Missiology

ARTICLES (GENERAL) THE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MISSIOLOGY by Gailyn Van Rheenan All missiological decisions must be rooted, either implicitly or explicitly, in theology so that they mirror the purposes and mind of God. Frequently, however, missions practitioners take the theological foundation of missions for granted. (Read more) THE MISSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THEOLOGY by Gailyn Van Rheenan Some years ago systematic theologian Martin Kahler wrote the often-quoted statement that mission is “the mother of theology.” Theology, said Kahler, developed as "an accompanying manifestation of the Christian message." In other words, theology was formed when church planters and waterers (1 Cor. 3:6) reflected upon God’s will within specific cultural contexts. (Read more ) SIX SPHERES OF MISSION OVERSEAS by Ralph D. Winter This unique article addresses the fact that that all mission endeavor falls under at least one of six main categories of mission. The title link (above) takes you to the introductory page. After reading the introduction, click on the next six articles listed on the side bar to the left. WEBSITES MISSIOLOGY.ORG GLOBAL MISSIOLOGY A quarterly publication in several languages with original research and contributions from researchers, practitioners and scholars of international representation with global perspectives. CONTEXTUALIZATION WEBSITES REDEMPTIVE ANALOGIES AND CONTEXTUALIZATION LINKS MISLINKS ON CONTEXTUALIZATION Extensive listings. ARTICLES WORLD-VIEW AND CONTEXTUALIZATION by David Hesselgrave The Indian peasant may well ask "What is progress?" and inquire as to why he should adopt a method of rice-growing simply because it is more efficient. The American of European origin may see the exchange of horse and wagon for a pickup truck as a case of unquestioned progress, but for the Navajo Indian it is simply a desirable substitute, not "progress" (Read more) THEOLOGY OF MISSION ON THE WEB by Scott Moreau & Michael O’Rear Can the World Wide Web be a serious resource for mission theology? Even though theology is not usually thought of as a practical area, it is certainly crucial for our ongoing involvement in the missionary task of the church. Because of its importance, then, it is not surprising that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of theological pages posted and available via the Web. (Read more ) BEHOLD THE OX OF GOD by Joy Anderson In his books Peace Child and Eternity in Their Hearts, missionary writer Don Richardson proposed that God has placed within every culture certain concepts that find their fulfillment only in the gospel. Richardson called these cultural concepts "redemptive analogies." As I have studied several scholarly works on the Dinka people of Sudan, it has become obvious to me that the Dinka culture displays many such bridges to the gospel. (Read more) BOOKS CONTEXTUALIZATION by David J. Hesselgrave & Edward Rommen This classic textbook brings together the meanings, proposals, and tasks involved in contextualization. Hesselgrave and Rommen explore the history of contextualization in the Bible and the Church while examining the proposals of prominent thinkers on this subject. They conclude with their own definition and approach to contextualization. LOSTNESS OF MAN ARTICLES LOST by Roberston McQuilken The Bible uses the word "lost" to describe an even more terrible condition. Those who are away from the Father's house and haven't found the way back to Him are "lost." Jesus saw the crowds of people surging about Him as sheep without a shepherd, helpless and hopeless, and He was deeply moved. (Read more ) ARE THEY LOST WHO NEVER HEAR THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST Intervarsity has provided a list of links to articles related to this topic. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Don Richardson This is one of the most amazing stories you will ever read, regarding the Karen, a tribal group in Burma, whose oral tradition contains the basic elements of the beginning of man, the entrance of sin and its consequences, as well as a prophecies of white men bringing a book that would tell them the way back to Y’wa.