Critique on Nestorianism from the Perspective of Contextualization

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The most reliable resource in regard to the spread of Christianity in China can trace back to its findings in Tang Dynasty (618-907). Its representative data would be in particular Nestorianism. It indicates that there were no credible data with regard to the spread of Christianity prior to Nestorianism in China. In other words, other remaining resources from the previous period are not demonstrating the reliability.
Therefore, documents on Nestorianism have proved that Western churches attempted its missions in Asia in the process of spreading Christianity.
Nestorianism is a form of Christianity that extended to China and reached its peak during Tang Dynasty. In today’s perspective, it was a form of “contextualization” since the Gospel and culture were connected despite the prevalence of Buddhism in China. Looking into the application of Nestorianism and analyzing why it ultimately failed will provide useful assets in considering contextualization. There are several questions to be considered. Why has Nestorianism as a form of of syncretism in the process of adjustment? Was there a possibility of theoretical problem during the formation of contextualization? These questions will eventually be beneficial for providing directions in the process of contextualization while maintaining the identity of Christianity.
Nestorians were fast in missions and thus expanded their congregation in a great speed. They were upright and honest in their work in the region of Asia. They were devoted to the works of mission and were able to spread the missions in great speed. Although they didn’t particularly have a specific financial support nor a personally stabilized status, they all had volunteering mission mind.
With such a mission heart, they went forth throughout all Asian region reaching to China. It was during Tang dynasty when Nestorianism entered to China and it is known from the documents that Nestorianism very much flourished during the time. However, Nestorianism only thrived to fade out so quickly. This fadeout suggests that it is important to discuss elements in directions and models on contextualization in missiological perspective.
While examining the settlement, success, and the fall of Nestorianism, it is not too much to prioritize latent elements that must be avoided while spreading the Gospel. One is that the transmitter of the Gospel must hesitate to pass on their own cultural heritages at the same time they are spreading the Gospel. Another is for the sake of preserving the Gospel. The Bible must be received as the Word of God and must be conveyed through the Gospel to others. The lesson we learn from the above, from the perspective of evangelical contextualization, is that it is detrimental to translate and apply to recipient’s culture by replacing or abolishing the biblical messages.

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