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 …
Category: History in Missions
Look at Christian mission work through the centuries
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 …
Continue reading Critical Contextualization in the Early Church
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 …
Aristides for Today
Many years ago, an aunt of mine died. At her funeral, the pastor of her church got up to speak. He chose that time to provide a number of scientific "proofs" of Christianity. Back then I was a nuclear engineer so I was somewhat comfortable with the natural sciences. I knew that much of what …
St. Boniface and the Peregrini (Part 3)
The mission of St. Boniface and that of the Celtic Peregrini were considerably different. The table here shows a few broad differences: The Peregrini had a mission of translation (in terms of Lamin Sanneh) in that there was a genuine effort for the work of God to be adapted to the local culture. St. Boniface, …
St. Boniface and the Peregrini (Part 2)
Celtic Cross. Image via Wikipedia History The Peregrini (exiles) were Celtic monks who chose to follow the call of Christ by leaving their monasteries behind and traveling to different parts of Europe to share the Gospel, disciple new believers, and educate. The most famous Celtic missionaries were typically Irish, but they came from many Celtic …
St. Boniface and the Peregrini (Part I)
Some mission organizations are highly controlling, built on a strong hierarchal system with precise policies limiting resources and activities. Some mission organizations are far more relaxed-- limited accountability, and opportunities given for missionaries to show their own initiative. Saint Boniface ("Apostle to the Germans") Image via Wikipedia My own mission board, Virginia Baptist Mission Board …
Historiography and Missions
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 …
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 …
Changing Times in Christian Missions
My wife and I were invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Crawley Bethesda Mission Center. It will be on the grounds of Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. The plan is for the upper story to be focused on training for cross-cultural missions, while the lower floor involved more in holistic and regional missions (things …