The best rule of thumb to help distinguish between biblical contextualization and unbiblical compromise is this:
Does this help to more clearly identify the temptation that the Gospel brings?
If so, this is biblical contextualization.
At first glance, cultural customs like taking off shoes indoors or not eating with your left hand may seem unrelated to the Gospel. But when these customs help break down cultural barriers, we are able to share the Gospel more directly.
Removing cultural stumbling blocks allows listeners to focus on the real temptation that the Gospel carries. In other words, good contextualization allows a person to stumble not over a foreign culture, but over the Gospel.
If not, it's a compromise.
However, if we adopt cultural practices that contradict Scripture, or present the Gospel in a way that is little different from a person’s existing beliefs, such «contextualization» is essentially a compromise in disguise. It nullifies the true appeal of the Gospel and ultimately obscures its very essence.
