How Much Contextualization is Too Much?

Unhealthy contextualization is one of the most corrosive problems in missions today. Unhealthy approaches to contextualization range from churches that co-opt elements of pop culture in an attempt to be relevant to those who embrace idolatrous practices from other faiths to establish common ground. Both approaches often obscure the gospel message with contextual forms.

Still, these bad contextualization attempts rarely come from a desire to cheapen or undermine the gospel. Sometimes the reason people give bad answers is because they are asking bad questions. All too often the question asked is, “How much of this context can shape my ministry?”

To move us towards more healthy expressions of contextualization, I want to suggest a better question for us to ask: “How do I communicate the unchanging message of the Bible clearly in this context?” To unpack this question, let me highlight three guiding thoughts that I hope will recalibrate our understanding of the task of contextualization. 

1. Contextualization is Not Your Primary Job

A missionary’s job is not primarily contextualization. It is communication. Look at the difference between the two questions above: “How much of this context can shape my ministry?” This question is focused on the context as primary. The response will be to consider what cultural forms and norms are not in violation of clear biblical commands. However, one might be better received within a community because of adapting a certain cultural way of doing things or speaking and yet failing to consider whether they have faithfully communicated the biblical gospel.

The second question, however, keeps the focus on the fact that there is a message that we are given to communicate: “How do I communicate the unchanging message of the Bible clearly in this context?” Clarity is the goal. Since we have a message and mandate to communicate that message, we must do the hard work of understanding the context to allow the Word of God to be heard clearly on its terms. We want to be students of the context so that we might overcome the contextual barriers to hearing the Word.

2. Contextualization is Not Avoidable if Clarity is the Goal

Second, communication of this message cannot happen apart from a context. This presents real danger insofar as we see that the words we use come laden with non-biblical meaning, the customs we observe are embedded with layers of history, and the unspoken social expectations of a community are easy to transgress unintentionally. If we are not sensitive to the invisible meanings, values, stigmas, and symbols in a context, our proclamation and embodiment of the Word could undermine its reception.

Whenever one encounters danger, the first option is to attempt to avoid it. While there are dangers in this work, one cannot simply avoid contextualization. That is because the expression of Christianity that we have received is already shaped by our context. Our faith is already contextualized by the fact that we speak about it in English, our songs follow particular rhythms and meter, and our emphases are influenced by our natural preferences and familiarities.The task of communicating this message will require them to do the laborious work of understanding the context deeply to communicate the message clearly.

3. Contextualization is Still Offensive

Finally, as we seek to communicate the biblical message with clarity, we have to remind ourselves that the gospel is offensive. While our cultural study and contextual work will attempt to avoid causing social offense, our goal in contextualization is not to make the gospel less offensive.  The communicator of the biblical message does not have the authority or permission to reduce the offense of the message of human sinfulness and divine holiness. The message of the cross is foolishness to the perishing and must be seen for what it is. 

Our goal in contextualization, then, is to allow the message to offend as it is designed to offend. The effect of healthy contextualization is not that people will say, “This faith fits my culture, habits, and preferences.” Instead, it is that the people of that culture would be confronted by the message that puts a spotlight on their sin, exposes the depths of their depravity, and calls for the response of faith to the salvation offered by the gospel in Scripture. So, missionary, as you engage in your communication task, “How are you communicating the unchanging message of the Bible in the context in which you find yourself?”