Defining “Christian Missions” and “Missionary”

It is strange that I have been involved with full-time Christian missions for 17 years and have been teaching Christian missions for 13 years and yet I have never found definitions for "Christian Missions" and "Missionary" that I like. Some are too narrow. For example, some definitions for missionary limit to those who are commissioned …

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My Strength is My Temptation– Part 2

I suppose the term "Strength" is a bit of a loaded term. Very commonly what one may consider a strength another could consider a weakness. A strong desire to lead or dominate can be seen as a strength. When we think of great leaders in history, we think of their drive to lead as part …

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My Strength is My Temptation– Part 1

I guess it struck me when I was talking about Love Languages (Gary Chapman) with my Pastoral Care Students (or maybe my wife's CPE trainees... I can't remember for sure). As I was talking about the five love languages <Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts, and Acts of Service>, I noted that …

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Missiology as an Academic Field of Study?

Missiology is a rather young field of study and there has been a question of whether it should be considered an academic study. And if it is an academic study, how should it relate to other academic disciplines. I get it. If one thinks about it, Missions sounds like a less than a real topic--- …

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Better Questions and Al Yagoda

The Dunning-Kruger Effect has become popularized in recent days. Unfortunately it sometimes gets reimagined as "Stupid people often think they are smarter than they really are." Of course, that is not the issue. It is that people tend not to be self-aware of their own incompetence in a subject. People who are very ignorant in …

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Theology “Tests” in Localization

TestQuestionsBasisRevelationHarmonious and Coherent with Scripture? Or Disonant, or “cherry-picked” from Scripture?Unity and Canonicity of the BibleGodIs the God described within the theology, the God who is revealed? Is God worthy of worship, and relational in prayer?God as Object of TheologyCreationIs our relation to creation in line with it being God's good creation? Is our relation …

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