By Dr Theresa Chai
Our God Himself is the Great Communicator. He reveals Himself to human beings. He told His name to Moses, that is, Yahweh, the Great “I am” (Exo. 3:14). In a more dramatic way God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, His Ultimate revelation of Himself. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh, so that He can identify totally with human beings. Christ in turn has commissioned the Church to carry His mission to the ends of the earth (Matt. 28:18–20, Acts 1:8).
The primary task of Christian communication is thus to restore communication between God and human beings.
However, “What is so Christian about Christian communication?” Christian communication has several distinctions that set it apart from communications in general. The primary characteristic, as mentioned in the beginning, is that God communicates to human beings. He has mandated that we communicate Him to other human beings who do not yet know Him. These are some observations about our God who communicates:
God Makes Himself Known
God has made Himself known to man in many and varied ways. In the Old Testament, He revealed Himself through creation and through personal appearance or intervention as in the incidents at Mount Sinai and the Red Sea. In the New Testament, His ultimate mean of communication is through Christ; the Incarnation is the ultimate act of communication. God also reveals Himself to His children through the Holy Spirit.
On Mars Hill, while walking among the many gods of the Athenians, the Apostle Paul stopped at the marker titled “To the Unknown God”. It was here that he began to expound about this Unknown God that He is none other than the One and Only True God, the Creator of heaven and earth. The Unknown God can be known! It appears as if God has placed keys in different cultures in order to reveal Himself to the peoples of the world.
God Wants a Relationship
God seeks a relationship with us and He wants us to seek a relationship with those we want to share the gospel with. Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. The lines of relationship run vertically to God and horizontally to our fellow human beings.
God seeks an interactive relationship of commitment that involves a commitment to Him, to each other as believers, and to people of the world at large. A passive response is not possible in God’s Kingdom but true Christians are compelled by the love of God to communicate His love to all.
“The primary task of Christian
communication is thus to
restore communication between God
and human beings.”
God Wants to be Understood Correctly
God wants to be understood correctly so that the appropriate response can be obtained response can be obtained. There may be an incorrect understanding of God if the Bible is not studied properly. Instead of God making human beings in His own image, human beings try to make God in their own image to suit their mistaken perception. Through the Word and the Spirit, the true God can be known in an exact way. Our mission in this world is to know God and to make Him known.
THE MALAYSIAN CONTEXT
In a multi- racial and -religious country like Malaysia, there is intercultural communication sensitivity that must be cultivated. Culture is defined as “the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another” (Hofstede in his book “Culture’s Consequences).
Intercultural communication occurs when people of different cultures come together. However, the coming together is only the beginning. People from different cultures must be willing to talk with each other. Likewise, Christians must be willing to dialogue with those from other religions.
Dialogue in Malaysia
Dialogue is the pathway to understanding other cultures and religions. In his opening address at the plenary Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches held in August in Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Badawi said:
“… I believe it is important for the citizens of this country to realise that tolerance of other religions goes beyond mere coexistence. It also means engaging with one another, creating and sustaining an open dialogue and building a permanent bridge of cooperation through mutual participation. I come here not just as the Prime Minister of the host country, but as a Muslim who wants to initiate a dialogue with his Christian friends. So that we are able to talk in a world in which it seems increasingly difficult to do so.”
Later during the conference, Council of Churches of Malaysia general secretary Herman Shastri commented, “Thus far, Malaysian society has been able to tread a moderate path and celebrate its diversity on the basis of understanding, compromise and shared responsibility. We have chosen non-confrontational dialogue. Sensitivity on this issue is underscored by patience and understanding of the forces of conservatism and moderation within the Islamic fold.”
CONCLUSION
As God communicates, the Church must also follow suit. However, in our communication approach, the receptor must be respected and understood at all times.
Our methods are not manipulation, coercion, or deception, but rather speaking the truth in love, seeking for the person’s best interest, and hoping that through this, some may be won over to Christ. Opening for dialogue is a non-defensive approach for Christians to allow those who are seeking the truth and fear God, to ask questions, and for us to ask questions of them.
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This excerpt is contributed by the NECF Malaysia Research Commission. The full article is included in the Watchmen’s Forum IV, available from the NECF office.
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