1. Cultural Relativism and Contextualization
Dr. David Sills

2. Cultural Relativism Biblical Relativism Biblical Absolutism
Cultural Absolutism
Situational Ethics
Traditionalist
Cultural Relativism
Antinomian
Mutual Respect C U L T R A

3. Cultural Perspectives
Emic = that perspective or point of view that sees, feels, and communicates as a natural insider.
Etic = that perspective which observes, describes, and reports on a culture from the position of an outsider.

4. Contextualization Glocalization
Contextualization combines those two thoughts and asks, “How do you transfer what God has said through ‘holy men of old’ who lived in an ancient cultural context, into the language of people who live in a drastically different age and cultural context?
Defining Contextualization:
“Meaningful and appropriate cross-cultural transmission of Biblical truth which is faithful to its original intent and sensitive (understandable) to culture.”
We seek to be biblically faithful and culturally understandable.

5. Contextualization Theology done from within a system
Clothing the Gospel in culturally relevant garments.
Losing the excess baggage so that the Gospel is clearly seen.

6. Which of these are biblical?

7. Which of these are sinful?

8. 3 Eras of Contextualization
Non-Contextualization
Cultural superiority and arrogance
Little to no regard for host culture
Gospel looked foreign
Over-Contextualization
Influence of anthropologists
Home culture bashing
Syncretism

9. 3 Eras of Contextualization
Critical Contextualization
Biblically faithful but culturally understandable
4 steps
Exegete the culture
Exegete the Scripture
Come to a crux regarding some cultural issue
Implement a functional substitute
Always done “round table” style with the missionary and locals having a seat at the table