I live in the Middle East and work in a church planting/evangelism ministry with unreached Arab Muslims. I am trying to figure out how to share the gospel Biblically and culturally.

A current trend I'm hearing these days is that your presentation of the gospel above is a "Western Salvation Message." It works for highly individualistic cultures like ours that are built on the assumption that the prevailing way we view the gospel is guilt vs. innocence. We were guilty, now we are innocent because of Christ.

The first century Mediterranean world (and the ME today) is not as concerned about guilt/innocence as it is with honor/shame. I.e. Adam and Eve were naked and ashamed first- the gospel covers our shame by clothing us with the righteousness of Christ.

My question is- to what extent do you believe the "personal relationship" paradigm is "Western," and what other paradigms could you put the gospel into? (I assume you have heard about the angle I am coming from before.) Muslims have a high view of the transcendence of God, and the personal relationship idea doesn’t bridge to their worldview effectively. I understand the gospel offends and confronts, but I am searching for another paradigm. “Relationship” is not explicit in Scripture.