Grace, contextualisation and diversity-in-unity

More from my lectures on Ephesians at Northern Training

Look at Ephesians 4:7: ‘But to each one of us grace [charis] has been given as Christ apportioned it.’ Given the context, I do not think Paul means by this the grace of salvation in a general sense (the grace he talks about in 2:5-8). I think he means something more like the charismata or ‘spiritual gifts’ of 1 Corinthians 12. The context is that of the risen Christ giving gifts or abilities to each members of the congregation so that we can grow together an support one another.

But this is not the first time the word ‘grace’ has been used in this way in the letter to the Ephesians. Look at 3:2 and 3:7. The ‘grace’ given to Paul is the grace to create a contextualised gospel for Gentiles as part of one, united church. It is Paul’s ability or role in bringing the Gentiles into Christ through faith and therefore into the church.

Now in 4:7 Paul says ‘grace’ is given to each one.

This link is significant.

1. Contextualised local churches (plural) are part of one united global church (singular). This contextualised diversity-in-unity is the means by which we grow into maturity. In other words, we grow to maturity through the interactions of different contextualised gospels – each critiquing and contributing to the other
= we need one another in the world church

2. The situation within the local church mirrors that of the global church. Diverse individuals are part of one united congregation. And this diversity-in-unity is the means by which we grow into maturity.
= we need one another in the local church

Culture it has been said is ‘what makes you a stranger when you are away from home’. A more precise definition is: ‘the rules (usually unwritten and often sub-conscious) that determine how people within social groups behave and think’. Notice from this:

1. The rules that describe how a culture works are usually unwritten (though there may be some written elements – constitution, sporting rules) and often sub-conscious.

2. It means cross-cultural interactions are like playing a game in which you do not know the rules. That is why people experience ‘culture shock’. You become a learner, a child, a foreigner, an outsider.

3. Cultural groups can be defined by ethnicity, but also by social and economic status (the working class culture), occupation (the culture of the police, the culture of the medical profession), leisure activities (golf club culture, hip-hop culture) and belief (evangelical culture). This means cultures overlap. Any one person will be a participant in several cultures and sub-cultures – especially in urban areas where there is greater heterogeneity. So any one person will be operating with several sets of unwritten, often sub-conscious rules at the same time.

4. When we think about culture we often start with behaviour and with actions that are considered polite or impolite; socially acceptable and unacceptable. For example, consider the recent HSBC advert featuring a British businessman being offered successively largely eels by his Chinese hosts. In Chinese culture you leave food on your plate to show that your host has provided beyond what you need. To leave no food shows you still want more. In the UK leaving food on your plate shows you did not like it. You eat all your food to indicate it was a good meal. Both have their own internal logic. These are the sorts of issues that surface quickly in cross-cultural encounters. But the issues of ‘thinking’ are often more significant. You can understand how to behave in a polite way, but if you do not understand how people think then your communication will often miss the mark. A simple example: a Hindu may agree that Jesus is God. Under your influence they may start worshipping Jesus. And so you may regard them as a convert. But they may view Jesus as simply one god among many.

5. Cultures are always changing – especially through interaction with other cultures. History is a key shaper of culture and a key way of interpreting culture. But history is an on-going, evolving thing. So if you want to understand a culture you must know its history, but you must also recognise that it is changing. And that process of change is being accelerated by globalisation.

Look at Paul’s prayer request in 6:19-20. One way of expressing truth will not do for another context so Paul prays that he might be given words. Words need to be hunted down that will give adequate expression to the gospel in a particular context. Plus we must retain a sense of mystery – words will never quite do the job.

Paul also prays for boldness. If Paul soft pedals the conflict with Caesar then he might be released. He needs boldness to stand firm.

We see here that contextualisation involves: