Contextualizing the Gospel for Sikhs?

By Frank Johnson on September 24, 2019 0

Satsang — Photo courtesy of D Mz. Used by permission.

Baptist Press ran an article several years ago entitled Sikhs reached by contextualizing Gospel and described how it was difficult for the Jatt Sikh people of India to convert to Christ because they felt it meant giving up their culture.

In response, some Indian Christians working among the Jatt Sikh people began contextualizing the gospel and reshaped their wineskins to help create an openness to the teachings of Jesus.

In an effort to reach the Sikh culture for Christ, some Indian Christians have begun conducting church services in the style of a Sikh worship service. These services meet in believer’s homes and have all of the characteristics of a church but also have a culturally contextualized style.

Do you know of any other efforts to reshape wineskins to reach the Sikh world for Jesus? If so, please add your thoughts in the comments.

COUNTRIES IN THIS ARTICLE: India
PEOPLE GROUPS IN THIS ARTICLE: Jat (Sikh Traditions)

Eccelisal Identities in a Multi-Faith Context describes how six followers of Christ began Yeshu satsang (Jesus truth-gatherings) that sought to follow Christ and the teachings of the Bible while remaining connected to their Hindu and/or Sikh communities. The book will be a helpful resource for those interested in global Christianity, the practices and identities of churches in religiously plural environments, and the creative ways in which Christ-followers can missionary engage people of other faiths.

About Frank Johnson

Frank is a 1985 graduate of Bethany College in Scotts Valley, California (B.S. Ministerial Studies) and a licensed minister with the Northern California and Nevada District Council of the Assemblies of God. Frank has been an internet strategist for over 20 years, applying principles of digital media strategy to spread the gospel. In addition, he is the author of Find A Job Through A Temporary Service, “Bringing in the Outcast” (under pen name, John Norman) in Issue 43 (January 1, 1988) of Discipleship Journal, and numerous articles in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

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