1 Corinthians 9:20-22 for the 21st century
Book Review
Walking Together on the Jesus Road: Discipling in Intercultural Contexts
by Evelyn & Richard Hibbert
William Carey Library (2018)
232 pages
FES Library book call number: 266.23 HIB
The first eight chapters can serve as a quick read for those who want to grapple with the intercultural discipler-disciple model; awakening us to the effects of ethnocentrism (assuming “our way is right”). Hibbert helpfully contrasts cultural issues such as: high and low context, people versus task orientation, collectivism versus individualism, high and low power, tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity, differences in logic and the assumptions about reality (time, space, people, unseen spiritual forces and beings).
Chapter nine sketches for us the multidimensionality of sin to which the contextualised gospel can address, that is, how each aspect of what Christ achieved through his death and resurrection addresses a different aspect of sin.
Thus, the one key question for every Christian is to recognise and express the gospel according to receivers’ home cultural context-specific ways. Hibbert provides a good summary to them:
- Redemption: We are redeemed from sin, death, and Satan
- Propitiation: We are no longer under the wrath of God
- Justification: We are declared forgiven and right with God
- Reconciliation: We are reconciled to God so that we are now his friends
- Sanctification: We are set apart by God to belong to him and for his purposes.
This book is not a heavy doctrinal or theological book but one that is full of illustrations that can benefit those who are going for mission trips and exploring the area of missions.
Reviewed by: Maggie Ho
Maggie is a FES Library member.
