Comments on: Talking about “Universal Particularities?” http://sivinkit.net/archives/2406 happenings in my head and heart this side of heaven Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:02:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Alex Tang http://sivinkit.net/archives/2406#comment-2184 Alex Tang Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:31:45 +0000 http://sivinkit.net/archives/2406#comment-2184 Sivin, I cannot agree with your post more. One important point you have mentioned, and I will like to re-emphasise is "contextualisation." Contextualisation of our faith is the key issue we must address. However, contextualisation comes with its accompanying danger. That is why many churches view the emerging church movement with suspicions. They wonder how far will the emerging church goes with their contextualisation. As you know, one extreme of contextualisation is liberal theory, allowing culture to define the Gospel and pan-theism. This is what they are worried about and is also my concern. On the other hand, not doing contextualisation and adopting theologies wholesale from the West is not healthy either. Another point you brought up is that local Christians need to write and publish their works. It is tough because no publishers wants to publish local authors and local Christians look down on local authors (Can anything good come out of Nazerene?). Those in the academia in Malaysia are not prolific in their output and neither are those in the pastoral or even laypeople. I know most of local publications are not up to the mark but we need to start somewhere. I pray that we ...can hear the voice of God whispering to us. Sivin, I cannot agree with your post more. One important point you have mentioned, and I will like to re-emphasise is “contextualisation.” Contextualisation of our faith is the key issue we must address. However, contextualisation comes with its accompanying danger. That is why many churches view the emerging church movement with suspicions. They wonder how far will the emerging church goes with their contextualisation.

As you know, one extreme of contextualisation is liberal theory, allowing culture to define the Gospel and pan-theism. This is what they are worried about and is also my concern.

On the other hand, not doing contextualisation and adopting theologies wholesale from the West is not healthy either.

Another point you brought up is that local Christians need to write and publish their works. It is tough because no publishers wants to publish local authors and local Christians look down on local authors (Can anything good come out of Nazerene?). Those in the academia in Malaysia are not prolific in their output and neither are those in the pastoral or even laypeople. I know most of local publications are not up to the mark but we need to start somewhere.

I pray that we …can hear the voice of God whispering to us.

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