Origin and Meaning of an Authentic Local Christian Church

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Social Science along Symbolic Interactionism Framework

Social science along symbolic interactionism has been applied, because it investigates the interaction between two groups of people with different cultural backgrounds. In this case, the Lozi people of Western Province in Zambia and the Missionaries who brought Christian faith among the Lozi. Social science approach along Symbolic interactionism framework is highly needed mainly for religious and sociological studies, because of its conceptual capability to illuminate on people’s interaction and interpretation of their actions. The importance of symbolic interactionism has roots in its nature and function. Social Science by its nature deals with the nature of human group life and conduct (Blumer, 1969:48). It is closely related to the phenomenological approach of which for both of them, searching for meaning is a central theme. While the phenomenological approach uses description as the means for understanding of meaning, symbolic interactionism uses disengagement or interpretation. According to Blumer symbolic interactionism, involves interaction between two groups of people or individuals and reaction to it from both sides. This is an unavoidably question that involves addressing its nature and scope (Blumer, 1969:8).

Theological Framework

Theological framework is needed because the topic of research is theological which demands both biblical and theological explanation and articulation. The research is mainly a missiological discipline as it deals with inculturation as seen and applied by Christian Mission and its implication on the lives of mainline churches in the Western Province of Zambia. Theological framework is looked upon to enable the researcher to address the challenge of understanding or misunderstanding evangelization among the Lozi Christian of Western Province in Zambia so as to criticize, challenge and promote evangelization in the contemporary mission work. Mainly, this will be done along contextual model, cultural model and Inculturational model as tools of theological framework.

ORIGIN AND MEANING (DEFINITION) OF AN AUTHENTIC LOCAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The most important part of the research or the central part of this work is the inculturation which may be understood as the emergence of a local church in a place (Bate, 1994: 100). By a local church I mean the manifestation of the one church of Christ as the community of faith in a particular context. Essential for this emergence are two apparently opposed forces whose dialectical resolution motivates the inculturation process. The first of these forces is the unifying, creative and redemptive power of God seeking the oneness of creation and salvation, so that God may be all in all. The second is the incarnational locus of all creation and salvation which moves the Word to take on flesh in a time, place, culture and the Spirit to take the church to the ends of the earth.

CONCEPTS RELATED TO INCULTURATION

Shorter (1994:32) presents an understanding of inculturation as ‘a term that denotes the presentation and re-expression of the Gospel in forms and terms proper to culture, processes which result in the reinterpretation of both, without being unfaithful to either. It is a creative development which participates in the dynamism of cultures and their intercommunications.’ Shorter (1994:32) then states that ‘definitions of inculturation tend to put emphasis on one or other term of the equation – Gospel or culture.’ He then cites to examples: The process of a deep, sympathetic adaptation to, and appropriation of a local culture in which the Church finds itself, in a way that does not compromise its basic truth.7 The process by which a particular people respond to the saving Word of God and express their response in their own cultural forms of worship, reflection, organization and life. This is how a local church is born and continues to live.8 Shorter (1994:32) further explains inculturation as ‘a process which involves the destigmatization of alien cultures, and the self-emptying (exinanitio sui ipsius) of both the evangelizer and evangelized cultures.

Culture, Culturalism and Cultural Domination

Shorter (1988:4-5) quotes Edward Tylor’s definition of culture as ‘ that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society’ 10 In this fundamental description, human society becomes the criterion of culture. Culture is what a human being learns, or acquires, as a member of society. It comprises the learned aspects – as opposed to the inherited aspects – of human thinking and human behaviour….Human individuals interact with one another according to preconceived mental patterns, and they continue to reflect mentally about their interactions. Culture is therefore not simply about behaviour. It is also about ideas….Culture is therefore essentially a transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a pattern capable of development and change, and belongs to the concept of humanness itself. It follows that, if religion is a human phenomena or human activity, it must affect, and be affected by, culture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS :

• KEY WORDS
• DECLARATION
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
• ABSTRAC
• ACRONYMS
• BIBLICAL REFERENCES
• LIST OF FIGURES
• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1 Geographical Description of Western Province
  • 1.2 Historical Background of Western Province
  • 1.3 Background to the Problem
  • 1.4 Statement of the Problem
  • 1.5 Purpose of the Study
  • 1.6 Research Objectives
  • 1.7 Research Hypothesis
  • 1.8 Research Design and Methodology
  • 1.9 Literature Review
• CHAPTER 2: WHAT IS AN AUNTHETIC LOCAL CHURCH?
  • 2.0 Introduction
  • 2.1 Origin and Meaning of an Authentic Local Christian Church
  • 2.2 Origin and Meaning of Inculturation
  • 2.3 Concepts Related to Inculturation
  • 2.4 The Theological Incarnation of Sacramental Rites of Lozi Culture
  • 2.5 Canon Law and Cultural Adaptation
  • 2.6 Inculturation through Liturgical Acts promotes Conversion
  • 2.7 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 3: ORIGIN MOTIVATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF AN AUTHENTIC LOCAL CHURCH
  • 3.0 Introduction
  • 3. 1 Biblical Perspective and Development of a Local Church
  • 3.2 Concept of Missiology and Theology of Mission
  • 3.3 Early Missionary Activities in Western Province
  • 3.4 Challenges of Mission in Western Province
  • 3.5 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 4: THE LOZI CULTURE, TRADITIONAL VALUES, RELIGION AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE LOCALISATION OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
  • 4.0 Introduction
  • 4.1 A description of the Lozi culture
  • 4.2 Traditional Values of the Lozi Culture
  • 4.3 Understanding of Religion
  • 4.4 Small Christian Communities
  • 4.5 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 5: DESCRIPTION OF THE TRADITIONAL VALUES OF THE LOZI CULTURE
  • 5.0 Introduction
  • 5.1 An Analysis for Catholic Churches
  • 5.2 An Analysis for Evangelical Churches
  • 5.3 An Analysis for Independent Churches
  • 5.4 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 6: COMPONENTS FOR LOCALISATION AND INCULTURATION IN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA
  • 6.0 Introduction
  • 6.1 Sacraments of the Church
  • 6.2 Sacrament of Baptism
  • 6.3 Sacrament of the Eucharist
  • 6.4 Sacrament of Healing and It’s Urgency of Inculturation
  • 6.5 The Rites of Funeral Passage and Urgency of Inculturation
  • 6.6 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 7: RECOMMENDATION OF THE LOCALIZATION OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN WESTERN PROVINCE
  • 7.0 Introduction
  • 7.1 Evaluation and Critique of Localization of the Church
  • 7.2 Dealing with Early Missionaries’ Apprehensions
  • 7.3 Lozi Cultural and Religious Praxis
  • 7.4 Implementing Vatican II Vision of Inculturation
  • 7.5 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 8: TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LOCALIZATION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN WESTERN PROVINCE
  • 8.0 Introduction
  • 8.1 New Approach to Leadership in the Roman Catholic Churches
  • 8.2 Empowering the Laity
  • 8.3 Discussing the Hypotheses
  • 8.4 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 9: CONCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LOCALIZED CHURCH AMONG THE LOZI PEOPLE OF THE WESTERN PROVINCE
  • 9.0 Introduction
  • 9.1 The church communities
  • 9.2 Small church communities
  • 9.3 Lay Leadership and Ministries
  • 9.4 Involvement the lay leadership in administering the sacraments
  • 9.5 Redefining Praxis of Sacraments
  • 9.6 Localization through ownership
  • 9.7 Conclusion
  • BIBLIOGRAPHY
  • APPENDIX

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an authentic local church among the Lozi people of Western Province, Zambia