Tuesday, 23 March 2010
DMR Format Change
DMR is changing its posting format from a monthly issue to a by the review post. Please check in for new posts regularly.
Culture Making - Andy Crouch
Editor's note: This review was to be included in the last issue of DMR, but due to a lack of my organization, it never actually got included. Sincere apologies to Jim Jordan as his submission is greatly appreciated.
Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling - Andy Crouch
InterVarsity Press (2008)
1st part available free online:
http://www.ivpress.com/title/exc/3394-sample-1.pdf
http://www.ivpress.com/title/exc/3394-sample-2.pdf
Andy Crouch’s 2008 book Culture Making has received positive reviews and multiple book-of-the-year awards touting it as a great step forward in the field of Christianity and culture, but little has been written on the book’s relevance to cross-cultural missions. Is this work significant to cross-cultural missions? Should it be recommended reading for those who serve in missions? This review will examine these questions and show what Culture Making does and doesn’t offer to the field of missions.
Culture Making is simultaneously a readable introduction to the topic of Christianity and culture as well as a dramatic recasting of everything that has been said on this topic for the last several decades. Crouch has an ambitious three part goal of changing our understanding of culture itself, the biblical view of culture, and the way of transforming culture. Crouch largely accomplishes these goals by balancing complex definitions of his concepts with engaging illustrations of these concepts, resulting in a deep yet readable narrative.
Those who are familiar with H. Richard Niebuhr’s seminal work Christ & Culture will find in Crouch a reaffirmation of the church’s calling to transform culture along with a new concept of gestures and postures, which provides a more dynamic and nuanced understanding the relationship between Christianity and culture than Niebuhr’s five types. The title of the book reflects just one application of Crouch’s comprehensive framework of understanding culture: that in order to transform culture, Christians must go beyond condemning, and critiquing culture and must create culture as well.
Since it is well understood that culture plays a critical roll in cross-cultural missions, it will be helpful for any missionary to read what has quickly grown a reputation as the best book on Christianity and culture written in many years. However, there are a few caveats: Crouch is not writing for a missions audience and so his examples are taken from the context of American culture and his applications focus on American Christianity. His work does reflect an understanding of multiculturalism but doesn’t dwell on this issue. On a practical level, he doesn’t go out of his way to apply his concepts to issues that commonly arise in cross-cultural missions work. Crouch provides a biblical understanding of culture that can be applied in many contexts, but the missions-minded reader will have to do his or her own work of practical application of Crouch’s concepts to their cultural context.
Despite its lack of focus on missions, this book is truly groundbreaking within its scope, and its concepts, when applied to cross-cultural missions, are capable of helping Christians around the world relate to culture in a healthier way.
Jim Jordan lives in Miami, FL in an intentional Christian community and serves as Short Term Coordinator for Latin America Mission (LAM).
Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling - Andy Crouch
InterVarsity Press (2008)
1st part available free online:
http://www.ivpress.com/title/exc/3394-sample-1.pdf
http://www.ivpress.com/title/exc/3394-sample-2.pdf
Andy Crouch’s 2008 book Culture Making has received positive reviews and multiple book-of-the-year awards touting it as a great step forward in the field of Christianity and culture, but little has been written on the book’s relevance to cross-cultural missions. Is this work significant to cross-cultural missions? Should it be recommended reading for those who serve in missions? This review will examine these questions and show what Culture Making does and doesn’t offer to the field of missions.
Culture Making is simultaneously a readable introduction to the topic of Christianity and culture as well as a dramatic recasting of everything that has been said on this topic for the last several decades. Crouch has an ambitious three part goal of changing our understanding of culture itself, the biblical view of culture, and the way of transforming culture. Crouch largely accomplishes these goals by balancing complex definitions of his concepts with engaging illustrations of these concepts, resulting in a deep yet readable narrative.
Those who are familiar with H. Richard Niebuhr’s seminal work Christ & Culture will find in Crouch a reaffirmation of the church’s calling to transform culture along with a new concept of gestures and postures, which provides a more dynamic and nuanced understanding the relationship between Christianity and culture than Niebuhr’s five types. The title of the book reflects just one application of Crouch’s comprehensive framework of understanding culture: that in order to transform culture, Christians must go beyond condemning, and critiquing culture and must create culture as well.
Since it is well understood that culture plays a critical roll in cross-cultural missions, it will be helpful for any missionary to read what has quickly grown a reputation as the best book on Christianity and culture written in many years. However, there are a few caveats: Crouch is not writing for a missions audience and so his examples are taken from the context of American culture and his applications focus on American Christianity. His work does reflect an understanding of multiculturalism but doesn’t dwell on this issue. On a practical level, he doesn’t go out of his way to apply his concepts to issues that commonly arise in cross-cultural missions work. Crouch provides a biblical understanding of culture that can be applied in many contexts, but the missions-minded reader will have to do his or her own work of practical application of Crouch’s concepts to their cultural context.
Despite its lack of focus on missions, this book is truly groundbreaking within its scope, and its concepts, when applied to cross-cultural missions, are capable of helping Christians around the world relate to culture in a healthier way.
Jim Jordan lives in Miami, FL in an intentional Christian community and serves as Short Term Coordinator for Latin America Mission (LAM).
Monday, 15 February 2010
From the Editor
Bogged down with school, ordination, family, work and preparing for a life-time career in missions, I have had little time for reflection on the person of Christ, let alone who Christ is for me. I've spent little time thinking theologically in my own context let alone being challenged by the theologies of other contexts.
In this issue, read a review by Jim Jordan on Andy Crouch's book, Culture Making. Jordan points out how Crouch's understanding of culture, though in the North American context, can be applied to cross-cultural missions. The Journal of Latin American Theology is especially fun this issue as it highlights the contributions of several Latin American evangelical theologians. Finally check out the review of the final section of the Global Mission Handbook, completing a long series of reviews on Hoke and Taylor's updated and revised book.
We soon enter the season of Lent (the Orthodox tradition already has), and it is a time to think of the person of Christ and to think of who Christ is in the theological understanding around the globe. How does Christ, his incarnation, his death and resurrection impact people of other cultures? How does it impact your own culture. This season of Lent I will slow way down on activities that I might think and reflect on the work of Christ as they pertain to numerous global contexts.
In this issue, read a review by Jim Jordan on Andy Crouch's book, Culture Making. Jordan points out how Crouch's understanding of culture, though in the North American context, can be applied to cross-cultural missions. The Journal of Latin American Theology is especially fun this issue as it highlights the contributions of several Latin American evangelical theologians. Finally check out the review of the final section of the Global Mission Handbook, completing a long series of reviews on Hoke and Taylor's updated and revised book.
We soon enter the season of Lent (the Orthodox tradition already has), and it is a time to think of the person of Christ and to think of who Christ is in the theological understanding around the globe. How does Christ, his incarnation, his death and resurrection impact people of other cultures? How does it impact your own culture. This season of Lent I will slow way down on activities that I might think and reflect on the work of Christ as they pertain to numerous global contexts.
Journal of Latin American Theology: Volume 4, Number 2
Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamérica
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
In missions it is easy to cling to one’s theological perspective coming from the home country. Too often outside theology has been supplanted in new cultures or communities leaving the people disconnected from a contextualized knowledge of who they are in the light of God. Colonialistic missions, for the most part, has been relatively eradicated, however as missions continues, colonialism of theology will continue without the encouragement of indigenous theological reflection. Where there is indigenous theological reflection, missionaries must come to at least understand and attempt to identify with the contextualized theology.
Of course contextualized theology can lead to the slippery-slope of syncretism and poor theology, however theology is always contextualized and the supplanting of outside theology is most likely syncretic and poor as it comes in. Western missionaries are often accused of their materialistic syncretism in the theology they bring and need the Spirit’s guidance to better contextualize the Gospel message they preach, teach and engage in the new context.
The Journal of Latin American Theology might be one of the most important evangelical tools for missionaries to Latin America today. Here Latin American theology is explored and communicated for Latin Americans and in English for a wider audience. The general aim is the “Christian Reflections from the Latino South.” It is a twice-a-year publication published by the Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamérica (FTL).
The most recent issue highlights five of the primary founders of the FTL: Emilio Antonio Núñez, José Míguez Bonino, René Padilla, Samuel Escobar and Orlando Costas. Included are expositions of their theological positions as well as their contributions to Latin American contextualized theology and the world. Primarily written by Daniel Salinas, admittedly biased, Salinas does an adequate job portraying each of these theologians.
After reading this journal I am incensed by the fact that I’d never actually read any of their works before. Education is what you make of it, so I’m disappointed in myself, however when studying Latin American theology in seminary I was never given a single work by these five theologians to read. Instead I read the theological positions of Boff and Gutierrez, important for theological education, yet with no mention of the evangelical theologians all the more important for my evangelical education.
Perhaps these theologians are not included as theologians simply because they were missionaries and ministers in their local communities “doing” theology in their spare time. Or perhaps each one of these evangelical theologians presented a theology that was in conflict with the dominant western evangelical theology of the day.
The journal is an excellent resource for missionaries headed to Latin America. More though, it is excellent for all missionaries. Each of the five theologians represent contexts from the global south, while contextually different in other global south countries, the example of contextualized theology is radically important.
Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamérica
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
In missions it is easy to cling to one’s theological perspective coming from the home country. Too often outside theology has been supplanted in new cultures or communities leaving the people disconnected from a contextualized knowledge of who they are in the light of God. Colonialistic missions, for the most part, has been relatively eradicated, however as missions continues, colonialism of theology will continue without the encouragement of indigenous theological reflection. Where there is indigenous theological reflection, missionaries must come to at least understand and attempt to identify with the contextualized theology.
Of course contextualized theology can lead to the slippery-slope of syncretism and poor theology, however theology is always contextualized and the supplanting of outside theology is most likely syncretic and poor as it comes in. Western missionaries are often accused of their materialistic syncretism in the theology they bring and need the Spirit’s guidance to better contextualize the Gospel message they preach, teach and engage in the new context.
The Journal of Latin American Theology might be one of the most important evangelical tools for missionaries to Latin America today. Here Latin American theology is explored and communicated for Latin Americans and in English for a wider audience. The general aim is the “Christian Reflections from the Latino South.” It is a twice-a-year publication published by the Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamérica (FTL).
The most recent issue highlights five of the primary founders of the FTL: Emilio Antonio Núñez, José Míguez Bonino, René Padilla, Samuel Escobar and Orlando Costas. Included are expositions of their theological positions as well as their contributions to Latin American contextualized theology and the world. Primarily written by Daniel Salinas, admittedly biased, Salinas does an adequate job portraying each of these theologians.
After reading this journal I am incensed by the fact that I’d never actually read any of their works before. Education is what you make of it, so I’m disappointed in myself, however when studying Latin American theology in seminary I was never given a single work by these five theologians to read. Instead I read the theological positions of Boff and Gutierrez, important for theological education, yet with no mention of the evangelical theologians all the more important for my evangelical education.
Perhaps these theologians are not included as theologians simply because they were missionaries and ministers in their local communities “doing” theology in their spare time. Or perhaps each one of these evangelical theologians presented a theology that was in conflict with the dominant western evangelical theology of the day.
The journal is an excellent resource for missionaries headed to Latin America. More though, it is excellent for all missionaries. Each of the five theologians represent contexts from the global south, while contextually different in other global south countries, the example of contextualized theology is radically important.
Call for DMR Reviewers
Like free books? Want to do a little writing? Deep Missional Review is looking for a few more reviewers. Comment on this blog for more information.
Global Mission Handbook - Part 4
Global Mission Handbook
Steve Hoke & Bill Taylor
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
This marks the last brief review of the book, Global Mission Handbook, a book I was going through personally, reading each article and processing each of the worksheets. It is a fantastic cursory book for those entering missions, compiling a myriad of missions training and compiling the book.
The final portion of this book had to do with the first months/year of being on the field. Immersion is the typical buzz-word of missionary training, and Hoke and Taylor advocate an immersed, patient approach to enculturation. The suggestions they give seem to come standard, but are still good. While most missions sending organizations have very similar methodology to entering the field, this section would be valuable especially for missionaries not yet on the field and for supporters of missionaries who might want to see “results” more quickly.
Hoke and Taylor provide a section for finishing strong, which again is a valuable compilation of standard practice. They touch on the need for missionary care, issues regarding continuing education as well as issues regarding third-culture or missionary kids.
As I’ve stated in previous posts, this book is a valuable resource in missions. I would not be surprised to see it become standard reading for major sending organizations, and could be a great tool for missionaries to give to their missions committee. Hoke and Taylor leave out very little. While their view of missions and missional might be limited to a cross-contextual understanding, they know missions training and set the reader up with tools for success.
Steve Hoke & Bill Taylor
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
This marks the last brief review of the book, Global Mission Handbook, a book I was going through personally, reading each article and processing each of the worksheets. It is a fantastic cursory book for those entering missions, compiling a myriad of missions training and compiling the book.
The final portion of this book had to do with the first months/year of being on the field. Immersion is the typical buzz-word of missionary training, and Hoke and Taylor advocate an immersed, patient approach to enculturation. The suggestions they give seem to come standard, but are still good. While most missions sending organizations have very similar methodology to entering the field, this section would be valuable especially for missionaries not yet on the field and for supporters of missionaries who might want to see “results” more quickly.
Hoke and Taylor provide a section for finishing strong, which again is a valuable compilation of standard practice. They touch on the need for missionary care, issues regarding continuing education as well as issues regarding third-culture or missionary kids.
As I’ve stated in previous posts, this book is a valuable resource in missions. I would not be surprised to see it become standard reading for major sending organizations, and could be a great tool for missionaries to give to their missions committee. Hoke and Taylor leave out very little. While their view of missions and missional might be limited to a cross-contextual understanding, they know missions training and set the reader up with tools for success.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Upcoming Reviews
Coming in February, look for reviews on:
The recent Journal of Latin American Theology
The recent International Bulletin of Missionary Research
Culture Making by Andy Crouch
The final review of the Global Missions Handbook
The recent Journal of Latin American Theology
The recent International Bulletin of Missionary Research
Culture Making by Andy Crouch
The final review of the Global Missions Handbook
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