1. 50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (1)
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
James spoke up … “It is my judgment … that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God …” (Acts 15:5,14,19)
50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (1)

2. 50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (2)
He came to … Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived … whose father was a Greek … Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek (Acts 16:1,3)
50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (2)

3. 50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (3)
I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I … set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles … Yet not even Titus … was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek (Gal. 2:1-3)
50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (3)

4. 50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (4)
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible …To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (1 Cor. 9:19,22)
50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (4)

5. 50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (5)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law (Gal. 5:1-3)
50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (5)

6. Discussion & dialogue (1)
Discuss what ‘missionary non-essentials’ the gospel was wrapped in, when it first came to your country, and in what ways that may still be visible today
What ‘missionary non-essentials’ are you, or is your church in the danger of exporting to the mission fields, along with the essential gospel message?
Explain the difference between ‘cultural’ and ‘supra-cultural’ and state which one missionaries should NOT export to their mission fields
50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (6)

7. Discussion & dialogue (2)
Try to assess what sort of comparable issues you will run into, when you would minister to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or adherents of folk religions
Discuss what forms of syncretism you have come across and explain what biblical truth you have used to combat it
Explain how theme five features in this story (think about forms of syncretism)
50 - Cultural issues & syncretism (7)