Below is a link to a nice review on the importance of historical theology. In Evangelical Circles (Baptist, Anabaptist, Conservative Evangelical,Pentecostal, Charismatic, etc.) there is a huge lack of historical theology. We tend often to fall into the trap of some other groups (Jehovah's Witness, Mormon, etc.) that try to connect themselves with the NT …
Year: 2011
Demonstration Versus Proclamation
Consider two different imaginary retail companies for a moment. The first company is Baguio Lighting Solutions (BLS). The other is Dagupan Lighting and Glass (DLG). Both companies want to sell lights of one form or another. But they have different methods to do so. BLS is in a big building without windows. Sales people walk …
Presentations Added
Added six more files to the Presentations Page. I should add more. But these are a good start. I added two on the area of learning theory, two in the area of Christian social ministry, and one on two on missions in the Philippines.
Subversive Fulfillment and the “Datu Mentality”
I have suggested before that Counter-cultural contextualization (to me at least at this moment) best describes proper missional contextualization of the Christian message. The goal is to contrast the Christian message to the surrounding culture, but without being "anti-culture." Counterculture suggests a critical agency to use the culture, esteeming the good, while challenging that which …
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Critical Contextualization in the Early Church
Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus. While there is disagreement as to when this epistle was written we know it was quite early. Some place it back to around 130AD. Some place it closer to 200AD. I personally think that the parts of the epistle noting the newness of Christianity does suggest that it is an …
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The Problem with Walls
Ecclesiastes 3:3 states that there is “a time to tear down, and a time to build up.” At first glance this seems trivial, a statement of the obvious. But there is a deep truth within this simple statement. The key point is not knowing about building or tearing down, but knowing what time it is. …
Religiocentrism and Religious Exoticism, Two Sides of the Same Coin
Suppose you are a young teenage man (or you can choose teenage woman if you prefer... I will choose the teenage male). There is a popstar who you think is just awesome. She looks beautiful on TV. She has a great voice. Her songs really speak to you, and you just know that such soulful …
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Poaching and Trespassing in the Royal Forest
In Great Britain, Royal Forests, dating to the time of William the Conqueror, were set up to provide hunting lands for the king and invited aristocracy. In some areas, particularly Southern England, vast swaths of land were designated as Royal Forests during the 11th to 14th centuries. Hunting and “chase” animals were protected from commoners. …
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Quote by Peter Beyerhaus
Quote by Peter Beyerhaus (b. 1929) summarizing Walter Freytag (1899-1959) view of Protestant Missions in 4 waves. In Pietist mission the Kingdom of God was narrowed to a purely individualist-ethical outlook. They concentrated on the salvation of individuals... Second, came those who held that the goal was not so much individual converts but self-supporting, self-governing …
Power Encounter and Love Encounter… Elijah
I have been a bit down on "Power Encounter" as a missiological method... especially in this blogsite. Power Encounter has been popularized by Charles Kraft whose understanding has been affected by his work in West Africa. He found the animistic beliefs there made the people receptive to Christianity marketed in terms of power. And perhaps …