Cross - Cultural Mission Biblical Theological Seminary
Dr. James F. McGrath, professor January term, 2002
Course description:
This course aims to give grounding in some of the most important
historical and theological backgrounds and foundation of the Christian
mission, as well as providing in most instances practical examples
of issues faced by missionaries and opportunities to discuss how
to deal with these.
Course aims:
1) To provide students with an initial grounding in the study
of culture and anthropology as these relate to Christian witness
and mission.
2) To cover (at least superficially) through independent reading
the basic concepts and issues raised and discussed in the textbook
(Charles Kraft, Christianity and Culture).
3) To discuss concrete case histories from the experience of missionaries,
Bible translators, and the evangelized regarding difficulties
and issues relating to culture that confront those who proclaim
the Christian message today.
4) To formulate an approach to the communication of the Christian
faith that will allow students who have taken the course to be
witnesses in an effective and culturally sensitive way in the
situations in which they may find themselves in the future.
Course requirements and grading:
During this course the students will complete the following projects,
which will contribute to the final grade in the percentages specified.
1) A large part of this course focuses on the discussion of specific
case studies relating to mission and culture. Attendance and participation
are thus considered to be part of the course material, and will
make up 20% of the grade.
2) Students will read the specified chapters of their textbook,
to enable us to spend more time in the classroom looking at concrete
examples and applications of what is being studied. Students will
be given 5% of their grade for completing the specified reading
on time. Please note that students are not required to memorize
the material, only to read it, and in instances where there are
several chapters to be covered a more cursory, 'skim' reading
of the material is perfectly acceptable. Students will sign on
the attendance sheet whether they have completed the reading or
not.
3) A final paper will be written, consisting of (a) an attempt
to restate the Gospel message in a brief form aimed at a particular
group and/or cultural context. This will be followed by (b) an
explanation and justification of the language and imagery used
therein. Students are encouraged to be creative on this project.
There are no right or wrong answers, provided the students demonstrates
they have given due thought and research to the issue. This will
make up 35% of the final grade.
4) A final exam, based on the material in the textbook and that
covered in class, which will make up 40% of the final grade.
Provisional Class Schedule:
[Jan.7] What
is culture? [Kraft, chs.3-5]
a) Anthropology - the study of human beings and the way they live
b) Software of the mind: Human beings are all different (personality)
and all the same (human nature). But it is where we are partly
the same and partly different (culture) that there is the greatest
room for misunderstanding.
c) Culture shock
[Jan.9] What
is mission? A brief overview [Kraft, chs.1-2]
a) Jewish background? [Old Testament roots, translation of Scripture,
Gentile converts to Judaism in the intertestamental period]
b) New Testament mission
c) The spread of Christianity
d) Mission and Christendom; Mission in and to post-Christian society
[Jan.11] The Gospel and Culture [Kraft, chs. 9-12]
1. What is the Gospel? What does it mean to evangelize/bring the
Gospel?
a) Message, communication of information
b) Relationship
c) Values, lifestyle-transformation
2. Form, meaning and message
a) Divine revelation and mission
b) Scripture: Textbook or casebook?
3. From the New Testament to our world today: Gospel and culture
a) Jesus' parables and mission to Israel - The Gospel in its original
cultural setting
b) Paul: Neither Jew nor Greek; Flesh & spirit…misunderstood?
c) The Early Church: Justin, Tertullian
[Jan.14] The Gospel and Culture (continued) [Kraft, ch.6]
d) Evangelical Perspectives: Lausanne Covenant
e) Niebuhr's Fivefold Typology
f) Biblical Hermeneutics and Culture
[Jan.16] The Gospel, Culture and Communication [Kraft, chs.8,13-16]
a) Brief introduction to communication theory [Sender, Message,
Receiver]
b) Essentials and Peripherals of the Christian Faith [Questionnaire
& Discussion]
c) Translating the Basic Gospel Message
d) Translating Church Practice
e) Translating the Bible
i) Case Study: Translating 'God' into Telugu
ii) Dynamic equivalence
f) Losing Christianese jargon
[Jan.18] Learning from Past Mistakes [Kraft, chs. 17-19]
a) Christ: Demolisher or Transformer of Culture?
b) The tangled web - Culture, religion, economics, politics [cf.
Acts 19]
c) Can we bring Christianity without exporting our own cultural
baggage?
d) Learning to listen to our hearers
1) Finding out where our audience is 'hearing the message from'.
2) Looking for hints of God's truth in their culture…and
religion?
e) Bridge-building
Jan 23 - final exam
Textbook:
Kraft, Charles H., Christianity in Culture. A Study in Dynamic
Biblical Theologizing in Cross-Cultural Perspective, Maryknoll:
Orbis, 1979.
Bibliography:
Donovan, Vincent J., Christianity Rediscovered: An Epistle from
the Masai, Maryknoll: Orbis, 1982.
Ember, Carol R. and Melvin, Anthropology, Englewood Cliffs: Prentice
Hall, 1973.
Goldsmith, Elizabeth, Getting There From Here, MARC Europe/STL,
1986.
Harris, Philip R. and Robert T. Moran, Managing Cultural Differences,
Houston: Gulf, 1979.
Hesselgrave, David J. and Edward Rommen, Contextualization. Meanings,
Methods, and Models, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989.
Hofstede, Geert, Cultures and Organizations. Software of the Mind,
McGraw-Hill, 1991.
Inch, Morris A., Doing Theology Across Cultures, Grand Rapids:
Baker, 1982.
Hopler, Thom & Marcia, Reaching the World Next Door, Downers
Grove: IVP, 1993.
Inch, Morris A., Doing Theology Across Cultures, Grand Rapids:
Baker, 1982
Kottak, Conrad Phillip, Cultural Anthropology, New York: Random
House, 1979 (2nd edition)
McDermott, Gerald R., Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions?
Jesus, Revelation & Religious Traditions, Downers Grove: IVP,
2000.
Niebuhr, H. Richard, Christ and Culture, New York: Harper, 1951.
Shorter, Aylward, Evangelization and Culture, New York: Geoffrey
Chapman, 1994.
Watson, David, I Believe in Evangelism, London: Hodder & Stoughton,
1976.
Some useful web addresses:
http://www.oocities.org/jamesfrankmcgrath/biblical_missions/index.htm
[The class home page]
http://www.asmweb.org/links.htm