Calcutta Bible Seminary

Subject: Contemporary issues in Mission and Evangelism

Topic: Pluralism and Christian Mission
Submitted to: Rev. Kamal Kashyap Date: 17:03:21
Submitted by: P. Surendran Class: B.D. III

Introduction
India is pluralistic country in terms of religion, culture, context, linguistic, etc. Christian mission is
commandment of Lord Jesus Christ and it need to be fulfilled. The gospel of Lord Jesus Christ need to
be presented in the pluralistic context. This paper presents insights of pluralism, issues, suggestion and
Biblical views. Since there is lot of misunderstanding about the Mission, the Christians cannot avoid
the context where they are living, but there are certain ways presented in the paper in order to cope with
the pluralism.
1. Pluralism
Pluralism is characterized by the neighborhood of people of various origins, cultures, religions and
value systems. 1 According to Stephen Evans, in Christian theology the understanding of pluralism
holds that Jesus is not the only means of salvation. 2 Christian understanding of other faiths are as
follows: Other religions and ideologies are wholly false: non-Christian religions are the work of devil.
Later this understanding was changed, Other religions are a preparation for Christ (which the gospel
fulfils; this was the view of Edinburgh 1910); there are essential values in other religions. An
understanding, emphasized by orthodox theologians, of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in
creation, culture and religions. 3 Migration is one of the main reasons for the co-existence of different
religions and faith groups within one region. 4
1.1. Issues in religious pluralism
- The main challenge for the Christians in pluralistic situation is probably how to stay faithful and live
their faith among other faith.
- The Church has to become an authentic dialogue to participate in the Missio Dei in the present
scenario of religious pluralism. Dialogue is the new experience in the Church’s mission.
- Today there is no theological and missiological reflection is possible without the perception of the
claims of pluralism. Without which it will affect the possibility of announcing the Gospel. 5

1
Mamadou N’Diaye, “Religious Pluralism: Possibility and limitations of A dialogue respectful of Biblical
Christian Identity” MTH Thesis, November 2008, South Africal Theological Seminary. 2.
2
Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics and Philosophy of Religion, (Illinois: InterVarsity Press,
2002), 43. E-book.
3
Lalsangkima Pachuau and Knud Jorgensen, Witnessing to Christ in a Pluralistic World: Christian mission
among other faith. (Edinburgh: Regnum Books International 2010),
4
Lalsangkima Pachuau and Knud Jorgensen, Witnessing to Christ in a Pluralistic World: Christian mission
among other faith. (Edinburgh: Regnum Books International 2010), 8-37.
5
Lalsangkima Pachuau and Knud Jorgensen, Witnessing to Christ in a Pluralistic World: Christian mission
among other faith. (Edinburgh: Regnum Books International 2010), 8-37.
1
- Politicization of religion: The politicization of religion, in which traditional religious motifs are
transmuted into secular nationalist features. 6 Political order can give space for religious freedom of
individuals, but if the political order is required to be representative of religious communities, then
there is no solution to the problem. 7
- The Christian understanding of mission, with the expansion of the Church, increase in ‘numbers’ of
‘converts,’ and the open attitude of measuring success in terms of the numbers who have been ‘won
for Christ’ has been one of the major problems in our mission.
- Christianity is religion from outside not from India. It is viewed as a force that breaks up
communities and sets up a rival community.

2. Culture Pluralism
Every culture is a human construct. Geertz understands culture as “the shared collection of practices,
symbols, and meanings…” 8According to sociologists, religion is part of culture, and no religious belief
is without implications for culture. Religions may be multicultural. Human culture is the way in which
human societies order their corporate life. According to McGavran “God accepts culture”. So in
mission it is need to minimize the cultural changes. People who accept the gospel, must allow to retain
their traditional culture. 9 But the culture has both good and bad which need to be addressed in the light
of the gospel.
2.1. Culture and Inculturation: Culture is embodiment of values, beliefs, and behaviors that
provides frames of reference that help humans interpret the world and offer guidance for living in it.
Christian identity is embedded in culture. The process of inculturation is the interaction between gospel
and culture. It takes place within and through culture. 10
2.2. Contemporary issues in Culture pluralism
- Mission cannot emerge without creating and sustaining a new relationship with peoples with
different cultures. When gospel and culture meet each other, a new relationship emerged. A new culture
needs to be emerged which is very easy for other fellow people to accept the gospel. If not Christianity
will be seemed as outside religion.
- Black holes in the cultures need to be changed. Example cannibalism, slavery, sati etc.11
- Fundamental element in culture is language. In India among 780 languages languages many doesn’t
have even New Testament. Missionary need to learn language in order to learn the culture.
- Missionary’s culture – Gospel culture – Converts culture. Missionary judge converts culture with
their own culture. Missionaries from Europe according to their culture, hierarchical social structure,
took caste system as social arrangement and Indian Christians were not asked to drop their caste.12

6
A.D. Smith, in International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2001.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/politicization
7
Pratap Bhanu Mehta “On the Possibility of Religious Pluralism” in Religious Pluralism: Globalization and
World Politics ed. Thomas Banchoff (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), 83.
8
Bargar, Pavol. (2019). Christian Identity in a Pluralistic Society: Culture, Power, Witness. Download citation of
Christian Identity in a Pluralistic Society: Culture, Power, Witness (researchgate.net) accessed 22.3.21
9
Lesslie Newbigin, “The Gospel and the Culture” in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission…, 344.
10
Bargar, Pavol. (2019). Christian Identity in a Pluralistic Society: Culture, Power, Witness. Download citation
of Christian Identity in a Pluralistic Society: Culture, Power, Witness (researchgate.net) accessed 22.3.21
11
Lesslie Newbigin, “The Gospel and the Culture” in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission ---, 344.
12
Lesslie Newbigin, “The Gospel and the Culture” in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission ---, 345-356..
2
- Mission breaks up community, does not connect, if it is away from culture. 13
- Since there are more cultures in India, the dominating culture rules the minority even in mission.
Due to globalization many cultures are under cultural fusion and also shifting to live in urban14. It is
difficult to fix any culture that it will not change. So missionary need to be aware of the present situation
of the culture. Missionary need to learn multi culture.

3. Ideological Pluralism
Ideologies, like political philosophies, share assumptions, etc. Ideologies are far less divided than they
are made out to be over the perception of phenomena, the interpretation of the causal nexus between
them and the evaluation of their significance.15
3.1. Issues in Ideological Pluralism
- Hindu ideologies: Political ideology - The Bharatiya Janata Party – led government’s ideological
push has generated domestic challenges and clear exclusiveness ideology. India needs to restore its
image as a pluralist democracy country.16 At the same time ISKON17 inclusiveness ideology also
prevails.18 The Dalit Hinduism is now new ideology which counter the caste system within Hinduism.
Doing mission in this ideological pluralism is very much challenge for exclusivist approach.
- Multi-religious ideology of ‘Secularism’. Raising secularism affects evangelism. It makes lot of
delay to get gospel truth to take root.
- Liberal ideology can be traced even from ancient India. The liberal influence in British politics in
India is eminent.19
- Due to the caste system and Manu dharma people from Dalit community become Christian in fond
of new identity. Now upraising ideology of not accepting caste system withing Hinduism stops people
converting from Dalit community.
- Marxism is an ideology which cut across the boundaries of traditional religions, challenging their
assumptions, questioning their structure and demanding for more concern with human life. 20
- Ethnicity, ideology, and religious identity are shaping the movements in North-east India as the
separatist movements such as Naga National Council. Communist ideology is seen in Maoist
manifestations. 21 In contrast of these ideologies doing mission is much confusion, whether missionary
support national identity or separatist movements.

13
Wesly Ariarajah, “Mission in the context of Cultures and religions” in Mission Paradign in the New Mill. Ed.
W.S. Milton Jeganathan, (New Delhi: ISPCK, 2000), 227-237.
14
Cultural fusion is the process through which new- comers to a culture adopt behaviors/traits of the
dominant culture and maintain elements of their minority identity to function in the dominant culture.
15
Martin Seliger, Ideological Pluralism https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/marxist-conception-of-
ideology/ideological-pluralism/7B96280EE685834045AFB3708943BFD5 accessed on 22.03.21
16
https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/india-needs-to-restore-its-image-as-a-pluralist-democracy/story-
2vItYvvrS82o2C5zWGxJPJ.html accessed on 22.03,21
17
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
18
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/impressed-iskcon-sends-rathayatra-invite-to-
nusrat/articleshow/70032728.cms accessed on 22.3.21
19
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41230790?seq=1 accessed on 22.3.21
20
S.J. Samartha, “Dialogue as a continuing Christian concern”, in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission ---,
371.
21
Subir Bhuaumik, “Ethnicity, ideology and Religion: Separatist movements in India’s Northeast” in Religious
Radicalism and Security in South Asia, ed. Satu P. Limaye, Robert G. Wirsing and Mohan Malik (Hawaii: Asia-Pacific
Center for Security Studies, 2004), 219-244.

3
4. Interfaith Dialogue
Interreligious dialogue is a challenging process by which adherents of differing religious traditions
encounter each other in order to break down the walls of division that stand at the center of most wars.
The objective of interreligious dialogue is peace. According to S. J. Samartha, Dialogue is part of the
living relationship between people of different faiths and ideologies as they share in the life of the
community. Dialogue demands, commitment, heart not only intellect, humility and acceptance.22
4.1. Issues in Interfaith dialogue
- According to S.J. Samartha, in dialogue the basis of our concern must be the Christology not the
comparative religion. Many debates and conferences end up in comparing the religions. He says, “is to
be with Christ in his continuing work among human of all faiths and ideologies.” 23
- In Interfaith dialogue a commitment to openness is deeply difficult. Christianity, evangelizing and
converting others is central and rooted in Christian scriptures. But in Hindu tradition there are many
paths to the Divine and each religion has similar and relative value to the others. 24
- Christians share life and contexts with neighbors of other faiths. This implies that they establish
dialogical relations so that there is hope of mutual understanding and fruitful coexistence in multi-
religious and pluralist societies.25
- Formal and informal education of the whole church is an urgent need. J.T.K. Daniel underscores
the importance of lay training. The laity need to be trained so that they can be Christian witnesses in
secular environment with Christian values. 26
- Emphasis in the Church’s mission, to conversion of religions to Christ and to urge individuals from
other religions converted to Christ to stay within their religious communities and build up Christ-
centered fellowships around the Bible and the Lord’s Table within their religious ethos.
5. Comprehensive dialogue
Comprehensive dialogue is the dialogue which including everything that is relevant. Including all
religion in a dialogue. It is different from interfaith dialogue which is between two religions. In this
contemporary world all people everywhere are being drawn together as never before. 27 The
comprehensive dialogue brings peace among religions. 28 M.M Thomas says, The humanity of the
Crucified Jesus as the criterion of being truly human would be more understandable and acceptable
Christian contribution to common inter-religious-ideological search for world community.29 Vatican II
developed the comprehensive notion of evangelization, of dialogue. It is new understanding of
conversion is aimed at in dialogue to deepening of both partners’ conversation to God. And it cover all
the fundamental aspects of life, personal and social, which lead to positive change.
22
S.J. Samartha, “Dialogue as a continuing Christian concern”, in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission ---,
376.
23
S.J. Samartha, “Dialogue as a continuing Christian concern”, in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission ---,
366.
24
Sandi Fults http://xaviers.edu/irs/pdf/What%20is%20InterReligious%20Dialogue.pdf accessed on 22.03.21
25
Lalsangkima Pachuau and Knud Jorgensen, Witnessing to Christ in a Pluralistic World: Christian mission
among other faith. (Edinburgh: Regnum Books International 2010), 8-37.
26
C.V. Matthew, Mission and Missions ed. Jay J. Kanagaraj (Pune: Union Biblical Seminary, 1998),
27
S.J. Samartha, “Dialogue as a continuing Christian concern”, in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission ---,
377.
28
https://www.scarboromissions.ca/interfaith-dialogue/principles-and-guidelines-for-interfaith-dialogue accessed
on 21.2.21
29
K. S. Imchen, Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission (Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2013), 305-309.
4
5.1. Issues in Comprehensive dialogue
- possibilities of error, distortion and confusion are present in situations of dialogue. When include
everything it is hard to come to common point.
- Religious boundaries become separation rather bridges. Therefore, dialogue should not be hurried,
but it the expression of our faith in Jesus Christ in and through life in the community. 30

6. Solutions for the issues in pluralism

- Interfaith dialogue (discussed in point 4 and 5)
- Missionary has to aware, learn, adopt (which are Biblical) the different kinds of cultural, religious,
ideological pluralism prevail in his/her targeted mission field.
- Social developments – Church need to participate in the social issues which unites all diversities.
Examples: Church responding to Covid 19 by helping poor people, medical help, counselling, taking
care of orphans from covid survived families. Education is also an good example for the social
development.
- Learning evangelism and others religion from the levels of Christian minister to laity.
- Reach to Teach and Teach to Reach. This will enable Church to grow strong to face the pluralism.

7. Ministry and mission of Antiochian Church in pluralistic context

1. An Integrated Community (Acts 11:19-21; 13:11) : Unity in the Church has a fundamental bearing
upon the ministry and mission of the Church Eph 2:11-22
2. Well trained Church (Acts 11:25-26; 13:1): Antiocean church was a educated community.
3. A Caring Community (Acts 11:27-30): The believers there took their social responsibility seriously.
They were deeply motivated to give generously and they cared for the needy.
4. Worshiping community Acts 13:1-3): As the church is in religiously pluralistic situation, they look
for various expression of Christian spirituality.
5. Witnessing community: The Antiochean church had both local and cross-cututal mission. Acts
11:21). It seems that the whole church involved in sharing the Gospel. 31 The Early Church seriously
coped with issues raised by its encounters with the religions, philosophies, and cultures of the
Graeco-Roman world. 32
Conclusion
The pluralism understanding cannot go with exclusivism. But it is not good to conclude with other all
are false. The pluralism finds salvation message of Jesus in other religion. Indian Christian Theologies
went much deeper. Starting from the Edinburgh still many scholars are focusing on the pluralism. The
globalization is one of the modern reasons for the pluralistic context which pave way for the pluralism.
The contemporary issues give different strategic plans for the mission. Dialogue of life or
comprehensive is very much important concern church need to work out and train its laity. Early church
example of Antiochian Church needs to be followed in the contemporary situation. It’s a responsibility
of all Christian to be witness as they are living.

30
S.J. Samartha, “Dialogue as a continuing Christian concern”, in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission ---,
377.
31
C.V. Matthew, Mission and Missions ed. Jay J. Kanagaraj (Pune: Union Biblical Seminary, 1998), 131-137.
S.J. Samartha, “The Gospel and the Culture” in Issues in Contemporary Christian Mission compiled by K.S.
32

Imchen (Kolkata: SPEPTRE, 2013), 367.

5
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