Cohen and Toy Story

Cohen comes home from pre-k and says, "My teacher likes my Woody." Of course, I have a puzzled look on my face. "Your what," I ask? He holds up his Toy Story character and says, "My Woody."

It got me thinking about the role of context in communication. Only those who have access to privileged knowledge (i.e., The Toy Story movie) may interpret the context. I did not understand the context of Cohen's statement which left me in the dark as to what he was saying. The reason many missionary/church movements have broken down over the centuries is because we have forgotten about context. We have attempted to transmit the Gospel outside of understanding context. It is important to remember that Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection took place within a particular context and so today the Gospel must me translated in a particular context: political, social, economic, and religious.

Engaging in sharing the gospel in different context requires a discerning of the signs of the times and an openness to understanding the context that one is attempting to communicate the gospel. We must seek to figure out what God is doing in that particular context and get on board with God's mission.

It is also a good reminded that I do theology (my understanding of God, myself, and the world) from a particular context. This keeps me open to hear from indigenous voices and gain a deeper understanding of God's mission in the world.

Paying attention to context is always a good idea. As I learned with Cohen, it can keep your mind out of the gutter!