also pushed the boundaries.
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Rev. Roy Oksnevad has been a missionary with the Evangelical Free Church of America working among Muslims since 1985. He is also director of Muslim Ministries at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, USA. He served as a pioneer church planting pastor in Hoboken, New Jersey and worked in Brussels, Belgium. |