Perspectives Notes - L11: Building bridges of love

Lesson 11: Building bridges of love – Paul Biswas (“Faith” in Bengali) (4/7/14)

Notes by Lana

Contextualizing the Messenger

·     Incarnational lifestyle evangelism

·     The message is important the messenger is more important to communicate the message

·     Missionaries can only make their message effective if they are recognized as credible messengers

·     The gospel is more than a message

·     It is an introduction to life under Christ’s lordship

·     As missionaries or cross cultural servant we need to contextualize ourselves (1 Corinthians 9:20-23 - To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings)

·     Gospel = introduction to life under Christ’s lordship

·     There are 5 gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John & your life!

Recommended book: Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally by David J. Hesselgrave

How can missionaries contextualize themselves?

1.     Following the Biblical model of Incarnation / Style

·     Incarnation from a Hindu’s perspective: John 3:4 - Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered that he must be born again

·     No other religions require a change of the inner heart; most measure by external / physical changes

·     Jesus is our model

·     Philippians 2:6-9 - who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name

·     His renunciation & identification

·     Other religions aim to “reach upwards to God”; but God “incarnated & came down to us / identified with us”

·     We are on His mission

·     John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth; 20:21 - Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

·     He was giving His disciples the authority – with the same credentials as what His Father gave Him

2.     Practicing humility

Different aspects of humility

·     Challenged by the importance & difficulty – requires special effort to see beyond the limits of our cultures

·     Need to understand the culture & we need to appreciate the culture that we are going to

·     By immersing ourselves in the new social environment

·     Missionaries need to go & start where people are – we need to see the needs & issues of the local people that we are reaching out to

·     Recognize locals by leaving your own superiority complex

·     Trust the spirit – humility relies on the Holy Spirit

·     Sacrifice & service – follow the example of missionaries like William Carey, Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, Henry Martin, Jim Eliot, Adonirum Judson, David Brainerd, Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, Amy Carmichael, Mother Teresa & others – Models of Incarnational Ministry

·     It starts with passion & commitment

·     Identification without loss of identity

·     Credibility

·     Integrity

Having a sense of belonging in a new culture (1 Corinthians (9: 20-23)

·     Relationship – “Building the bi-cultural bridge” (Paul Hiebert)

·     Forming special bridging relationship

·     Finding effective roles both in the culture & church (1 Thess 2:8-12)

·     Present the relational God by relating with the people of the culture where missionary serves

·     Attitudes

Missionary’s Entry Roles: Becoming a Learner

·     Culture shock (> for short term missionaries) & culture stress (> for long term missionaries) (Hiebert)

·     Initial role: Becoming learner (Donald Larson) – role of a learner serves well

·     The Hindus: “Jesus is A way, A truth & A life” – because they believe in many gods, but Jesus says “He is THE way, THE truth & THE life”

·     Jesus is exclusive but the gospel is inclusive – He is the way, the truth & the life, but his message is for everyone!

Bonding & Relationships with locals

·       Bonding as early attachment

·       Language & culture learning – Language learning as a social, rather than academic activity; “learners” rather than “students”

Identity with Integrity

·     Serving in Terrorized, Globalized & Pluralized world – Do missionary destroy culture?

Triple Audience & a 3 Dimensional Identity

·       Unreached community – to whom we present the gospel

·       The on looking secular world – to defend the gospel

·       The church-to recruit co-labor

Communication in Social Settings

·       Tribal societies – elders dominated

·       Peasant societies – social grouping & people movement

·       Urban societies – individual decision

Basic Principles to Communicate Effectively

·       Knowing social structure & dynamics of communications

·       Knowing face-to-face or homogenous societies

·       Making personal friendship

Missions & Money – the Complex Issue

·       Contextualize lifestyle

·       Missionary has to leave the “compound” mentality