Abstract

Contextualisation is considered crucial in relating the gospel to culture. However, when reaching Muslims by means of the Christian gospel it is also important to evaluate the concept of contextualisation, as different approaches enable one to understand the mission to Muslims in different ways. There are still divergent views ranging from total rejection of any aspect of the Muslim culture and beliefs to full acceptance of the Muslim religious culture. Various exponents have attempted in different ways to deal with the issue. Phil Parshall is regarded as a leader in this field. This article suggests a holistic Scriptural view rather than accepting contextualisation as a means to relate the gospel to Muslims. This view is intrinsically bound to Scripture and the acceptance of Scripture as the revelation of God. It is argued that Muslims should be approached with great respect while emphasising the true revelation of God in Christ.

Highlights

  • AND PROBLEM STATEMENTContextualisation of the gospel among Muslims has become a basic and generally accepted principle in modern missions

  • Since Muslims are so resistant to conversion, even to the point of violence, it would be better to find a rite of initiation into the church that would be more acceptable to the culture

  • While numerous individuals continued Kraft’s work, none was more influential in the field of the specific application of Kraft’s principles to Muslim contextualisation and the development of the definition of the term contextualisation as it applies to Muslim evangelism than Phil Parshall

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Contextualisation of the gospel among Muslims has become a basic and generally accepted principle in modern missions. One leading missiologist admits that the term is a description of multitudinous approaches: “It is obvious that a wide variety of meanings, methods, and models are attached to the word contextualization” (Hesselgrave 1995a:115-119). He continues: Still in its infancy, that word [contextualization] has already been defined and redefined, used and abused, amplified and vilified, coronated and crucified (Hesselgrave 1984:693). This process includes scrutinising general Christian and Evangelical approaches to Muslim evangelism, investigating the anthropological sources of most theories of contextualisation, conducting a well-balanced and hermeneutically sound study of the Word of God, engaging in responsible theological dialogue with the proponents of various methodologies, and establishing some fundamental biblical principles for the contextualisation of the gospel among Muslims

CLASSIFICATIONS OF CONTEXTUALISATION
DIMENSIONS OF CONTEXTUALISATION
The theme of cultural relevance
Contextualisation and the theory of dynamic equivalence
Dynamic equivalence churches
The influence of Phil Parshall
FORMULATING A PRECISE DEFINITION
Approaches to Muslim contextualisation
Arriving at a system of classification
Using the table and further refinements in classification
REVISITING HERMENEUTICS
THE EVANGELICAL CONTRIBUTION
Clearing the confusion related to mandates
A high view of Scripture
The divine-human Christ as the Son of God and Son of man
The issue of lifestyle
A FINAL WORD
Full Text
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