Transposing The Gospel
by Major Robert Evans
In an attempt to effectively communicate the
gospel message in the modern age, I have often heard people
suggest that we need to make the gospel more relevant.
While the intention is to make the gospel more
accessible, this suggestion can infer that the gospel is no
longer adequate or compromise the integrity of the message.
I hold a strong conviction that the gospel
is always relevant and entirely adequate with its message
transcending time and culture for all generations!
The only inadequacy it faces is our ability or
inability to communicate it effectively.
This is the space where the relevance of the method
often gets confused with the truth of the message.
We can attempt to translate the message, which runs the
risk of changing its form and altering its original meaning
and intention.
We can attempt to transfigure the message,
which runs the risk of embellishing parts to appear more
attractive or palatable to our audience.
or...
We can attempt to transpose the message,
which transfers it to a different place or context without
changing its original state.
The word transpose is most often used in the
context of music to describe the process of changing the key
or the sound of the music while remaining true to the
structure of the original score.
A thoughtful transposition of a piece of music
preserves the integrity of the original composition,
compliments the gifts of the musicians performing the
arrangement, and makes a meaningful connection with the target
audience.
When it comes to effectively communicating
the gospel today, the idea of transposing the message, like
with a piece of music, seems to fit well and resolves the
conflict between the message and the method; preserving the
integrity of the former while promoting the innovation of the
latter.
See more at:
http://ephesiansfour12.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/transposing-gospel.html#sthash.Hdhx5Hgq.dpuf
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