Presenting Gospel in Cultures and Communities with Relevant Values
The presentation of the Gospel in diverse cultures and communities involves adapting its message to resonate with local values while maintaining its core truths. This missional approach is rooted in biblical precedent and has been articulated through various theological traditions. The Apostle Paul, for instance, saw his ministry as "sacredly ministering the gospel of God" to the nations, aiming for the "offering of the nations" to be acceptable and "sanctified by the Holy Spirit" [1]. This suggests an understanding of the Gospel as something that can be received and expressed within different cultural contexts, made holy by the Spirit.
The concept of spreading the Gospel to new regions is a recurring theme in scripture. Paul expressed a desire "to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand" [2]. This indicates a strategic and intentional effort to reach unreached areas, implying a need to understand and engage with the specific contexts of those regions. The book of Revelation also speaks of an "angel fly[ing] in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel" to preach to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Revelation 14:6 KJV). Adam Clarke, in his commentary on this passage, considers whether this angel represents a "particular dispensation of providence and grace" or a specific "messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians" whose purpose is to disseminate the Gospel globally [3]. He even suggests that institutions like the British and Foreign Bible Society might embody this vision [3]. This highlights a long-standing recognition within Christian thought of the need for the Gospel to transcend cultural boundaries and be communicated effectively to all peoples.
The process of presenting the Gospel in different cultures often involves a gathering of people into the "church of God" or "Gospel fold," where they become "no more foreigners and strangers, but of the household of God" [4]. This imagery, used by John Gill in his commentary on Zechariah 8:7, suggests an incorporation into a new community while still acknowledging their original identity. Gill also interprets Zechariah 10:9 as referring to the conversion of Jews and their subsequent "being planted in Gospel churches" among the Gentiles, where they are recognized as "people of God" [7]. This implies that the Gospel creates a new identity that can encompass and transform existing cultural identities.
The manner in which believers conduct themselves is also crucial to the Gospel's reception. John Gill, commenting on Philippians 1:27, emphasizes that believers' "conversation" (behavior) should "be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ" [5]. While this primarily refers to moral conduct, it also implies that the way Christians live within a culture can either commend or hinder the Gospel's message. This "good conversation in Christ" is seen as a means to "put to silence, the ignorance of foolish men" and to bring "confusion and shame" to those who falsely accuse believers [5]. This underscores the importance of contextualized ethical living as a witness to the Gospel.
The communication of the Gospel is often described through metaphors that highlight its active and intentional dissemination. John Gill, in his commentary on Proverbs 9:3, interprets "Wisdom's maidens" as "ministers of the Gospel" who are sent forth to proclaim its message [6]. This imagery emphasizes the role of messengers in carrying the Gospel to various communities. Similarly, Gill interprets the servants in Matthew 22:10, who "went out into the highways" and "gathered together all, as many as they found, both good and bad," as representing those who preach the Gospel to the Gentiles [8]. This illustrates the expansive reach of the Gospel message, gathering diverse individuals into the Christian community.
When the Gospel is effectively presented and received in a new cultural context, it leads to a "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ" [9]. This subjection, according to John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13, is an "experiment" or "proof" of the liberality and grace found in the Gospel, leading people to "glorify God" [9]. The Gospel of Christ is understood as the "doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ," and its acceptance brings about a transformation that is evident to others [9]. The ministers who proclaim this Gospel are called to "lift up their voice like a trumpet, and cry aloud, and deliver out the Gospel fully and faithfully, with great authority and power, and with much vehemence, zeal, and fervency" [10]. This passionate and clear proclamation is essential for the Gospel to be heard and understood in any cultural setting.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 15:16 (LITV) — for me to be a minister of Jesus Christ to the nations, sacredly ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the nations might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
- King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 10:16 — To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 14:6: Another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel - Whether this angel mean any more than a particular dispensation of providence and grace, by which the Gospel shall be rapidly sent throughout the whole world; or whether it mean any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians, whose professed object it is to send the Gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth, we know not. But the vision seems truly descriptive of a late institution, entitled The British and Foreign Bible Society, whose object it is to print an”
- Zechariah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zechariah 8:7: And l will bring them,.... To Zion, into the church of God, the Gospel fold, where Christ has engaged to bring his other sheep, that there may be one fold for Jew and Gentile, Jer 3:14 Joh 10:16, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: the Gospel church; and be no more foreigners and strangers, but of the household of God, enjoying all the immunities and privileges of the Jerusalem that is above, the mother of us all: and they shall be my people; appear to be so by effectual calling; which makes those manifest to be the people of God, to be in the covena”
- Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 1:27: Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ,.... Or "behave as citizens worthy of the Gospel"; for not so much their outward conversation in the world is here intended, which ought to be in wisdom towards them that are without; so as to give no offence to any, and to put to, silence, the ignorance of foolish men, and them to confusion and: shame, who falsely accuse their good conversation in Christ; though this is what is highly becoming professors of the Gospel; and a moral conversation proceeding from principles of grace, under the influen”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 9:3: She hath sent forth her maidens,.... Not moral virtues, or good works, which subserve the interest of Christ and religion, adorn the Gospel and its professors; nor the liberal arts and sciences, said to be handmaids to divinity; nor angels, ministering spirits to Christ; but the ministers of the Gospel, who being so called does not suppose or encourage women's preaching; but have the name to keep up the decency of the parable, and the propriety of the allegory: for since Wisdom is represented as a lady, a princess or queen, it is proper that her attendants should be ”
- Zechariah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zechariah 10:9: And I will sow them among the people, The people of God in the Gentile world: this is to be understood of the conversion of the Jews, when they will become the good seed that hear the word, and understand it, and bring forth fruit; and of their being known, acknowledged, and reckoned among the people of God, who now are not; and of their being planted in Gospel churches, where the word is truly preached; the ordinances are faithfully administered; the Lord grants his presence, and saints have communion one with another; to be in such a fruitful soil, and in such sa”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 22:10: So these servants went out into the highways,.... Turned from the Jews, and went among the Gentiles, preaching the Gospel to them; particularly the Apostle Paul, with Barnabas, and others: and gathered together all, as many as they found, both good and bad: the Persic version reads it, "known or unknown". The Gospel ministry is the means of gathering souls to Christ, and to attend his ordinances, and into his churches; and of these that are gathered by it into churches, and to an attendance on outward ordinances, some are good and some bad, as the fishes gathered ”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 14:7: Saying with a loud voice,.... These ministers shall lift up their voice like a trumpet, and cry aloud, and deliver out the Gospel fully and faithfully, with great authority and power, and with much vehemence, zeal, and fervency: fear God; or "the Lord", as some copies, the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions, read: not the antichristian beast and his followers, as men formerly had done; but God the Lord, and him not with a servile fear, or a fear of punishment, of wrath, hell, and damnation; nor with a distrust of his grace, love, power, and providence, much less ”