Exploring Native Perspectives: Implementing a Traditional Missionary Strategy in Contemporary Europe
In the past, Europe was a continent of emigration, but over the last fifty years, migrant flows have reversed, making Europe the largest destination for international migrants globally. Today, Europe is home to over 87 million international migrants, with most of the world's 131 million Christian migrants living in Europe (37%). This diverse population includes Europe's native or indigenous peoples, such as Germanic, Romance, Slavic, Celtic, and other ethnicities.
The principles of indigeneity, which emphasize that the gospel of Jesus Christ should indwell and be expressed within indigenous cultures in meaningful ways, have a long history in Christian mission. The Protestant Missionary Movement, founded in the 19th century, sought to translate and contextualize Christianity into local languages, customs, and ways of life rather than impose foreign cultural forms.
In contemporary Europe, where secularism and religious pluralism pose new challenges, applying the principles of indigeneity involves recognizing Europe’s native peoples as cultural insiders with distinct identities. Mission efforts today are encouraged to “think indigenously” by contextualizing the gospel within these European cultures anew, respecting their languages and histories, and partnering with both native Europeans and Christians from the Majority World already residing in Europe.
Linguistic dominance is impacting Christian worship, with English language songs often replacing indigenous worship music in Europe. To address this, fostering local theological and missiological reflection and preserving local music written in the indigenous language and musical style is crucial. Thinking indigenously also requires recognizing Europe's indigenous peoples’ particular cultural narratives, allowing mission to be a form of gospel “translation” that resonates meaningfully with local identities.
The challenge of indigenisation is faced by diaspora churches from the Majority World, as many leaders are not able or willing to accommodate their churches to the culture and context in Europe. However, Majority World Christians in Europe must exercise the same indigenous principles that were once necessary for the gospel to take root in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The phrase "reverse mission" expresses the change in direction of mission, as Majority World Christians are today missionaries to the countries which once sent missionaries to them.
Indigenous European churches must be planted to connect with indigenous Europeans and conserve indigenous European culture. An intercultural church will still be seen by many as "a church for foreigners" in rural parts of Europe, where more than 90% of the population is indigenous. To reach everyone, intercultural churches must work together with indigenous churches and respect the unique cultural identities of each group.
In conclusion, the historical application of indigeneity in Christian mission meant rooting the gospel deeply within local cultures to foster authentic Christian expressions. For contemporary European mission, applying indigeneity means respecting native European cultural identities and seeking gospel expressions that arise naturally from within those indigenous frameworks, often in cooperation with immigrant Christian communities. Indigenous Europeans and Majority World Christians are working together to reach all those who call Europe home.
References: 1. Indigenous Theology and the Mission of God 2. Indigenous Mission: Theology, Spirituality, and Practice
- In European settings, education-and-self-development initiatives should incorporate and respect native European cultures, fostering a lifestyle that aligns with the local identities and promoting a gospel message that resonates authentically within these frameworks.
- As we strive to apply the principles of indigeneity in European mission, it's essential to preserve and promote local theological works, music, and narratives that reflect the indigenous lifestyle and language, thereby creating a more inclusive worship environment for all European residents.
