THE GOSPEL/CULTURE ENCOUNTER AT SALVADOR – A TESTIMONY

Abstract

Conference on World Mission and Evangelism has met at Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, at a significant moment in history -- the approach of the end of the century and a new millennium. This how the conference Message begins. It captures in a few words the feelings all of us experienced during the entire meeting. Can God's mission continue to be perceived as a responsibility given to a particular group of people or nations? The world has become a village. Through highways of communication, what happens at a given place seen instantly, made known to the world. What a distance from the time of the Edinburgh conference in 1910! As an African, being at Salvador gave me not only the opportunity to physically feel and experience what human actions can generate for generations, but also (and mainly) to discover how cultures and spiritualities form what we are and -- very often -- what we try to be. Landing at Salvador airport, one could believe we had arrived at Ibadan, Nigeria, considering the way the hostesses were dressed. Yet, looking at the advertising posters one could wonder if the majority of people on the streets were real inhabitants or simply visitors: the people pictured were all white; the market requires! The mission of God in Jesus Christ worldwide; it is an every member mission, from everywhere to everywhere, involving every aspect of life. In panel presentations, sections, sub-sections and Bible study groups, what struck me was, as the Message states. ... the willingness of the churches and mission agencies to admit past failures and to refuse to engage in stereo typing .... The new dimension to move from a dialogue with other cultures captured in our theme Called to One Hope -- the Gospel in Diverse Cultures, to one hope with the gospel in a world of diverse religions and cultures. Because of the diversity of denominations and traditions represented in the discussion, these questions have been placed on the agenda of each of us. -- Who and who not a part of the body of Christ? What does being part of one body imply for the churches in relationship to one another? What are the criteria for membership? Are all people called to be part of the body of Christ? -- Are there ways other than through Jesus to answer God's call? -- What does it mean to be a Christian in a world where those who are called Christian are doing inhuman actions? In this century alone, the two world wars were not fought mainly by non-Christians; the two atomic bombs dropped on people were not dropped by a non-Christian country. …