Open Question Thursday > Contextualizing and Natural Revelation

Tony Reinke spurgeon

Open Question Thursday

Contextualizing and Natural Revelation

Hello everyone and happy New Year! This week we are starting what I hope to be a weekly feature called Open Question Thursday (though comments will be open beyond Thursday). I want to hear from you!

My first question is this: It seems with all the talk about contextualizing the message of the bible to our culture, there is a lopsided emphasis on methodology and presentation rather than revelation (an emphasis leading to religious relativism). I’m wondering where the importance of general revelation fits here. Is general revelation God’s way of contextualizing in every generation? Thus the preacher points to a tree (which all are familiar) and says, ‘God made that to bring honor to Himself.’ I don’t know. What do you think? How do contextualizing and general revelation correlate?

8 thoughts on “Open Question Thursday > Contextualizing and Natural Revelation”

  1. Your question hits on so many fronts: general/special revelation, natural/supernatural revelation, common grace, cultural engagement. I’d answer your question that God accommodates (contextualizes) his non-salvific truth to culture in general/natural revelation. But usually when we use “contextualization” we are talking about communicating special/supernatural revelation to culture, ie how to reach the lost with the message of the gospel. Contextualization and general revelation should probably be summarized under th heading Christian world-view (with a wink to Van Til). Your example of the preacher’s comments are just as appropriate coming from a Christian arborist. The pastor must then go on to tell the spiritually dead how to know the God that made the tree.

  2. Joe,

    You are right the preacher goes beyond the natural revelation but doesn’t general revelation stand between culture and the Cross? I see revelation itself as contextual.

    Tony

  4. Simply the idea that God’s power and glory are revealed in the created universe in what is seen and felt. It seems that the display of power and glory — while unseen to sinners who suppress the truth in unrighteousness — provide a starting point for special revelation. In other words pointing out general revelation is a means of contextualizing. I don’t know, I’m trying to think this out.

    Tony

  5. I guess in that sense I might see it as contextualizing. My working definition for general revelation is all non-salvific truth. If we take contextualization to mean “interpreting truth to someone different from you”, then God interprets/contextualizes, lisps as Calvin would say, truths about himself to us through general revelation. I simply would want to guard against making some intermediate knowledge of nature as a stepping stool to salvation. As you said, one who suppresses the truth will only cease in suppressing the truth when their heart is changed by the redemptive work of God though special revelation. Good question by the way.

  6. Thanks for your input. The warning of making non-salvific truth ‘salvific’ is always warranted. Thank you for that check. My perspective is that I see people getting tatoos, chocker necklaces, fohawks, and calling it contextualizing. I have nothing against these things and I’m all for contextualizing. But I’m wondering if general revelation (i.e. Psalm 19) is overshadowed by the surface-level contextualizing (appearance and methods). Maybe we’re overlooking God-ordained contextualizing. Thanks again for your input!

    Tony

  7. Dear fellow-blogger,

    Hopefully, your 2007 is getting off to a fantastic start. My prayer is that you will be blessed by God with many opportunities for fruitful service in the Lord’s kingdom in the new year.

    I wanted to let you know that I’ve listed your blog on my blogroll at The Spiritual Oasis’ web site. If you have additional blogs that you would like to see listed or would like to recommend others, please send word to:
    contactus[at]thespiritualoasis.org.

    To view The Spiritual Oasis’ blogroll click the following link:

    The Spiritual Oasis Blogroll

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