Contextualization

Contextualization

• It is a big, long word first coined and used among linguists involved in communicating the translation of the Bible into relevant cultural settings.
• Formally it was adopted by a gathering of scholars among an organization known as TEF or Theological Education Fund [[1]]in its mandate to reach out or communicating the Gospel and Christian teachings in another new culture.

Since the early 70s

• This word has been liberated to be used by secular , religious and political persons to render their origin message into different settings by adjusting or accommodating words, phrases or meanings into understandable context in its respondent cultures.
• It is still a theological term used mainly to contextalise the biblical message as perceived in the mandate originated by Jesus in the gospel accounts. Prior to the usage of the word contextualization many cross-cultural linguists, anthrolopists and missionaries had been involved in such communication approaches such as in accommodating the message or meanings to another cultural setting.
• Perhaps credit should go to a missionary 'Don Richardson' [[2]] and an alumni of Prairie Bible Institute who coined the term "redemptive analogies" which later popularized the term of contextualization later in the late 70s.
• Later many missiology books [[3]] were written along the same line such as under the subject and topical treatment of cross-cultural communication.

One may espoused a particular worldview

• Within a context of one's knowledge and understanding of one's particular background and upbringing culture: for instant,
• A Muslim holding a monotheistic view of God within the context of his religion. Is such a person's monotheistic God the same for another monotheistic believer .e.g. A Jew? Likely such theological understanding is contrasted differently from another's worldview whose window of understanding is within the sphere of western Christianity.
• In order to enable the flow of ideas as in cross inter-faith understanding, a whole series of religious terms will be needed to be contextalise for the flow of knowledge from one to the other and vice versa .
• However not many scholars who are espoused to their own creeds may want to compromise on some vital issues. There will be definitely be many barriers in cross-cultural communication but the new world carrion call is for clearer understanding and friendship among all faiths.