How does one's view of history affect... well... pretty much everything? This is not self-evident. I come from the United States where there is a lack of emphasis on history. Of course in elementary and high school, "History" classes were replaced by "Social Studies." I don't mind "Social Studies"... sociology and cultural anthropology are both …
Year: 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 …
Missional Church Quote
Great Quote by Rick Meigs on the Missional Church and a better understanding of the Great Commission. However, instead of simply requoting him, you can click below to go to blog where I read it. -------------------- Missional Conundrum (mcilweb.blogspot.com)
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 amazing at how intense the emotions rise in some people on an issue …
Theology in a Cartoon
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 …
Missions Mentoring
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. 1. Barnabbas Relationships. This is …
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. The …
Learning Missions and Growing
"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 …
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 …
Continue reading Missiological Implications of the Symbolic Understanding of the Lord’s Supper
Counter-Cultural Contextualization
<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 …