Description: Theology to the Ends of the Earth and Back Again
As Christianity's center of gravity has shifted to the Majority World, many younger churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are now coming of age. With this maturing comes the ability to theologize for themselves, not simply to mimic what they have been taught from the West. As theology is an attempt to articulate through human language, culture, and contexts the timeless truths of the eternal and transcendent God, Majority World churches have much to offer the West and the world, as they contribute to a greater understanding of God, discipleship, and mission.
Within this volume is an eclectic and fascinating sampling of theologizing from around the world, diverse not just in context but in content, dealing with everything from Christian education, to engaging Buddhists with the gospel, to engagement with Santería, to contextualizing native dance. As Christ's message has gone to "the ends of the earth," it has been received, but also incorporated, synthesized, and rebirthed in new and exciting ways that will benefit us all, wherever we live and serve.
Brief description: Allen Yeh is a missiologist who specializes in Latin America and China. He also has other academic interests in history, classical music, homiletics, social justice, the California missions, the Maya, and biographical interest in Jonathan Edwards (America's greatest theologian) and Adoniram Judson (America's first intercontinental missionary). He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia. He earned his B.A. from Yale, M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell, M.Th. from Edinburgh, and D.Phil. from Oxford. Despite this alphabet soup, he believes that experience is the greatest teacher of all (besides the Bible). As such, Allen has been to over 60 countries on every continent, to study, do missions work, and experience the culture.
Review Quotes:
This remarkable compendium represents nothing less than a tour de force in our growing realization that the worlds of biblical and theological reflection can no longer ignore the sustained and profound work of Majority World scholarship. Furthermore, the notion of "mere Christianity" can no longer ignore the deeper reality that the faith "once for all delivered to the saints" is received and embodied by a growing Christian family with profound insights for the whole church with vital contributions influencing Bible translation, systematic theology, and biblical exegesis.
-Timothy Tennent, PhD President of Asbury Theological Seminary
In a world where the evangelical church is truly global, Majority World Theologies offers much-needed theological perspectives from across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This is a must-read primer for those wanting to engage in the global theological conversation and to grow in their exposure to Majority World theologies.
-Tom Lin, president/CEO of InterVarsity Christian
With this book, the colours of world Christianity are painted yet more brightly. The wide range of papers contained here give us a delightful taste of what God is doing in building his global body, spectacularlydiverse yet united around the Lordship of Christ.
-Paul Bendor-Samuel, executive director of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies