Wadaiko X Black Gospel Fusion Music Video from Studio Re: on Vimeo.
It made me think again however about how we share the gospel. I was once sent a message with a quote from a book in I think is rather apt:
"We should never have transplanted Christianity to Asia without breaking the pot in which the plant came...a church which has failed to strike roots in Asian soil because no-one dares to break the Greco-Roman pot in which, for centuries, it has been existing like a stunted bonsai."
[Pieris in Bosch, J.B (2009), 'Transforming mission: paradigm shifts in theology of mission', New York: Orbis books.]
I believe this to to particularly true in non-hellenistic societies such as Japan but I wonder for a moment to what extent that is true here too. In the UK we are obviously, by nature, hellenistic and therefore the Greco-Roman pot is in theory quite suited. With that said our culture has, and is changing, and unless we adapt to/with/in the culture can we really be suprised when people see church and Christianity as irrelevant? Not that the gospel is in any way to be changed but rather the way we present it. Being in an Anglican church makes one realise the extremely fine line between keeping and benefiting from traditions and scraping them for fresh expressions. I think the video above is a great example of mixing traditions and cultures, and I hope that they see fruit from what they are doing. Perhaps one day we too, in the UK, will find the balance to the glory of God.
Till Next Time!
