I know a number of mission agencies will begin having winter meetings in the coming weeks. This means a lot of discussion about church planting strategies and methods. To stimulate a little discussion, I’ve offer two reviews of Steve Smith and Ying Kai’s T4T: A Discipleship Re-revolution. The first review is from George Robinson (D.Miss, Western Seminary) is Assistant Professor of Missions and Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. His short article was originally published in… Read more
January 7, 2013
Interview with Karl Dahlfred, Theology Drives Methodology (Part 1)
January 7, 2013 By Jackson Wu
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I’ve asked Karl Dahlfred to answer a few follow-up questions I had stemming from his book, Theology Drives Methodology: Conversion in the Theology of Charles Finney and John Nevin. I reviewed the book last month (Part 1, Part 2). What do you think about his answers? How might this apply to your ministry context? 1. You claim that many today who use Finney’s methods may not hold to his theology. You want these people to consider what their methods may… Read more
January 3, 2013
Finding Virtue in Sports for the Sake of Missions
January 3, 2013 By Jackson Wu
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Why do we like sports and why does it matter for missions? This is a more sensitive topic that some might think. After all, watching an athletic championship game with others could be compared to a worship experience. Vast amount of discussion, money, and time are spent in gathering millions to join in common celebration. Sports fanatics memorize statistics better than many Christians memorize Scripture. Fans seek “union” with the their champion, such that when they win, “we win.” When… Read more
January 2, 2013
We Compromise the Gospel When We Settle for Truth
January 2, 2013 By Jackson Wu
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Check out the January edition of Global Missiology, which includes my article titled, “We Compromise the Gospel When We Settle for Truth: How “Right” Interpretations Lead to “Wrong” Contextualization.” The article attempts to lay a foundation for a method of contextualization. It argues for a particular relationship between culture and Bible whereby we can and should use culture as a means of interpreting Scripture. Many people are wary of culture’s influence on theology, fearing a syncretism that would compromise the authority… Read more
December 31, 2012
"Should Missionaries Learn Classical Literature as well?" (A Response to a Question)
December 31, 2012 By Jackson Wu
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Someone left a comment on the previous post about Hudson Taylor and the state on contextualization and cultural adaptation among missionaries today. I know multiple people have similar questions. I think some people might be interested to join the conversation. Ethan’s Question: “Wondering about your point regarding classical Chinese literature… What kind of competence level are you advocating? Should missionaries set aside time to develop this competence (much like many do to work on language competence)?” Here’s my reply: The… Read more
December 29, 2012
Contextualizing Hudson Taylor (Part Two)
December 29, 2012 By Jackson Wu
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This post interacts with the second part of a blog series posted by Global China Center, entitled “Respecting Chinese Culture: The Example of Hudson Taylor.” Dr. G. Wright Doyle looks at how Hudson Taylor responded to the political circumstances that confronted him and his fellow CIM missionaries. In short, England had won victory in the Opium Wars, forcing the Chinese to open up trade harbors and grant foreigners rights that fostered greater resentment among locals. While there is not exactly… Read more
December 27, 2012
Contextualizing Hudson Taylor (Part One)
December 27, 2012 By Jackson Wu
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The Global China Center ran a two-part series entitled “Respecting Chinese Culture: The Example of Hudson Taylor.” Since Hudson Taylor is an iconic missionary figure not only in China but throughout the Protestant world, I thought it worth a look at their comments. In the essays, D. G. Wright Doyle defends Taylor against the charge of some modern “liberal” scholars like Timothy Richard who claim Taylor was not as respectful of Chinese culture as some make him out to be…. Read more
December 25, 2012
FREE BOOK NOTICE: Theology drives Methodology
December 25, 2012 By Jackson Wu
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I just got word that Karl Dahlfred’s book Theology Drives Methodology, which I reviewed recently, is FREE ON KINDLE until midnight on Dec 25th. To see my thoughts on it, CLICK HERE. I’ll be posting an interview with him in a few weeks. If you read it before then, you may appreciate his answers a little more or be able to pose to him some constructive reply questions. Until then, Merry Christmas! Read more
December 23, 2012
Democracy is Not the Goal of the Gospel in China
December 23, 2012 By Jackson Wu
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Here are some good reminders that what missions is not about. The gospel concerns politics inasmuch as it concerns social power, but that is not the same as equating the gospel and democracy. After all, there will be no democracy in the kingdom of God. Chinese Democracy is Not the Goal Do you really want a democratic China? Read more
December 20, 2012
Theology Drives Methodology: Is Evangelicalism a Modern Synthesis of Finney and Nevin?
December 20, 2012 By Jackson Wu
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In a previous post, I summarized Karl Dahlfred’s Theology Drives Methodology: Conversion in the Theology of Charles Finney and John Nevin, highlighting a number of its key insights and questions. The book contrasted the theology and methods of two men, Charles Finney and John Nevin, who represent two ends of a spectrum. Finney characterizes the Arminian, revivalistic tradition. Nevin represents a Calvinistic, church-based approach to evangelism. In this post, I consider the potential ways that each view may get synthesized… Read more
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