Fancy Words episode1: Missiology

According to the interwebs: The concept of missiology refers to the academic study and theological reflection on the Christian mission. It seeks to understand the biblical, historical, cultural, and practical aspects of spreading the Gospel and advancing God’s mission in the world. Missiology is both an academic discipline and a practical guide for missionaries, pastors, and church leaders involved in mission work.

Key Components of Missiology:

1. Biblical Foundations: Examines the mission of God (Missio Dei) as revealed in Scripture, particularly the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), the sending of the apostles (Acts 1:8), and the overarching narrative of God’s plan for redemption.
2. Theological Framework: Reflects on God’s purpose in the world and how His people are called to participate in His mission. This includes understanding the role of the church, the kingdom of God, and the cultural implications of sharing the Gospel.
3. Historical Perspectives: Studies how missions have been carried out over time, including key missionary movements, figures, and successes or failures in different contexts.
4. Cultural Analysis: Considers the relationship between faith and culture, emphasizing cross-cultural communication, contextualization, and sensitivity to the cultural differences of those being ministered to.
5. Practical Application: Focuses on strategies, methodologies, and ethical considerations for effectively carrying out missions in different environments, whether local or global.

Goals of Missiology:

• To equip Christians to share the Gospel effectively in diverse cultural contexts.
• To help churches understand their role in the mission of God.
• To analyze and critique mission strategies for greater faithfulness to Scripture and cultural relevance.
• To foster a global perspective of the church and its mission.

In essence, missiology is about aligning human efforts with God’s purpose to reconcile all people to Himself, and it integrates theological, cultural, and practical insights to guide this mission.

Honestly, after listening to a man ramble on for nearly an hour explaining this concept (absolutely nothing Biblical) to a room full of benchwarmers, I was dumbfounded. What was the purpose? Could it be to inspire evangelism?

So now I gotta go to Google to get their definition:

Missiology is the study of Christian mission, including its theory and practice. It’s an interdisciplinary field that draws on many other disciplines, including theology, history, social sciences, anthropology, and cultural studies. 

Now the question becomes…. why would I involve ANYTHING called “Social” or “Cultural” Sciences ?

They go on to say…. Missiology includes the study of topics such as: inculturation, interfaith relations, and reverse mission.

• noun: inculturation
• the gradual acquisition of the characteristics and norms of a culture or group by a person, another culture, etc.
• the adaptation of Christian liturgy to a non-Christian cultural background.

Interfaith relations is a marriage between two people who practice different religions. Interfaith marriages are also known as interdenominational or interreligious marriages. To what extent would we need to do this? Doesn’t the Bible address this as well?

2 Corinthians 6:14-15: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

In my own life I was a practicing Protestant and I married a Catholic. Today I would consider both of these as being an opposition to my faith, yet in that day, I could no differ the two. Here is the key…. if you have a rock solid faith and you are single… you should be looking for someone that shares that faith in the same manner. If you are already married the Bible says you are to remain faithful (barring abuse) as to honor your relationship through the love of Christ. This is in hopes of their conversion. The prohibition is directed at those with faith seeking out the unbeliever or false believer and thus they smother the fire of their faith for physical or emotional fulfilment.

At this point I have to ask…. is the “adaptation of Christian liturgy to a non-Christian cultural background” the fancy way of saying WATERING DOWN THE GOSPEL?

What did Paul tell us to do? In Acts 15:21 “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”

He told us to go to the Word of God, The Torah for the answer!!

I am going to “tap-out” early on this as I believe I could write a 12 part series on this obvious Greco-Roman Psycho-babble nonsense…. Just preach the Word and stop trying to be a showboat…

Next time we will look at more G-R babble ….that is if I can keep my lunch down…. something titled “Redemption Lift”….