Inculturating the Gospel



Inculturating the Gospel

Tweaked by Chris Manisto, NE MN Synod (3E)

Introduction (10 minutes)

▪ Welcome participants.

▪ Introduce ourselves

▪ Why are we leading these sessions?

▪ Ask each participant to state their name and why they are attending this session.

▪ Mention the packets on the tables.

Housekeeping: Let them know where the restrooms are. There will be a break—but feel free to get up and stretch. Thank Zion for hosting.

Beginning comments:

Why are we here?

In 2010 when everyone was preparing for the ELCA Youth Gathering, the idea of a focus on discipleship was born.  What that translated into was a vision to equip adults in congregations working with youth to understand and implement faith formation that would impact the youth.  Some of this was based in research done by a theologian named Kenda Creasy Dean who studied and surveyed youth and found out that their idea of God was something far removed from a traditional understanding of Christianity.  God to many youth is basically this something called “moralistic therapeutic deism” -- in English that means that faith is about being happy and being good, and if they are good then you get to go to heaven. But their understanding of God isn’t necessarily anything beyond that and does not inform or make a difference in their daily life, and Christ may or may not be involved. 

So a series of workshops were created to equip adult leaders accompanying the youth to the gathering around faith and faith formation. Over 10,000 adults were trained and this worked so well that the ELCA and some other folks decided we should do it again this year and next year. The Practice Discipleship Initiative was born and here you are—this workshop is one in a series of seven workshops designed to help continue a conversation in our churches about why faith is important, why our faith story as Lutheran Christians is important and how we can help youth as well as other people know why this is true also! It’s important to know that this isn’t a program and it’s not a prescription. It’s a conversation. We are going to tell you some things and share some facts that will hopefully spark a deeper conversation. The goal is simply this: that what you hear helps you think more deeply about the church today and start you thinking about what it means to live as a Christian in this world right now—2013. Then as you go back to your congregations that you have a conversation with those folks there about what you heard. As it goes, we hope you are challenged to think about ministry in new ways. Then take a few nuggets that have sparked your thinking from this workshop back to your congregation and trust that the Holy Spirit is within all this and have faith that creative things will begin to stir and come alive.

Where did the material we’ll be discussing today come from?

This workshop first presented as a webinar, which is available for download at the website listed in your packets, was created by college religion professor Colleen Windham-Hughes from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. She is a deacon in the Methodist church and enjoys the study of interdisciplinary connections among Christian thought, practical engagement, and critical reflection.

Our goal today at this workshop titled “inculturating the gospel” (an interesting title for sure!) will be to think about how the gospel makes its home in each culture that it encounters—and through the Holy Spirit how it critiques what is draining of life and nourishes what gives life. We the church always stand at that crossroad as well. We are a part of culture—we stand with culture—but when there is injustice and pain we stand against that which creates those things. So in this workshop we’ll spend time looking at the differences between the gospel promise and what culture delivers; we’ll look at cultural differences in our biblical texts and how over the years Christians have approached the world and we’ll look at how we Christians as a part of a culture can participate in God’s action right where we are in this time. This will be a time of thinking and questions and you may even leave with more questions than you came in with but hopefully there will be something you can sink your teeth into!

To begin we are going to start thinking about culture. What does it mean to belong to a culture? What defines a culture?

To think about culture think of yogurt which has “live active cultures” in it. Culture literally means: “conditions that foster life and growth.” Within our church, within our society and within our world there are different cultures—ways of being that have sprung up to foster the life and growth of the people there. Cultural differences do not (as much as the media would like us to think) exist to annoy us; they emerge as humans navigate the world and think up language, practices, and actions that make life meaningful. The gospel makes its home in each culture, critiquing what drains life and nourishing what gives life. Inculturation—originally a sociology term to describe how groups adapt to new social norms - literally means learning to live and act within a culture so that it becomes second nature.

To get us thinking about culture let’s first turn to our packets.

Write down all of the cultures to which you belong—big cultures like the U.S. and small cultures like Grand Rapids, Minnesota—geographical cultures, cultures of interest, practice, identity or hobby.

Now, draw a line between any cultures that clash with each other.

Circle or star cultures that are welcome in your congregation

Place an X over cultures NOT welcome in your congregation.

What is your definition of culture? Write it here:

Share it with another person and write down their ideas.

(give time for sharing and discussion then move on)

Next let’s watch a video clip

First answer these questions:

This is___is not part of my culture

I did___did not hear the bible or gospel

Let’s watch it again and keep an eye more closely.

Who is the intended audience?

What is the emphasis?

What is the cultural setting?

What does this tell us about God in this setting?

How does it differ from your cultural setting? How is it the same?

Give participants the chance to discuss this and take some responses.

Now that we have at least a sketch understanding of what culture is let’s take a look at our bible and see what kinds of cultures we encounter there.

Bible (20 minutes) Universality: Jesus is for everyone

In your packets you will find the scripture verses from Galatians 2: 36-29

“for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Let’s discuss this verse as we did the film.

Who do you think the intended audience is?

What do you suppose was the cultural setting?

What does this tell us about God in this setting?

How does it differ from our cultural setting? How is it the same?

Discuss responses and then say:

Galatians is thought to be a letter written by the apostle Paul about twenty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. (so around 50-55 CE) These communities included non-Jews—Gentiles. As well as other Jewish leaders who were believers in Jesus. They insisted that to be acceptable to God the non-Jewish believers must observe the laws of Moses. They claimed the authority of prominent leaders of the church in Jerusalem. In addition to Jewish food laws and festivals they taught that the men and boys must be circumcised in accord with God’s covenant with Israel.[1]

Galatians contains a radical promise: people who are quite different from one another are made one in Christ. Oneness is possible because Jesus came for all people; Christ is universal, savior of the whole world. God’s message of salvation in Christ, though universal must be shared with people in their own setting. In order for the proclamation of the good news to be heard and received it must be conveyed in the language of the people. Cultural differences have been present since the early days of Jesus.

At this time take a moment and write down the cultural differences in the passage from Galatians.

Do you identify with any of them?

Can you see any of these cultural differences at work in your congregation, workplace or neighborhood?

What are some sources of cultural conflict in your life? (age, money, language, music, worship style, etc) Give an example

Give time for writing and table discussing. Then take some of the answers and then say

The church sometimes confuses the same things that the Galatians confused. For example it’s particular way of worship, fellowship and service with the universal message of salvation. (give a personal example) When this happens, the gospel message of freedom in Christ becomes bound to expressions of cultural preferences in music, language, art, etc. it manifests itself in the words “We’ve always done it this way” (has anyone ever heard that?) and creates a barrier between new members, members of a different culture who are seen as change and old members who are guarding their particular lens of culture. It also creates barriers because it can seem like those who leave, or protest or try and create change are rejecting the gospel. It could be that their culture, too distant from church culture, has been untouched by the gospel.

Discussion: Do you have any examples from your church life where the particular expression of cultural preference has overshadowed the universal message of salvation?

Discuss.

Now that we’ve looked at the bible let’s talk a little bit about the “growing edge” of the church—cultural intelligence—or as we used to call it in education “with-it-ness” knowing what’s going on around you and being able to communicate and function successfully in that place.

Cultural Intelligence: Christianity and “the world” (20-25 minutes)

Here’s the big question in front of the church right now: how can we the church communicate the universal (as in God is for all) promise of the gospel in our particular culture. We’re living in a world right now where church membership is in decline, and where most people are identifying as “nones” as in no church affiliation. This doesn’t mean they are non believers—just that something has happened to leave a bad taste or no taste in their mouth for church. We are living, much as Paul was in the time of the Galatians in a culture which may not be native to us.

In this current culture, it can seem at times like the church is “behind” and needs to “catch up” with culture. Others claim that the church should stand against culture—we shouldn’t change—they should! It can feel like an all or nothing scenario. Cultural intelligence does not make a judgment on the church. Instead it provides a lens to see what is particular to ones own culture (individual, group, congregational), therefore making space for the culture of another. Tending to what is particular enables the universal to shine as the main event.

Let’s take a look at this. In your packets find the text for John 18: 33-36 and Romans 12:2.

First let’s read together John:

(ask participants to read this out loud)

John 18: 33-36

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done? Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jew. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So are you a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had

said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.”

This scripture has created a cultural movement in that Jesus statement that his kingdom is “not of this world” has been an occasion for bumper stickers, tattoos, and other personal expressions. What messages are people saying with “NOTW”?

What is your congregation’s attitude toward culture or “the world”? Is it the same or different as your own?

What is good news in being not of “the world?”

Barbara Brown Taylor writes of the quick jump in so many sermons and churches to go against being “in the world” this:

“People encounter God under shady oak trees, on riverbanks, at the tops of mountains, and in long stretches of barren wilderness. God shows up in whirlwinds, starry skies, burning bushes, and perfect strangers. When people want to know more about God, the son of God tells them to pay attention to the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, to women kneading bread and workers lining up for their pay. Whoever wrote this stuff believed that people could learn as much about the ways of God from paying attention to the world as they could from paying attention to scripture. What is true is what happens, even if what happens is not always right. People can learn as much about the ways of God from business deals gone bad or sparrows falling to the ground as they can from reciting the books of the Bible in order. They can learn as much from a love affair or a wildflower as they can from knowing the Ten Commandments by heart.” 

― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith

What does this say about our calling as Christians to live in the world?

Give time to discuss/share answers and then:

Next let’s take a look at Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

How do you see your life or congregation confirming to “the world”?

Where do you see signs of transformation?

How might you be a witness within your cultural context to effect change through transformation?

Give time to discuss/share answers and then:

So knowing that we have a learning curve around cultural intelligence in the church and living in the tension of being “in” the world and also “against” the world—how can we do and be the church in the current world today? Remember those “nones?” Well it’s important to know that studies are showing that it’s not about rock bands or coffee shops, or the latest programs or electronics that are bringing people to church—churches employing those methods while they are fun and maybe help—are also experiencing decline—so what’s our witness and how can we get it out there?

Incarnation and Cultural Differences (20-30 minutes)

Andrew Root in a book just published on youth ministry last year writes: “participate in God’s action as a community by sharing deeply in one another’s lives, by together seeking God next to questionings and yearnings…(51)

Martin Luther in “The Freedom of a Christian” said: “I will therefore give myself as a sort of Christ, to my neighbor, as Christ has given Himself to me; and will do nothing in this life except what I see will be needful, advantageous, and wholesome for my neighbor, since by faith I abound in all good things in Christ.

So what do these two statements have to do with us and our ministry as we live into the culture of today? In order for us to share Christ with the world I think they are saying that we need to keep the personal and pastoral dimensions of the gospel front and center. Our sharing of the gospel has to become real and be incarnated in people and through human relationships. To share the gospel means to minister to persons in their needs and in their particular situations.

So thinking about this work through these questions on your own or as a table group:

How often and in what settings do you encounter your neighbors?

What are the life draining powers of our times?

What are the life giving powers of our times?

What are the images of life, hope and power of creation in our times?

How does your church encounter the neighbor? Who is absent from your church? If you were to provide ministry to them what would it look like?

How might focusing on God incarnate (God right here with us no matter where we are) reframe cultural conflicts present in your congregation or neighborhood?

Give time to discuss and share.

Then close with:

We are living in interesting times. And these interesting times provide us with both opportunities and challenges. The church must tread a thin line sometimes of being in the world and of the world yet against the world as well and we must decide how to do that. All while attempting to do ministry in a changing culture where church attendance (at least not how it’s been done over the years) is dwindling. We are learning to think outside the box. We are learning about new culture. This isn’t easy stuff. There will be lots of pain and confusion but also joy and a new found sense of purpose and imagination.

Part 1: What is culture?

Write down all of the cultures to which you belong—big cultures like the U.S. and small cultures like Grand Rapids, Minnesota—geographical cultures, cultures of interest, practice, identity or hobby.

Now, draw a line between any cultures that clash with each other.

Circle or star cultures that are welcome in your congregation

Place an X over cultures NOT welcome in your congregation.

What is your definition of culture? Write it here:

Share it with another person and write down their ideas.

Part 2: Video Clip: Broken Hope

First answer these questions:

This is___is not part of my culture

I did___did not hear the bible or gospel

Let’s watch it again and keep an eye more closely.

Who is the intended audience?

What is the emphasis?

What is the cultural setting?

What does this tell us about God in this setting?

How does it differ from your cultural setting? How is it the same?

Part 3: Bible

Galatians 3: 26-28

“for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Let’s discuss this verse as we did the film.

▪ Who do you think the intended audience is?

▪ What do you suppose was the cultural setting?

▪ What does this tell us about God in this setting?

▪ How does it differ from our cultural setting? How is it the same?

Galatians contains a radical promise: people who are quite different from one another are made one in Christ. Oneness is possible because Jesus came for all people; Christ is universal, savior of the whole world. God’s message of salvation in Christ, though universal must be shared with people in their own setting. In order for the proclamation of the good news to be heard and received it must be conveyed in the language of the people. Cultural differences have been present since the early days of Jesus.

At this time take a moment and write down the cultural differences in the passage from Galatians.

Do you identify with any of them?

Can you see any of these cultural differences at work in your congregation, workplace or neighborhood?

What are some sources of cultural conflict in your life? (age, money, language, music, worship style, etc) Give an example

Part 4: Cultural Intelligence

John 18: 33-36

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done? Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jew. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So are you a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had

said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.”

This scripture has created a cultural movement in that Jesus statement that his kingdom is “not of this world” has been an occasion for bumper stickers, tattoos, and other personal expressions. What messages are people saying with “NOTW”?

What is your congregation’s attitude toward culture or “the world”? Is it the same or different as your own?

What is good news in being not of “the world?”

Barbara Brown Taylor writes of the quick jump in so many sermons and churches to go against being “in the world” this:

“People encounter God under shady oak trees, on riverbanks, at the tops of mountains, and in long stretches of barren wilderness. God shows up in whirlwinds, starry skies, burning bushes, and perfect strangers. When people want to know more about God, the son of God tells them to pay attention to the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, to women kneading bread and workers lining up for their pay. Whoever wrote this stuff believed that people could learn as much about the ways of God from paying attention to the world as they could from paying attention to scripture. What is true is what happens, even if what happens is not always right. People can learn as much about the ways of God from business deals gone bad or sparrows falling to the ground as they can from reciting the books of the Bible in order. They can learn as much from a love affair or a wildflower as they can from knowing the Ten Commandments by heart.” 

― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith

What does this say about our calling as Christians to live in the world?

Next let’s take a look at Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

How do you see your life or congregation confirming to “the world”?

Where do you see signs of transformation?

How might you be a witness within your cultural context to effect change through transformation?

Part 5: Where do we go now?

Andrew Root in a book just published on youth ministry last year writes: “participate in God’s action as a community by sharing deeply in one another’s lives, by together seeking God next to questionings and yearnings…(51)

Martin Luther in “The Freedom of a Christian” said: “I will therefore give myself as a sort of Christ, to my neighbor, as Christ has given Himself to me; and will do nothing in this life except what I see will be needful, advantageous, and wholesome for my neighbor, since by faith I abound in all good things in Christ.

So what do these two statements have to do with us and our ministry as we live into the culture of today? In order for us to share Christ with the world I think they are saying that we need to keep the personal and pastoral dimensions of the gospel front and center. Our sharing of the gospel has to become real and be incarnated in people and through human relationships. To share the gospel means to minister to persons in their needs and in their particular situations.

So thinking about this work through these questions on your own or as a table group:

How often and in what settings do you encounter your neighbors?

What are the life draining powers of our times?

What are the life giving powers of our times?

What are the images of life, hope and power of creation in our times?

How does your church encounter the neighbor? Who is absent from your church? If you were to provide ministry to them what would it look like?

How might focusing on God incarnate (God right here with us no matter where we are) reframe cultural conflicts present in your congregation or neighborhood?

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[1] Lutheran Study Bible. Notes on Galatians page 1911

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