Culture is defined as the shared values and practices found in a community. Cultural values are then varied from one social group to the other. In contrast, gospel is static. The values and principles from Scripture do not change. Moreover, when gospel and culture tensions occur--especially in the application of the gospel message in a specific culture--do believers from a specific culture adopt the culture of the Bible? If so, is there one unified culture in the Bible? From the Canaanite culture to the Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures, Scripture exhibits many cultures. Should the believers from a specific worldview follow all the cultural practices of the Bible? Can the believers from Kerala or Bihar in India hold on to their own indigenous cultures? How might one appropriate the message of the gospel in their respective cultures? Contextualizing the gospel is an important task in the practice of Christianity. This means that the identification of the principles of contextualization is important in order to answer the aforementioned questions. One Gospel, Many Cultures will be a valuable addition as these pertinent questions on gospel and culture are addressed by renowned scholars.
Arren Bennet Lawrence is Assistant Regional Secretary of the Asia Theology Association. He is the author of Legalistic Nomism: A Socio-Rhetorical Reading of Paul's Letter to the Galatians (ISPCK, 2015); Comparative Characterization in the Sermon on the Mount: Characterization of the Ideal Disciple (Wipf & Stock and SAIACS Press, 2017); and Approaches to the New Testament (SAIACS Press, 2018). His forthcoming writings include Friendship in the New Testament: Exploring the New Testament in Asia (Langham Press); and Asian Bible Commentary on the Epistles of Thessalonians (Langham Press).
One Gospel, Many Culture Paul Cornelius, PhD Principles of Cultural Engagement Darrel Bock, PhD One Gospel in Many Cultures Ken Gnanakan, PhD One Gospel, Many Cultures: Gospel Communication, Culture Change and Christian Missions in India PrabhuSingh Vedhamanickam, PhD The Gospel and Truth Predicates in a Hindu Context Aruthuckal Varughese John, PhD "The God of the Nations" (Rom 3:29) -- A Pharisee's Confession? Andrew B. Spurgeon, PhD Bindis, Castes, and Festivals: The Epistle to the Galatians and its Relevance for Cultural Contextualization in India Eric R. Montgomery, PhD Paul, Culture, and Sexual Immorality in 1 Cor 5 and 6 Arren Bennet Lawrence, PhD 'Gospel' and 'Culture' from a Johannine Community Perspective Johnson Thomaskutty Why not Mono, but Many Cultures? Re-reading the Stories of Babel and Hagar in the Book of Genesis Manoja Kumar Korada, PhD
