The incarnation teaches identification without loss of identity; what does that imply for missionaries?

• A. Fully assimilate and lose one's own identity
• B. Identify with hosts while maintaining one's own identity
• C. Refuse any identification
• D. Replace the host culture's identity with one's own

Answer: (B)

The main idea is identifying with the people you serve while keeping your own identity intact. Incarnation shows how one can relate deeply to others without losing who they are. For missionaries, this means entering the life of the host culture—learning the language, understanding customs, sharing in daily experiences, and building trust—while staying true to one’s own identity, beliefs, and the mission’s purpose. This approach enables contextualization: the gospel is communicated through genuine relationship and shared life rather than through cultural imitation or domination. Fully assimilating and losing your own identity would erase who you are and undermine credibility; refusing identification blocks relational connection; replacing the host culture with your own would ignore the value of learning from and respecting the people being served.