reasons to contextualize

In their book on church planting Ed Stetzer and David Putman (Breaking The Missional Code 90-91) affirm the fact contextualization of the gospel is needed in every culture, but that it is a particularly important need for the church in the West today. They quote British missiologist Stuart Murray-Williams who suggests some pretty pungent reasons [...]

submerging

Ash Barker of Urban Neighbors of Hope, a missional order among the poor in Melbourne and Bangkok articulates multiple levels of incarnationality. His structure is intriguing because it highlights the centrality of the experience of Jesus by the host community and not that of the church community itself. He suggests four stages where [...]

the religious situation of europe

Debs and I have just joined the leadership team of Christian Associates, a fantastic church planting movement with major focus on Europe. My role will be as missional strategist helping develop the movement ethos of the organization as well as involvement in local plants. Debs will add to the spiritual care of the missionaries [...]

going to the ‘feelies’

Talking about the general trend towards consumer based religion in Europe, the brilliant British sociologist of religion, Grace Davie notes that it is the experiential or “feel-good” factor that seems to be significant–whether this be expressed in charismatic worship, in the tranquility of cathedral evensong, or in a special cathedral occasion (a candlelit carol service [...]

orange people win the watermelon people

HT from Hamo

goodness and godness

Linked to the previous post is the idea of goodness inherent in holy acts.  It is goodness that makes the holy deed vibrate. I have always loved the haunting power of Elie Wiesel’s work.  Listen to him here from his somehat autobiographical novel, Twilight
If you could have seen yourself, framed in the doorway [Pedro once [...]

how far is too far?

Perhaps we can finish this series of blogs on Christology by exploring how this central force of spiritual mDNA actually guides our missional conduct and activities. (Matt Stone will love this post.) As an incarnational missionary I have often been asked the question “how far can we incarnate? How far can we take on [...]

just to make a point

“The spontaneous expansion of the Church reduced to its element is a very simple thing. It asks for no elaborate organization, no large finances, no great numbers of paid missionaries. In its beginning it may be the work of one man and that of a man neither learned in the things of this [...]

pagan or post-christian?

I came across this reading C.S.Lewis today. I have long felt that “Sunday School Christianity” is a menace to the Gospel and so I am inclined to wholeheartedly agree…
“When grave persons express their fear that England is relapsing into Paganism, I am tempted to reply, ‘Would that she were.’ For I do not think it [...]

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