{"id":4784,"date":"2014-11-18T20:00:18","date_gmt":"2014-11-19T02:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/jacksonwu\/?p=4784"},"modified":"2015-08-14T03:55:11","modified_gmt":"2015-08-14T08:55:11","slug":"how-to-contextualize-the-gospel-for-animists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/jacksonwu\/2014\/11\/18\/how-to-contextualize-the-gospel-for-animists\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Contextualize the Gospel for Animists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

How do we contextualize the gospel among animists?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the last post,<\/a> I highlighted a possible danger to be aware of when presenting the gospel among many unreached people groups. In this post, I will suggest a more constructive approach.<\/p>\n

\"\" Credit: CC 2.0\/wikipedia<\/p>\n

How does the Bible confront other \u201cgods\u201d?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

How did people like the OT prophets contend with polytheistic beliefs in their own contexts? I think we see a pattern in their approach.<\/p>\n

I offer the following suggestion when confronting the false \u201cgods\u201d of animistic peoples.<\/p>\n

Challenge their authority and not simply their existence.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The main thing to contend for is the sovereignty (i.e. supreme authority) of God.<\/p>\n

I should add a brief background note. In the ancient near eastern world, kingship was linked with the worship of particular gods. After all, kings claimed divine mandate and were often reckoned sons of their people\u2019s god. Accordingly, idolatry was linked to what we might call \u201cpolitics.\u201d Remember Daniel and his buddies? Worshipping an idol expressed political allegiance.<\/p>\n

Idols claim power over people and places. Thus, they divide Gods kingdom. We should therefore make the following points clear.<\/p>\n

1. The Creator God has sovereign power and authority<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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