Heart Matters: Embodied Epistemology and the Goal of Oral Strategies in Animistic Contexts
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Abstract
In many animistic communities, orality is not merely a communication style—it is an embodied epistemology that shapes identity, allegiance, and worship. This article argues that faithful mission to animists does not require altering their oral epistemology but reorienting their doxology—their heart-level trust and worship—from local powers to Christ. Drawing on field research, biblical theology, and practical experience, the article explores how oral strategies can effectively engage animistic worldviews by prioritizing spiritual formation over information delivery. Oral strategies that teach the Bible through communal storytelling and embodied witness offer a powerful missional approach—not to engineer outcomes, but to invite allegiance to Jesus. Ultimately, the missionary’s role is not to master methods but to embody Christ, trust the Spirit, and leave the heart-work to Jesus.
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