From Proclamation to Dialogue: Reconstructing the Cross-Cultural Mission of Christianity in Christian Religious Education

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FORMOSA NEWS - Jakarta - Indonesian Study Calls for Dialog-Based Christian Mission in Multicultural Society. A new academic study by Rependi Sianturi from Universitas Kristen Indonesia (UKI) highlights the need to transform how Christian mission is practiced and taught in Indonesia’s multicultural society. Published in 2026 in the Indonesian Journal of Christian Education and Theology (IJCET), the research argues that traditional one-way proclamation methods are increasingly ineffective in a religiously diverse country and should be replaced with a dialogue-centered approach rooted in social reconciliation and cross-cultural understanding.

Religious Diversity and the Challenge of Mission
Indonesia’s national ideology, Pancasila, emphasizes belief in one God and respect for religious diversity. Yet reports of tensions around religious freedom, such as restrictions on building houses of worship or pressure on minority groups, still occur in some regions. In this context, missionary activity can sometimes be viewed as sensitive or even confrontational. Historically, Christian missions in Indonesia often followed a monological proclamation model. In this model, the church delivered religious messages in a one-directional manner, while other communities were positioned as passive recipients. According to the study, this approach was sometimes associated with Western cultural influence and colonial history, which created long-term suspicion or resistance in certain communities.

Research Approach
The research by Rependi Sianturi used a qualitative literature review approach. Instead of collecting field data, the study analyzed existing academic and theological literature related to Christian mission, education, intercultural dialogue, and social reconciliation.
Key sources included:

1. Theological studies on missio Dei (the concept of God’s mission in the world).
2. Documents from global Christian movements such as the Lausanne Movement.
3. Research on Pancasila and religious tolerance.
4. And recent scholarship on Christian Religious Education in plural societies.

Using thematic analysis, the researcher organized the literature into several major themes, including proclamation-based mission, dialogical communication, cross-cultural mission, and social reconciliation. These themes were then synthesized into a new conceptual framework for Christian education in Indonesia.

Key Findings
The study identifies several limitations of the traditional proclamation-centered mission model and proposes a new framework for cross-cultural Christian mission.

1. Main weaknesses of the traditional approach - The research highlights three major problems with one-way proclamation in religious education.
2. Limited cultural sensitivity - Teaching methods often ignore students’ cultural and social experiences.
3. Reinforcement of stereotypes - The model tends to divide communities into “us” and “them,” which can strengthen misunderstanding between religions.
4. Lack of dialogue skills - Students are rarely trained to engage respectfully with people from different religious backgrounds.

Social Impact and Policy Relevance
The study also highlights the broader social implications of dialogical mission. Indonesia has experienced episodes of religious conflict in the past. According to the research, Christian educational institutions and churches can help prevent such conflicts by promoting reconciliation and dialogue.
In practice, this means that Christian mission should be expressed not only through preaching but also through inclusive service to society, including:

1. Education and community development.
2. Health and humanitarian services.
3. Social justice advocacy.
4. Interfaith cooperation initiatives.

Author Profile
Rependi Sianturi, M.Th. is a scholar at Indonesian Christian University (UKI) specializing in missiology, theology, and Christian Religious Education.

Source
Sianturi, Rependi. 2026. “From Proclamation to Dialogue: Reconstructing the Cross-Cultural Mission of Christianity in Christian Religious Education.” Indonesian Journal of Christian Education and Theology (IJCET), Vol. 5, No.1, pages 79–88.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijcet.v5i1.10
URL:  https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/ijcet/index