Inculturation as Means of Communication for Evangelization
Loading...
Date
2006
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
The Church down through her line of history has often encouraged the effective
use of Mass Media to facilitate the spread of the Good News, Nevertheless, on the other
hand, she has not ceased to emphasis Inculturation as another perfect model of
communication in doing evangelization. Today, the most highlighted models or
channels of communication used are radio, TV., Internet, newspaper, magazine, and
phones. Very little emphasis is made in the use of Inculturation.
Modern channels of communication would be voted by anyone as the best and
fastest way of doing Evangelisation but the little defect one can quickly point out is the
fact that it does not really touch the core of the human person. It only stays hanging but
does not touch the real lives of the people. Needless to add that this piece of work is not
in condemnation of modern models used in spreading the Good News. This paper is to
point out this other effective model or channel, which has been abandon in the closet for
some time now. Inculturation may sound arcane but believe it or not it one of the
effective means through which Evangelisation is done.
As it is often emphasized these days, evangelization is not virtually by preaching
with word of mouth, listening to the radio, watching TV., but also preaching with one's
life. Inculturation comes as means by which this aspect of the Good News is
communicated. Inculturation actually reaches or touches the core of people's life visa
vis the Gospel.
This means of doing evangelization could only make sense to us if we all join in
or accept it effectiveness. We all need to bring the Gospel message into our lives
through our daily activities, cultures, and language so as to find a new Christ
communicated to us. As already mentioned, other means of communication are not to be under estimated but to find a true Christ born and living with us. We need also to
give a stronger look at inculturation, which is a more practical means of communicating
a Christ who is fiilly alive among us.
It is good to see the importance of these modern tools, which have so
successfully wave their way through the modern mode of living, affecting and
influencing our Christian lives. It is also the aspiration of everyone now to acquaint
oneself with these modern means of communication. However, we should not loose
sight of how to assimilate all these into the lives of people so that the Gospel message
might make sense in the lives of the people.
The church may be accused of being slow in pushing forward this way
(Inculturation) of doing evangelization, perhaps because of the risk of loosing the
message in another sense. The few areas this means has been employed effectively,
tremendous impact has been made in the lives of the people. Inculturation is slowly
booming and a very old word in the churches history. Much has been written about it
but very little has been done about it. Believe it or not it is one of the best ways and of
course the best means of communication for everyone for the gospel values to be
understood properly among the people, it must find place among them. This means that
the gospel values must be rooted in the lives and culture of the people.
Description
Keywords
Inculturation, Communication, Evangelization