Modern Missions And Culture

Modern Missions And Culture PDF

Author: Gustav Warneck

Publisher: Legare Street Press

Published: 2023-07-18

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781020574658

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This seminal work of Christian missions explores the complex and often fraught relationship between missionaries and the cultures they seek to serve. The book argues that effective Christian missions must be grounded in a deep understanding of local cultures, customs, and traditions, and must be carried out with sensitivity, humility, and respect. The book draws on examples from missionary work around the world and provides practical insights for modern-day missionaries and cross-cultural workers. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

God's Image and Global Cultures

God's Image and Global Cultures PDF

Author: Kenneth Nehrbass

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2016-08-26

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1498239099

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Globalization has raised numerous questions about theology and culture for Christians. How should we respond to outsourcing and immigration? How does anti-Western sentiment affect the proclamation of the gospel? What is the role of the church in society? This book argues that Christians will be most fulfilled and most effective if they embrace their cultural activity rather than feel ambivalent about it. The central question of this book is, how does bearing God's image relate to cultural activity? Nehrbass explains that "spheres of culture," such as political, technological, and social structures, are systems that God has instilled in humans as his image bearers, so that they can glorify and enjoy him forever. Therefore, a theology of culture involves recognizing that the kingdom of God encompasses heaven and Earth, rather than pitting heaven against Earth. The text surveys anthropological explanations for humanity's dependence on culture, and shows that each explanation provides only partial explanatory scope. The most satisfying explanation is that a major functional aspect of bearing God's image is engaging in culture, since the Trinity has been eternally engaged in cultural functions like ruling, communicating, and creating. Each chapter contains a summary and questions about what it means to be a world-changer in the twenty-first century.

No Shortcut to Success

No Shortcut to Success PDF

Author: Matt Rhodes

Publisher: Crossway

Published: 2021-12-28

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13: 143357778X

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Avoid "Get-Rich-Quick" Missions Strategies and Invest in Effective, Long-Term Ministry Trendy new missions strategies are a dime a dozen, promising missionaries monumental results in record time. These strategies report explosive movements of people turning to Christ, but their claims are often dubious and they do little to ensure the health of believers or churches that remain. How can churches and missionaries address the urgent need to reach unreached people without falling for quick fixes? In No Shortcut to Success, author and missionary Matt Rhodes implores Christians to stop chasing silver-bullet strategies and short-term missions, and instead embrace theologically robust and historically demonstrated methods of evangelism and discipleship—the same ones used by historic figures such as William Carey and Adoniram Judson. These great missionaries didn't rush evangelism; they spent time studying Scripture, mastering foreign languages, and building long-term relationships. Rhodes explains that modern missionaries' emphasis on minimal training and quick conversions can result in slipshod evangelism that harms the communities they intend to help. He also warns against underestimating the value of individual skill and effort—under the guise of "getting out of the Lord's way"—and empowers Christians with practical, biblical steps to proactively engage unreached groups. Biblical Ministry Advice: Examines the work of respected missionaries throughout history Encourages Professionalism in Missions: Rhodes teaches missionaries to invest in theological education, communication, and technical skills A Great Resource for Ministries: Includes specific advice for singles, parents, and other groups Insightful: Examines strengths and weaknesses of recent missionary movements

Embracing Shared Ministry

Embracing Shared Ministry PDF

Author: Joseph Hellerman

Publisher: Kregel Academic

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 0825442648

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Joseph Hellerman (PhD, UCLA) is Professor of New Testament at Biola University. He also currently serves as Team Pastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship Church. Hellerman's other publications include The Ancient Church as Family, Reconstructing Honor in Roman Philippi, When the Church Was Family, and Jesus and the People of God.

The World is Too Much with Us

The World is Too Much with Us PDF

Author: Charles R. Taber

Publisher:

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13:

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Taber explores the interaction in recent history between the modern missionary movement (especially its Protestant expressions) and concurrent developments in the social sciences, specifically the emergence of the concept of culture. To begin, he traces the prehistory of the concept of culture from antiquity through the Enlightenment, and up to the dawn of the modern Protestant missionary movement. He then describes the historical context of the nineteenth century in terms of processes such as the industrial revolution, the abolitionist movement, the colonial enterprise, and in terms of key ideas such as evolution and the birth of anthropology. Taber goes on to situate the place and rise of the modern missionary movement in the nineteenth century, tracing how it was influenced by prevalent ideas and attitudes and how it contributed to our understanding of culture and cultures. He then looks at twentieth-century theories of culture and discusses those that have influenced missiology. Finally, he examines and evaluates some unresolved issues in missions.

Mission Shaped Evangelism

Mission Shaped Evangelism PDF

Author: Steve Hollinghurst

Publisher: Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1853118427

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This is a landmark book that will renew our understanding of what the gospel - literally 'the good news about Jesus' - is for today's cultures. It begins with a key challenge - do we believe God speaks in the cultural context, or only in the Christian tradition? Part One - Listening to God in the cultural context explores the radically changing culture in which the church exists today, the rise of new spiritualities, the secularisation of society and religion's increasingly dubious public image. Part Two - Listening to God in the Christian tradition looks at key periods in Christian history as responses to cultural changes, from the ancient pagan world to modernist faith. What can we learn from the lessons of the past? Part Three moves from theory to practice and tells great stories where innovative evangelism is taking place - from supermarkets to festivals to the internet.

Transforming Culture

Transforming Culture PDF

Author: Sherwood G. Lingenfelter

Publisher: Baker Academic

Published: 1998-11

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0801021782

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Lingenfelter sets out a model for understanding the workings of a society and then applies this model to conflicts missionaries and nationals often face over economic and social issues. He makes the second edition more accessible than the first by clarifying concepts, adding case studies, and reducing the book's length. October '98 publication date.