Contextualization as a Critical Transformative Agent in Christianity

Abstract

Abstract There is an increasing acceptance that every theology is contextual. There is an equally commensurate rising concerns whether contextualization in theology is not undermining Christianity and devaluing the concept of ‘the Truth’. Among the reasons for this problem are the consequence of a blemished Christian history, the eternal truth of God in an ephemeral world, and the upsurge of pluralistic theologies with the ‘de-westernization’ of Christian theology. These have thematized contextualization in contemporary theology as important and at the same time, problematic. This work rather argues that contextualization has been part of Christianity in the interpretation and propagation of Christ’s message, and that as far as it is an indispensable aspect of Christian theologies, it must neither devalue Christian religiosity nor suggest that the eternal God who happened in history can be subjected to historicity. Through the exposé of the social-territorial, political, religious and economic contexts, and the analysis of the doctrinal, exegetical and missiological historicity of Christianity, this work reflects contextualization in different phases of Christian developments, and its relevance in the present time. It tries to establish that Christianity happened in context, and that it continues to happen in context to every person, group or culture it meets. Contextualization is a strength of Christianity.