Missiological Triage

Most of what we do in missions can be categorized as our missiological methods. As important as our mission methods are, we usually look to the social sciences to guide us, as we seek to find effective and reproducible methods for sharing the gospel and planting churches cross-culturally. The lack of theological reflection on our missiological methods bears consequences. We tend to look to Scripture and theology for our missiological purpose and goals, but we often struggle to know how theology speaks to the social sciences or to our pragmatic methods. The social sciences have contributed to undeniable advances in our methodologies. At the same time, we want our methods to be anchored in our theology and the fruit of our missional efforts to be theologically healthy. Missiological Triage provides a solid foundation for a holistic integration of theology, missiology, and the social sciences, and offers practical steps for applying the social sciences to our mission methods in a theologically faithful manner. Professors and students of missiology, mission leaders, and missionary practitioners will benefit from this framework for theologically analyzing the social sciences in our missiological methods.

Most of what we do in missions can be categorized as our missiological methods. As important as our mission methods are, we usually look to the social sciences to guide us, as we seek to find effective and reproducible methods for sharing the gospel and planting churches cross-culturally. The lack of theological reflection on our missiological methods bears consequences. We tend to look to Scripture and theology for our missiological purpose and goals, but we often struggle to know how theology speaks to the social sciences or to our pragmatic methods. The social sciences have contributed to undeniable advances in our methodologies. At the same time, we want our methods to be anchored in our theology and the fruit of our missional efforts to be theologically healthy. Missiological Triage provides a solid foundation for a holistic integration of theology, missiology, and the social sciences, and offers practical steps for applying the social sciences to our mission methods in a theologically faithful manner. Professors and students of missiology, mission leaders, and missionary practitioners will benefit from this framework for theologically analyzing the social sciences in our missiological methods.

What does it mean to flourish? Human flourishing lies at the heart of the good news of the gospel, and yet contemporary theologies know not only one way of speaking about what it means to flourish. If we embed our theological grammars of flourishing in the doctrine of salvation, as the doctrine in which theological flourishing talk is arguably rooted and from which rich fruit may be borne, there is not one but various ways in which to speak about what it means to flourish. Yet what governs our speaking? Why do we speak of flourishing as we do? The various conceptions of human flourishing that are outlined in this book – piety, joy, and comfort; being fully alive, healing, and dignity; grace, happiness, and blessing – represent a collection of attempts not only to imagine human flourishing, but also to imagine ways of speaking about human flourishing. Perhaps what theology could offer to the vibrant and robust conversations on human flourishing lies exactly in the reminder to take care about how we speak about that which is truly and deeply human: our longing to flourish.

Gaining Fresh Insights for Missions In today’s world, the church on mission faces the immense challenge of engaging an array of cultures and ideologies. To address these issues, theologians and missiologists usually focus on Jesus and Paul. However, the Apostle Peter’s words, steeped in wisdom, are another vital link between foundational Christian truths and the complexities of our global context. For this reason, Reading 1 Peter Missiologically is a significant contribution to both biblical scholarship and mission practice. Examining 1 Peter through a missiological lens unveils the apostle’s strategic approach to cross-cultural evangelism amidst persecution and cultural diversity. It is not just an academic exercise; the authors provide practical insights for missionaries, church leaders, and theologians, helping them to contextualize the gospel in a culturally sensitive manner. This book bridges the gap between theological study and real-world application. Reading 1 Peter Missiologically is an essential resource for anyone seeking to participate in Christian outreach more effectively. It challenges readers to rethink modern missionary strategies. If you want to deepen your understanding of the Bible’s teaching on global mission and apply it across the world, this book is a must-read.

In this addition to the highly acclaimed Encountering Mission series, two leading missionary scholars offer an up-to-date discussion of missionary strategy that is designed for a global audience. The authors focus on the biblical, missiological, historical, cultural, and practical issues that inform and guide the development of an effective missions strategy. The book includes all the features that have made other series volumes useful classroom tools, such as figures, sidebars, and case studies. Students of global or domestic mission work and mission practitioners will value this new resource.

The relation between life and death is a subject of perennial relevance for all human beings--and indeed, the whole world and the entire universe, in as much as, according to the saying of ancient Greek philosophy, all things that come into being pass away. Yet it is also a topic of increasing complexity, for life and death now appear to be more intertwined than previously or commonly thought. Moreover, the relation between life and death is also one of increasing urgency, as through the twin phenomena of an increase in longevity unprecedented in human history and the rendering of death, dying, and the dead person all but invisible, people living in the industrialized and post-industrialized Western world of today have lost touch with the reality of death. This radically new situation, and predicament, has implications--medical, ethical, economic, philosophical, and, not least, theological--that have barely begun to be addressed. This volume gathers together essays by a distinguished and diverse group of scientists, theologians, philosophers, and health practitioners, originally presented in a symposium sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation.