Culture and Tradition Matters and Church Growth
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
To know whether there is a significant impact of culture and traditional matters on church growth.
To know whether there is a significant relationship between traditional matters and church growth.
To investigate traditional matters that affects the growth of a church in a location.
To identify the challenges of church growth.
To know the contributions of culture and tradition on church growth.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Culture Examined
Culture covers areas like religion, art, agriculture, marriage, philosophy etc. It is sometimes expressed in worship, music, stories, proverbs, riddles, myths, legends etc. In fact, it can be said that culture covers all aspects of life. It is therefore difficult to define.
According to White, culture is “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” (White, 2009). Culture is the totality of knowledge and behavior ideas and objects that constitutes the common heritage of society. It embraces all that the society knows and practices (Gaiya, 1994: 4). Culture is the way the people live (Oyalana, 2000: 73). It consists of a system of ideas values, beliefs, knowledge, and customs transmitted from one generation to another within a community or group (Oyalana, 2000: 73).
Furthermore, culture is the way of life of the people in a given area. This way of life includes arrangements and methods of obtaining food from the environment and adapting to it. It includes rules and regulations that govern people’s behavior in a particular society (Oyalana, 2000:73). The culture of a people or group is embedded in their beliefs, rules behavior, language, rituals, art, and technology, style of dress, ways of producing and cooking food, religion, politics and economic system (Cohen, 1974: 1). Culture distinguishes one human group from another
It is an integrated system of beliefs or values, about what is true, good, beautiful and accepted as the custom of the people. In other words it is how to behave, relate to others pray, dress, work, play, eat etc. It also embraces the institutions which express these beliefs, values and customs which binds a society together and gives it a sense of identity, dignity, security and continuity (Clement, 1989: 13). Culture is the thing people learn and share in a group that will help them survive together. Culture is shown in the way a people or group organizes their World (Howell, 2002: 3).
It is a people’s way of life, all the different customs, and values learned from their forebears, family and environment which together unite all the different aspects of their life into a logical whole. Culture also includes things as language or languages spoken, the way by which politics and the economy are organized, the other unspoken rules governing social religious behavior, interpretation of the psychological reasons for actions. In fact, all aspects of life have cultural dimensions. Individuals are both shaped by their culture and contribute to shaping it by their own actions and thoughts (Okorocha, 2006).
It is clear from the above assertion that culture is dynamic. It is not static but developing: In fact, culture is part of our daily living. Our cultural values are learned and shared through imitation and personal experience and through indoctrination or teaching. This learning process is a lifelong process. It starts from childhood and continues to adulthood. As one assumes new position or roles, he continues to learn the ways of life that best suit his status in the society. The content of what he learns varies from society and from a particular ethnic group to another. In a nutshell, culture is a continuous process.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine Culture and Tradition matters and Church growth. Selected resident in calabar town, cross rivers state form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Culture and Tradition matters and Church growth. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of Culture and Tradition matters and Church growth
Summary
This study was on Culture and Tradition matters and Church growth. Five objectives were raised which included to know whether there is a significant impact of culture and traditional matters on church growth, to know whether there is a significant relationship between traditional matters and church growth, investigate traditional matters that affects the growth of a church in a location, to identify the challenges of church growth and to know the contributions of culture and tradition on church growth. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected residents in Calabar town, cross rivers state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
It is clear from the study that the church of Jesus is within a culture and it is cultured. The place of culture on the church is positively inseparable which helps to take the gospel to the unreached. It is essential that the gospel message be contextualized in order to share it effectively in every culture around the world. Syncretism should not be allowed. It is therefore expedient for the church to be deeply rooted in the scripture and to develop her own understanding of the interrelation of the gospel and culture with reference to God’s revelation, the interpretation and the communication of it and help the church to respond to-their conversion and lifestyle of the people. We must always remember as Christians that our primary identity is not in a particular culture, but in Jesus Christ, one Lord, one faith and one baptism (Eph. 4:3-6).
Recommendation
There is a serious need for the application contextualization, inculturation, and Incarnational models of propagation of the gospel in this regard, without destroying the essence of the gospel so as to achieve the desired objective. This function is not to be soliloquized but must be accepted by all, as it is stressed by the world Churches. For example, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Committee’s 2004 Annual Council has the following concerning cultural music. The use of music intelligible to cultures by Church is an example of the church’s interest in reaching the people of different cultures with the use of their languages, musical forms, instruments, and their varied cultural contributions in the art of worshipping God (Elder’s Digest, April, June 2006: 9).
References
- Alokan, Adewale. 1991. The Christ Apostolic Church Ibadan: Ibukunola Printers
- Atchenemon, Hiama Clement et. al. 1989. Cross Cultural Christianity Jos: Evangelical Missions Institute.
- Awojobi, P.O. 2002. Church Management. Ilorin: Kingdom Communications.
- Awojobi, P.O. 2001 The Church and Her Ministers Ilorin: Kingdom Communications
- Cohen, Y. A. (eds). 1974. Man in Adaptation: The Cultural Present. Chicago: Aldine Publishing. Company.
- Elwell, E. 1979. Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
