Acts 1:8 speaks of missions outreach beginning in Jerusalem and expanding to Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Of course, this statement simply could be looked at as descriptive... what has actually happened in missions. Additionally, it could be looked at as thematic... providing the structure for the book of Acts. …
Month: October 2011
The Cross and the Sword? Part II
Read Part 1 “… all who were not baptized must receive the rite within a month, that those who declined to comply should be banished from the company of Christians, that any who relapsed into paganism should be reduced to slavery, that pagan worship was to cease, that such Christian practices as monogamy were to …
The Importance of the Trinity in the Great Commission
I recall back in 1984, the first time I had bumped into the argument over Baptism... specifically whether one should baptize in the name of Jesus Christ or in the name of "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." It is remarkable at how intense the emotions rise in some people on an issue …
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The Hubris of Having the “Best” Theology
This cartoon I got from the following article, The Hubris of "Normative" Theology, listed below. It points out the problem of people thinking that after 2000 they finally got theology right. Of course, I am not suggesting a complete relativizing of theology. But to assume that one theological stance is correct and everyone and everything …
Mentoring in the Context of Christian Missions
I've been reading "The Fine Art of Mentoring: Passing on to Others What God has Given to You"by Ted W. Engstrom (1989). It got me thinking regarding mentoring in the context of missions. Engstrom talks about three types of mentor relationships. He speaks of them in relation to St. Paul. Paul with Siconius and Timothy …
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Should there be a “Tago Ng Tago” Theology?
Theology is the bridge linking God's unchanging revelation with man's changing situation. As such, theology changes with time and location. Therefore, I really don't get too impressed with people who describe themselves as Calvinist, Arminian, Pentecostal, or other theologies that fit a moment in the past, but are not necessarily connected to the present (not …
Personal Reflections on Educating Myself in Missions
"Passive acceptance of the teacher's wisdom is easy to most boys and girls. It involves no effort of independent thought, and seems rational because the teacher knows more than his pupils; it is moreover the way to win the favor of the teacher unless s/he is a very exceptional teacher. Yet the habit of passive …
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Missiological Implications of the Symbolic Understanding of the Lord’s Supper
This article is related to another one that looks at the missiological implications of the symbolic understanding of baptism. A look at the function and structure of symbols is shown there as well. <Note: Like with baptism, I take a more Baptist understanding of the Lord's Supper (or Communion or Eucharist). Thus, I understand baptism …
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Countercultural Contextualization of Christian Theology
<Another work in progress. The topic of contextualization is fraught with challenges. I doubt I will ever get to a point of confidence on how best to contextualize either the Gospel message or theology. I speak of this more in my book, "Theo-Storying: Reflections on God, Narrative, and Culture"> Stephen Bevans in "Models of Contextual …
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