The Challenge of Contextualizing the Gospel in America

by Mickey Noel 
 
G.K. Chesterton once said, “When people abandon the truth, they don’t believe in nothing, they believe in anything.” This is an apt description for the realities facing ministry in present day America ! So rather than assuming people have no belief system maybe we should lead with the question “What do you think about this?” or “What would you say about…?” 
 
Let me suggest that effective ministry to today’s audience begins with the posing of an appropriate question, followed by the discipline to listen for the response. I know what you are thinking. “That’s not how I was trained!” Of course, you would be correct in that appraisal!   Most of us who are over 35 have been trained to be tellers, fixers and program implementers. Few have learned to adjust their style to that of listen first, then ask questions, then listen some more and only then act. Otherwise we may find ourselves answering the wrong questions. Or alternatively, answering the right questions prematurely! 
 
Every location, every ministry venue and every conversation requires wise ministers to first evaluate the CONTEXT! That is why in the C&MA we expect newly appointed pastors to spend their early ministry days studying their new turf! While this is a never ending assignment, the first weeks and months of question asking will help the church leader to understand what questions need to be asked and when.  
 
Likewise, new church planters will spend 6-9 months studying their context and building team before they launch. During these early days the church-plant team is learning everything they can about the expected primary audience for their ministry. Who are they? What is important to them? What are their likes and dislikes? What are the characteristics that link them together? But the most important question of all is this “How shall we relate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them?” What should we emphasize? How shall we get their attention? What will we do to lead them into Christ’s truth? 
 
So, I have two big questions for you. (1) What can you tell me about the context in which you minister? (2) How has this understanding influenced the way you go about doing ministry and building your community of Christ-followers? I have found your ability to answer these questions with clarity and conviction to be a good indicator of your ministry’s effectiveness.

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