The ABC is visible on the lower left of the trunk, with two branches carrying the six languages of Africa into which it has been translated. Next to it is the Slavic Bible Commentary (in Russian). Above them are the Latin American commentary (in Spanish) and the South Asia Bible Commentary (initially, in English, but now emerging in local languages, like Hindi, pictured here). Across the top of the tree are the ones from and for the Arab world (in Arabic), the ‘big country’ and the Central & Eastern European Bible Commentary. Amazing.
Sparked by 1 Cor 1.18—2.5, I liken the journey to the sermon to be akin to visiting ‘five corners’: (1) Written Word; (2) World; (3) Listener; (4) Preacher; and (5) Living Word. Next time, Seba’s work will remain open before me as I unpack ‘the Listener’.
Three Chinese festivals. One gospel. Six preachers. What does ‘contextualised preaching’, one that is both biblically faithful and culturally relevant, look like? It will involve both the ‘affirmation and confrontation’ (295) of culture — always. The careful, restrained way in which Tan exegetes the culture (the ‘World corner’ above) and then, with an assured grasp of the gospel, the way he arrives at the conclusion that ‘all three festivals contain elements in harmony with the Christian faith … (as well as) elements contrary to the Christian faith’ (331) — it is masterful.
Nominalism sits alongside syncretism. Both nurture ‘a form of godliness while denying its power’ (2 Tim 3.4), a ‘spiritual lethargy’, in local churches. It is far easier to see it ‘over there’, rather than ‘in here’, as they kinda hide in plain sight. My visits to NE India, once with Johnson, took me back to arriving in the USA for theological study, as a 21 year old, at a time when 40-60% of the country was in church on Sunday. A staggering figure. But then asking, “How can such a large amount of salt and light have such little impact on society?” Nominalism. Syncretism. Raih references research which shows that evangelistic work by Indian Christians is not vibrant because two-thirds of the Christians in India need themselves to be evangelized.
About Me
the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
John Stott was the first one to help me see the tension in Jesus’ teaching on salt and light. They are pictures for how his disciples are to live in society. Salt pulls them in, keeping them involved. Light holds them back, keeping them distinctive. Being light responds to ‘the danger of worldliness’, while being…
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
