Lesson 13 - Missions

Question 1

Issues surrounding “the son of God” for Bible translations?

Answer 1

• The issue is whether to use alternatives to translate “son of God” so to avoid crude misunderstandings or taboo phrases
• Possible alternatives:
  “Word of God”

Question 2

What are the benefits of translating different?

Answer 2

• “Son of God” is widely regarded as a blasphemous taboo phrase
• “Son of God” can have unhelpful biological connotations in the target language
• Bibles with “son of God” will be denounced by Muslims immediately
• Alternatives can convey roughly the same meaning without the same barriers
• “Son of God” can be synonymous with “Christ”
• Bible translations using alternatives have proven more effective short-term in practice

Question 3

What are the dangers?

Answer 3

• Our task isn’t to avoid offense but to faithfully communicate God’s Word
• The original words of Scripture have divine origin and authority
• Avoiding the phrase can reinforce the notion that Christians have changed the Bible
• Amplified translation, such as “spiritual son of God” offer a path between extremes (not taking away, but adding meaning)
• Parenthetical or footnotes can directly address misunderstandings
• If “son of God” is replaced than “God the Father” must also be replaced
• Father-Son relationship is integral to the nature and identity of God
• Father-Son relationship cannot be communicated without using paternal/familial terms
• Bible translations are intended for believers as well as for unbelievers

Question 4

What are the positive aspects of the Insider Movement?

Answer 4

• The requirements to leave the Muslim community is a major barrier to conversion
• “Muslim followers of Christ” don’t have to break social and legal ties with family, friends, and community
• “Muslim followers of Christ” are able to engage in ongoing evangelism in the mosque
• Insider Movement have proven numerically successful in the mission field
• God is doing a “new work” among Muslims through Insider Movements
• There might be biblical precedent for C5 Contextualization (2 Kings 5, Acts15, Acts 16, 1 Cor. 9 - all things to all people)

Question 5

What are the negative aspects of the Insider Movement?

Answer 5

• Insider Movements could encourage religious syncretism
• “Muslim” is both a religious identity and cultural identity and you can’t separate the two
• Islam has essential teachings and practices that are intrinsically anti-Christian
• The supposed biblical precedents are not genuine C5 cases (at most they support C4, Jews have an ethnic dimension. Muslim does not)
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 requires a clear cultural distinction between believers and non-believers
• Insider Movements typically have a minimalist soteriology and a weak ecclesiology.
• Muslim unbelievers consider Insider Movements and “Muslim followers of Christ” to be duplicitous
• “Muslim followers of Christ” can end up feeling like “outsiders” in both Muslim and Christian communities
• Short-term numerical results are never a good justification for an outreach method