Conforming to a Culture. The October 2002 issue of EMQ included the article, “A Testimony for Missions,” by Richard Smith. The article included these statements, “…fall in love with the local culture…identify with its institutions and traditions…” “He is here because he is deeply attached to our nation and what comes with it…He has tried hard to be one of us…”
It was July—winter in the African country of Lesotho. My pilot guided the red and white turbocharged Cessna into a valley for an approach to the mountain village of Methalaneng.
As I sat down to reflect on my experience as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher at an overseas Bible institute, I realized that I had something to share concerning one of the important practical realities of theological education in non-English speaking contexts.
In the middle of her book, Waging Peace on Islam, Christine A. Mallouhi challenges evangelical Christians with this question, “How can we continually paint Muslims as hostile spiritual enemies with whom we are engaged in the greatest battle of our century, and then be willing to go to our Muslim neighbours and share Christ’s love with them?” (p. 178).
Theology divides, evangelism unites.” So goes the mantra of too many. Oh, there is a kernel of truth in what they say: too much majoring on minor issues can be divisive.
Since 9/11, Islam has dominated the news and interest of the world. The war on terror has only increased the world’s awareness of the Middle East and the religion associated with that region.
Acts records many instances of persecution among early believing communities. However, the record is clear. Believing communities existed.
Currently, article after article and book after book refer to the poor? But seldom is the word poor carefully defined.
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.
Upon entering the host country, virtually every missionary finds him or herself in a social and historical context that is unfamiliar. How are we to understand the context into which we have come?
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